Canuck Splitfest presented by Prior

SaltBox · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:35 am

BTW - Great job treepilot! Site, sponsors, accommodation..... :rock:

sauerboarder · **Joined:** Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:50 pm **Posts:** 25

I'd be interested in coming along. I'm from Calgary, but only have one trip up to Rogers Pass so far (shameful, I know).

I can carpool with anyone leaving from Calgary and I'd be up for sharing a room with anyone that hasn't booked yet (I'll get on booking soon).

spruce cabin · **Joined:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:39 pm **Posts:** 294

Zee wrote:

PUNKY wrote:

I want to get in on this. Total noob though.

We can point and laugh at each other...

This trip does look amazing! But the two abovers hit on something close to home for me.

Does total noob mean you already have your Level One avi training and are ready to explore new territory?
Or does it mean this will be your first year in the BC?

Gracias in advance.

SC

SeaTacExpat · **Joined:** Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:09 am **Posts:** 18

I'm thinking about coming up from Seattle for it - always wanted to visit, but it's a long drive, and I'd like to go with people who know the terrain.

BTW, is there a plan B for where to go in the area if the avalanche danger is high/extreme?
Looking at the CAA's Avaluator, most of the stuff in the area is rated as "complex", with the exception of the trees behind the lodge (simple).

treepilot · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:29 am

The avaluator is notoriously conservative. You'll find many people out during high rated cycles and there are some options that don't involve tiptoeing under huge paths.

There are also guides available for hire if your training or experience doesn't leave you comfortable. With a relatively short drive out of the park there are other safer treed options available.

treepilot · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:31 am

As for the noob question. Training is a good idea but not essential. You could probably find a more experienced group to join or you could also consider hiring a guide.

Zee · **Joined:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:55 am **Posts:** 160

spruce cabin wrote:

Zee wrote:

PUNKY wrote:

I want to get in on this. Total noob though.

We can point and laugh at each other...

This trip does look amazing! But the two abovers hit on something close to home for me.

Does total noob mean you already have your Level One avi training and are ready to explore new territory?
Or does it mean this will be your first year in the BC?

Gracias in advance.

SC

For me, I've taken my Level 1, and also have been in the BC on several cat trips. This will be the first year splitting.

I may try to come, but I'll be leaving to bee back in Calgary for Saturday night.

wilkez · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:34 pm

Wow look what happens when you're not on here for a while...

I will try to make it out...but it's a bit of a trek for a uni student in vancouver to get out there with no wheels. I'll see what I can do though.

I'll pitch in on all the noob comments as well, except I have the opposite message most people have had so far so maybe I'm wrong. Rogers pass is huge...it has tons of terrain and and lot of it is very dangerous. And everywhere I have ridden there involves BIG climbs. So at the very least if you are a noob, at least be ready to suffer. If you aren't willing to put in at least 1500m (4500ft) days, you really won't get too far at the pass. However, if you have the fitness base to do that, you will be able to hook up with experienced people and find your way around in almost any conditions there. The canada park info center there has tons of info about where to go in what kinds of conditions. At least that's my experience my first few trips there a few years back!

And one other things to consider is getting permits for everybody! You are required to get a permit from parks canada to ride in many of the places in Rogers Pass now (the permit is free, its just to make sure you don't get blown up by avy control). There are 2 ways to do it: 1) each person has to get a permit each day they are out there or 2) you can get a year long permit if you do a 45 min course from the park rangers. I would suggest once you have an estimate of numbers of people coming, call parks canada and see if you can set up a session the night before so everybody can go out without having to deal with the permit junk every morning.

Otherwise sounds like you guys got it under control! Nice work!

Tyler

Taft · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:55 pm

nice post wilkez.

here is some permit info thats being passes along via a parks e mail.

land on you feet folks.

Quote:

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO WINTER PERMIT SYSTEM IN
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

The snow will soon be falling in Rogers Pass and the Winter Permit System
will take effect in the coming weeks. Changes to the Winter Permit System
this season include a new designated access route to Smart and Fortitude
Winter Restricted Areas and Flat Creek Winter Unrestricted Area; designated
parking at Bostock Parking Winter Restricted Area; and no parking at
Rockgarden. Trailhead parking that requires a Winter Parking Permit now
includes Bostock, Hermit, Loop Creek, NRC Gully, and Stone Arch.

The Winter Permit system allows backcountry users to enter Winter
Restricted Areas that are part of the highway avalanche program when
artillery gunfire is not anticipated. This system protects the public from
avalanche control actions in the transportation corridor, but it does not
render slopes safe for winter recreationists.

If you plan on recreating frequently in Winter Restricted Areas, it is
possible to obtain an Annual Winter Permit to enter these areas by
attending a Winter Permit Orientation Session. A Winter Permit is not
required for accessing Winter Unrestricted Areas, with the exception of
Flat Creek Winter Unrestricted Area.

Annual Winter Permit Orientation Session schedule:
· Calgary – Cardel Theater, 180 Quarry Park Blvd. SE, November 2nd at
7pm & 8:30pm.
· Banff – Kinnear Centre, Room 305, The Banff Centre, November 3rd, 5pm
& 6:30pm.
· Golden – Seniors Centre, 1401, 9,th St South, November 15th &
December 15th at 7pm.
· Revelstoke – United Church, 314 McKenzie, November 17th, 18th &
December 8th at 7pm.
*Please bring to the session the vehicle licence numbers of vehicles you
plan to park in lots requiring a Winter Permit.,

Daily Winter Permits will still be issued in Rogers Pass; however, each
individual will have to obtain their own Daily Winter Permit, as permits
will no longer be issued solely to group leaders.

Please note that the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre is closed for renovations
and a temporary information centre is located next door at the Glacier Park
Lodge

For complete details, open the attachment below or call 250-837-7500, or
visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/glacier. .

(See attached file: Important Bulletin_Winter Permit System_2010.doc)

snowsnake · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:56 pm

Good point Taft. I had the good sense to attend the pass party in C-town.

Treepilot: I will have some designs to show you soon, just started a new job and shiz got busy :nononno:

'Mercans: I live way too close to the airport and drag your dirtbag butts out to the pass, I have room for 3-4 plus me - that goes for the Calgary folk too.

Meanwhile, I'm going to get my elbows sharpened for the Wiwaxy 500 tomorrow morning. Can't wait to slide sooooo seeya at the Lake! I'll be the Orange target in the middle of the run beside the slow sign.

treepilot · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:35 am

I don't know if parks would be willing to do a special info session but it'd be worth looking into - good idea

Noob doesn't always mean unfit. I agree that better fitness means a better experience at Rogers. Grizzly shoulder, puff daddy, hourglass are all smaller treed options that would be noob friendly even for the unfit. Lots of people's "normal" outing is 2-3,000 feet

I definitely wouldn't suggest inexperienced and unfit folks head off anywhere and everywhere but there are some options available. We were all new once.

TEX · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:37 am

Quote:

We were all new once.

That pretty much says it all to you noobs out there who are thinking about going.

My first split party was the 2nd annual scrubfest in Wyoming. I was new to splitting, the forum and I went alone. the host (Wysplit) picked me up at the airport let me crash at his house and drove me out to the party. I met some great folks, got to ride some great wyoming powder and I return every year.
Thats what these things are all about. So if you have the time and money, come on and do it. Even if you havent taken a level one bring your beacon and you can be taught to search and recover, you just wont be doing any snowpack eval or solo tours

Flip · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 4:48 pm

What is the policy on bringing along a skier?

My buddy and I were planning on a week long backcountry trip to the PNW in Jan or Feb. If we can make the schedule work, would he be accepted?

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