Spring Traverses

Last May I attempted a spring ski traverse with my friend Chris. The original intent was to start at Van Horlick Creek and traverse south towards Lizzie Lake before heading east along the Stein divide and popping out on logging roads by Boston Bar.

As it turns out, it was too ambitious a goal by half (or more!), and what with weather, objective hazards, and the creeping problems of the middle-aged, we ended up turning around and retreating back the way we came. No guts, no glory, but no casualties either, except for a Black Diamond carbon-fiber uber-ski-pole that decided it had quite enough and snapped in half while we were boot packing down a slope.

It was the first time out for my brand new Pentax K100D. The kit lenses worked just fine, although not as nice as the old Nikon MF primes. Unfortunately the results were pretty spotty (literally - there's a spot on the sensor that the camera repair guys just can't seem to remove!), but why let quality get in the way of posting photos!

Of course, traverses can't be done without planning and support. Chris did the lions share of the planning, Brian and Ian drove all the way up to the Duffey with snowmobiles to help us on the first part of the trip, and Mike Coyle gets special mention for driving all the way up to the Duffey to pick us up after we bailed. My thanks to each and every one of you!