From the plowed parking lot just off the highway (same parking lot as for Wheeler Hut), climb up the steep slope through the trees for approximately 50 meters to reach an old railway road. Turn left onto the road and follow it for barely a kilometer until the trail splits off from the railway road into a large open area on the right. The trail snakes up the obvious path through the trees until it pops out into the Asulkan Valley. From here you ski up the Asulkan Brook to reach the practice slopes. The route along the valley floor is quite straightforward as it follows alongside the Asulkan Creek, however it does cross underneath a few significant avalanche slopes that are quite hazardous.

When the valley begins to open up, make your way by choosing the safest slopes and head up to the right into a treed area. This is called ‘ The Mouse Trap’. Make the steep climb up through the trees which will lead you to the open slopes again. Continue traveling to the right until you reach a prominent rock buttress ‘ The Cleaver’. Keeping this cliff on the right, still climbing straight up. When the groove ends, you have to traverse left across a large slope before reaching more gentle terrain. From here, climb in Southern direction to reach Sapphire Col. The small bivouac shelter is located right in the col. This tour is a serious undertaken and should be considered by well equipped and skilled teams. For a more detailed description of this route, refer to Chic Scott’s guide Summits & Icefields, Columbia Mountains Alpine Ski Tours.