[TR] Battle Abbey hut - South Selkirks, B.C.- 1/31/2006

[Know_Fear]

Climb: Battle Abbey hut - South Selkirks, B.C.-

 

Date of Climb: 1/31/2006

 

Trip Report:

I just returned from six days of awesome Skiing near the Battle Abby hut in S.E. B.C. The hut is located about 30 miles S-S.E. of Golden B.C. in the S. Selkirks. This was my first successful Canadian hut tour. I’d tried to ski between two ACC huts - Rodgers Pass to Sapphire Col a few years ago but we were stopped by massive snow fall.

 

This was my first guided ski trip. I was reluctant since I’m typically a do-it yourselfer. In this case it’s not an option. The Battle Abbey must be booked by a guide. We averaged about 6K feet/per day every day for six days. Our biggest day was about 7K feet. In retrospect it’s unlikely my buddies and I would have been motivated enough to ski so much on our own.

 

The weather was good most days. We had one blue bird day and one day of continuous snow/low visibility. Both alpine and tree skiing above/below the hut was excellent. Typical runs are steep and about 2K feet long. That makes for two hour up-tracks. We had excellent snow. By Friday we were skiing waist deep, face shot powder.

 

I want to make a plug for our guide Jim Gudjonson, his assistant guides and the crew at the Battle Abbey hut. The cook was wonderful. I don’t think the Battle Abbey is nearly as popular as some of the other huts. It’s not an ACC hut. However, it makes a great base. The terrain is excellent for alpine skiing touring.

 

If you’re planning a tour like this, I recommend Jim and/or the Battle Abbey. Jim is building his own lodge near the Lyell Icefield, north of Golden and is booking 2007:

 

http://www.icefall.ca

 

The Battle Abbey hut:

 

http://www.battleabbey.ca/index.html

 

I put a few pic’s in my gallery:

 

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/plab/showgallery.phpcat=500&ppuser=1156

 

 

 

Gear Notes:

Big, fat, A/T skis.

 

Approach Notes:

Alpine aviation Golden B.C.

[magellan]

The photo gallery link doesn't seem to work. Help!

[Know_Fear]

Go to Gallery -> Ski Porn. You might have to look for my gallery - Know_Fear

[PaulB]

I want to make a plug for our guide Jim Gudjonson...

Jim is also a solid ice/mixed climber if anyone's ever looking for an ice guide.