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Finals Week Wedge-Currie Traverse · Fri. Apr. 15th, 2022 - Sun. Apr. 17th, 2022
Warning: This is an old trip - it already happened
Warning, this trip has been cancelled : Not enough interest- doing the spearhead instead
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Start: Friday, Apr. 15th
End: Sunday, Apr. 17th
Pre-trip meeting: Wednesday, Apr. 13th, 6:00 pm
Pre-trip meeting location: outside the clubroom, zoom option for those who can't make it
Description:
I have been blessed/cursed with an extremely backloaded finals schedule (no exams until April 21st), so I'd like to use my time off before to get in a ski traverse before my week of study hell! After some deliberation I've landed upon the Wedge-Currie for its combination of high alpine terrain, massive glaciers, and many couloirs! I prevously had this trip happening anytime between the 8th and the 18th, but based on my own and other's schedules I have decided that the main plan will be to do the traverse in 3 days starting Friday the 15th and finishing Sunday the 17th (if the weather cooperates). I might also be keen to extend to a 4th day if people have the time and want to summit some extra peaks.
Here is a basic trip outline:
Day 1: Ride the lifts to the top of Blackcomb, do the brief climb to the East Col, ski down Wedge Creek to Wedge Pass, and complete the 1000m slog up to the Weart Glacier. ~14 km ~1200 m gain
Day 2: Slowly work our way north along the traverse, skiing as many fantastic steep lines as we can, including but not limited to:
Eureka Mountain NW Couloir
The Owl Couloir
Mount Weart N Face
~10 km 1300 m gain depending on what lines we ski
Day 3: Summit Mount Currie, and then exit down to the valley. There are 3 exit routes from here:
The historic route wraps way around the E side of Mount Currie via Gravel Creek, I have heard it described as hell bushwacking through bluffy 45 degree ice forest followed by a long snowless FSR slog. I do not want to do this route, but it is the bail option for the 3rd option as it shares the same trailhead.
The best route in recent years seems to be the new(ish) hiking trail on the W side of Mt Currie, which is steep and also has some tricky sections but should be much more direct and easier than the Gravel Creek route. This is the route we would want to take if the conditions were suspect or if anyone in the group was not feeling comfortable for the next option.
In my dream scenario we would ski one of the 3 classic lines on the N face of Mount Currie (Y couloir, Central couloir, and Pencil chute). These lines are not any more technical than ones we will likely have already done in the trip, but the crux will be a likely rappel in and a long exit through avalanche gullies where the snow will likely run out well before the road.
~6 km 900 m gain to the summit, then a long and spicy downhill with a hike out
Basic requirements:
backcountry skiing experience + AST
able to ski black diamond runs (I am relaxing the previous requirement to be an expert since those skills are only required for the side trips, but preference wil be given to those who want to ski the couloirs)
winter camping experience
basic glacier travel/crevasse rescue experience
Gear:
Backcountry ski setup + avy gear
crampons + ice axe
harness + biners + prussiks + atc
appropriate sleep system for the weather
Whistler pass/willingness to pay $70 for a backcountry ticket
Group gear:
tent
stove
rope
2 cars for shuttling
This trip was heavily inspired by this trip report, so if you want some more info+pictures or just want to get stoked, check it out: https://www.ubc-voc.com/2018/02/14/augmented-blackcomb-to-currie-assortment-of-beautiful-couloirs-feb-10-12-2018
Posted: 2022-03-16 20:15:40
Last modified: 2022-04-14 15:55:01