Bow-Yoho Traverse

The Powder, Peaks, and Adventure of the Wapta

Bow-Yoho Traverse

The Powder, Peaks, and Adventure of the Wapta

Cross the continental divide over three extensive glaciers

Journey through some of the most striking Canadian terrain

Enjoy the comfort of a hut-based traverse

Explore incredible ski lines and experience potential summits

Trip Description

Over the course of six unforgettable days, you’ll be challenged with summit ascents and rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views in the Canadian Rockies. Your group will be expertly guided from Bow Lake to Emerald Lake, staying in three distinct and character-rich ACC huts along the way. Each hut will serve as both a cozy refuge and a launch point for exploring untouched lines—offering the perfect blend of point-to-point travel and full ski days dedicated to chasing fresh turns.

This advanced trip is tailored for those who have some experience traversing and feel comfortable on multi-day expeditions. The Bow-Yoho’s unique route will take you over a plethora of jaw dropping glacial and mountain terrain, making it the perfect trip for anyone with ski touring experience looking for their next adventure.

You can expect nutritious continental-style breakfasts, packed lunches and 4-course dinners with soup, appetizers, meat-based entrees (with vegetarian options) and a delicious dessert. All of the food for this camp is provided by Peak Eats. Accommodation at the Bow Hut, Yoho Peak Hut, and the Stanley Mitchell Hut is included in the course. A complete gear list and equipment rental information can be found here.

Itinerary

The group will travel across the icefields together, but there is flexibility in the itinerary to accommodate individual objectives such as learning skills in glacial travel, summiting winter peaks, completing a first major ski traverse, or even hunting powder. There will be time and opportunities to summit some coveted peaks. Possible ski-mountaineering objectives include:

Mount Rhondda (3,055m)
St. Nicholas (2,970m)
Olive (3,130m)
Gordon (3,202m)
Collie (3,116m)
Yoho (2,760m)
Des Poilus (3,166m)
McArthur (3,015m)
Isolated Peak (2,823m)
The President (3,138m)
Vice President (3,066m)

Many of these mountains can be skied directly from the summit! Other highlights of the trip include passing the beautiful Takakkaw Falls frozen in its winter coat, and the potential to ski both President’s Pass and the Iceline Exit from the Stanley Mitchell Hut.

Day one

Meet at 7AM (MST) in the Canadian Alpine Centre hostel in Lake Louise. We’ll go over paperwork and gear, organize the car shuttle and begin the trip by skiing across Bow Lake and up to the ACC’s Bow Hut. There will be plenty of time on this day to run over skills such as crevasse rescue, as well as give you an opportunity to get your first turns in on slopes close to the hut.

Day two

Day two will take place out of the Bow hut, giving you plenty of options for classic Rockie’s ski touring. Summits of Rhondda, Gordon, or St Nicolas peaks are all possible.

Day three

Travel to the ACC’s Yoho Peak (Louise & Richard Guy) Hut. Summiting either Rhondda, Gordon or Collie is possible en route before you drop into the Des Poilus glacier basin.

Day four

A day out of the comfortable Yoho Peak Hut will give you the opportunity to ski some nice turns off Yoho Peak or get more adventurous and try to summit Collie or Des Poilus.

Day five

This is a pivotal day on the traverse, as the traditional route crosses Isolated Col—an exposed, glaciated high pass where avalanche conditions can vary. With good weather, you may have the chance to summit McArthur, adding an extra highlight to the journey. Regardless of the route, the descent into Yoho Valley promises rewarding turns, leading to a warm welcome at the Stanley Mitchell Hut.

Day six

Return to civilization at Emerald Lake or the Trans-Canada Highway, either via the breathtaking, high-elevation Iceline Trail or by descending the Yoho Valley road past the towering Takakkaw Falls, Canada’s second-highest waterfall. Wrap up the journey with a debrief alongside your guides, then head home carrying memories to last a lifetime.

Location

A quintessential Rockies experience

The Bow-Yoho Traverse is a Rockies classic, weaving through breathtaking glaciated terrain, rugged peaks, and alpine beauty. Less traveled than the Wapta, it offers solitude, epic scenery, and a true alpine experience, with cozy ACC huts to stay in along the way.

Guides & Staff

Our ACMG certified ski or full mountain guides will ensure your adventure is both safe and enjoyable. Our guides will be welcome to answering questions about the region as well as everything from ski technique to gear.

Guide Selection Pending

Guides for this trip are still being confirmed.

We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips

Open

Details

* Camps are subject to minimum enrollment in order to run.

Adventure Hazards

Terrain

Terrain is uncontrolled, unmarked and not inspected, risks include but are not limited to: Cornices, Crevasses, Cliffs, Trees, tree wells, forest dead fall, and tree stumps, Creeks, rocks and boulders. Holes and depressions below the snow surface. Variable and difficult snow conditions. Variable and difficult walking terrain. Snowcat roads and road banks, fences and other man-made structures. Snow immersion. Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects. Extreme variation in trails or terrain. Encounters with domestic or wild animals. Loss of balance or control, slips, trips, and falls. Becoming lost or separated from the group.

General Hazards

Risks include but are not limited to: Slips, trips and falls indoor or outdoor. Equipment failure. Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Negligent first aid. Negligence of other persons, including other guests. Negligence of the guide including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities. Changing weather conditions including but not limited to high winds, lightning, forest fires, effects of high altitude including pulmonary edema and cerebral edema, incomplete warnings or instructions, negligence of other people, including trip coordinator and other guests. Negligence includes failure on the part of ACC Guides (if applicable) to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from or warn you of the risks, dangers and hazards of wilderness activities.

Avalanche

Risks include but are not limited to: Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering. Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding). Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Communication and Rescue

Risks include but are not limited to: Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available. Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow.

Boots and Binding Systems

Risks include but are not limited to: Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injured. Non-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.

Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstances. Using such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.