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Cayoosh - Wendy Thompson Traverse

Duffey Lake

A pleasant traverse on the north side of the Duffey Lake Road

Ski Touring Moderate

Distance
17 km
Ascent
1.7 km
Descent
1.7 km
Duration
1 day +
Low Point
1.3 km
High Point
2.5 km
Gradient
42˚
Cayoosh - Wendy Thompson Traverse Map

While both of these areas are frequent spots for "out and back" tours, it's less common to go for the point to point traverse.

Description

This route starts at the Cayoosh parking area and climbs up the standard route on the Armchair Glacier and up to the Cayoosh summit. From the summit, retrace the track back to the col and then descend the North Glacier, either on the glacier itself or by detouring into the Million Dollar Couloir. From the lake at the bottom of the glacier, climb WNW up to another lake at the head of the 7-mile Creek drainage.

Continue up left of the "Rock and Roll" run to the top of "Honey Bronzed and Very Desirable" which is an excellent sheltered north facing shot.

Ski directly down to Lower Marriott Lake or traverse left towards the Wendy Thompson Hut. Once in the Marriott Basin, it's possible to follow the busy trail down valley with some skiing and pushing and then out to the highway. Ski along the right side of the highway to the Cayoosh Creek Bridge and then walk ~900m to the starting point!

Difficulty

Moderate

Slopes become slightly steeper at around 25-30 degrees.

Low Exposure (E1)

1 out of 4

Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.

Remoteness

3 out of 4

Little chance of being seen or helped in case of an accident.

Best time to visit

between December and April

Features

  • Alpine
  • Ski Mountaineering

Equipment required

  • Rope
  • Skins
  • Ice axe
  • Crampons
  • Glacier kit

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area