By Levi Kepsel (Pro Ski Service Employee)

I recently had the opportunity to go on a Spearhead Traverse with Forest McBrian, one of our IMFGA guides here at Pro Guiding Service. We started off with a ski lift bump up the Blackcomb side of Whister-Blackcomb Ski Resort in British Columbia on a bluebird day. We had a host of company right out of the gate with a lot of pent up energy competing for the stellar snow. It took a while to leave the crowds behind but eventually made it past the traffic and had the whole range to ourselves.

We cruised steadily for about 6 hours and set up our camp on the Ripsaw Glacier, nearly halfway through the traverse. We woke up early the next morning, drank our coffee and continued onward. The traverse is a study in up and down travel, but the total elevation gain is minimal, so we were able to motor consistently around, behind, and over the various peaks, cols, glaciers, and ridges we encountered. Forest managed our pace for efficiency and quickly found ourselves skiing down the Overlord Glacier (awesome!) and pulling into the Russet Hut for the evening. We found ourselves in the company of a very polite Canadian group and many tall tales were told.

On the morning of day three we again awoke to clear skies and wondered where the storm was. As we moved over the Musical Bumps on the way to Whistler the clouds gathered and spilled over the mountains and we skied through diminishing visibility down Whistler resort. We just had time to sit at a pub and order drinks as the rain commenced. Perfect timing on a perfect trip.