THE COLUMBIA ICE FIELDS by A

30 CANADIAN SKI ANNUAL for the different kinds of snow which you to the end. The one who lagged behind will meet. believed that the other had some secret for I may have conveyed the impression that waxing, .but I am convinced it was simply the matter is more complicated than it that his ski were better and in better con really is in practice. My experience is that dition, so that the damp did not penetrate you cannot say, for instance, that if you and there was less strain on the wax. Also put on four layers of different wax the last he had laid a good foundation-coating so as layer will apply for the first hundred metres thoroughly to impregnate the ski. Moreover, and so on. he had certainly applied the wax on the day For a descent over varying kinds of snow before the run, rubbing it in well with his all that is necessary is to ensure that the hand. This makes an enormous difference. wax shall not be absolutely unfitted for the It is also a good thing to add a little various kinds of snow you meet, so thatyou paraffin as the last layer, especially if the do not, for instance, run into powder snow snow is wet, or if the temperatUl'e is at with fresh Klister, for in that case you will zero, or if snow is falling. This may prevent stop dead. In other words, you want a small bits of ice from forming under the ski. wax which does not directly conflict with the If you really want to wax conscientiously, quality of the snow and which will last to vou should not omit to wax the sides of the the end of the run. ski, as they are also in contact with the snow. If the greater part of the run is over Finally, my opinion is that you will get on crystalline snow (dry or wet), the only two very well for the run down with the following kinds of wax which will last are a basic waxes: Fyk, Record-Hansen, Mix, Tento, layer of burnt Skare, with a light coating of V m'nis, Klister, Skare, Paraffin, and Grafit. Skare or Klister, and a third coating of Mix If you experiment with these nine different or other running wax for the first 500 metres. kinds of wax and do so in a logical way, you in order to modify, so to speak, the Klister will agree with me that waxing for tbe run or the Skare. If the Klister has been put down is not so difficult. on the day before it is sure to hold. Most of my friends, and I myself, have I have seen two skiers on a long run who never used for jumping anything but Fyk, used the same wax. One of them during the Record-Hansen, Vernis, Tento, Paraffin and last few metres on wet, sticky snow, had no Grafit, and we have always found them very more wax, and could not run at all; the other satisfactory. still had wax on his ski and ran fairly well Good luck to you! THE COLUMBIA ICE FIELDS By A. L. WEAVER Leica Pholos by Clifford While IN THE heart of the Canadian Rockies, sur peditions have touched them and many rounded by magnificent peaks, swept by interesting facts collected, and the Inter storm clouds which rest their billowy soft national Boundary Commission of the 'ness on its very sUl'face, there lies a vast Canadian government mapped a five-mile terrain of ice, snow-covered and dazzling area on either side of the Alberta-British a region of raging winds and storms and Columbia boundary and accumulated data burning brightness; a desert in the clouds; which has proved of great value. These the table land of the Columbia Icefields, expeditions were all made in summer by from which rise peaks ranging in altitude pack train, carrying camp luxuries and most from 8,000 to 10,000 feet above the level of complete equipment. Often thirty head or the sea. more of horses, depending on the size of This extensive sub-arctic icefield, the the party and the length of time it would be largest in Canada and one of the largest in away, were used to aSSUl'e ample supplies. the world, comprising one hundred and Camp sites could be chosen without much fifty square miles of ice and snow, was first difficulty and never was the temperature so seen by J. Norman Collie in 1898. Since then low as to be troublesome. some exploration work and climbing has Up to March, 1933, no one had ever been done, the most successful expeditions, reported being on the icefield proper in perhaps, being those headed by J. Monroe winter excepting a ski party of tmee, Thorington between the years 1922-24., and headed by Russell Bennett and including which included tbese fields, Subsequent ex- ClilIord White of Banff, Alberta, and Joe CANADIAN SKI ANNUAL 31 Weiss of Jasper, Alberta, who acted as guides, They travelled light, their food supplies being "cached" during the fall at strategic points be tween Banff and Jasper; their party ascended the Athabaska glacier and climbed the Snow Dome, obtaining a view of the icefields from its summit. Their visit, however, was brief, a storm sending them scurrying down the glacier to timber and shelter. Their expedition is described in the last issue of the Ski Annual. Early in the summer of 1932, Clifford White MOUNT BRYCE (11500 F' E E T) A S SEEN FROM COLUMBIA ICE FIELDS and the writer, both,'of Banff, decided we would like to see the and strapped to the outside of the packs, C<;>lumbia Ice Fields in winter, so maps were and bn Sunday, March 5, we left Banff with consJIlted and information gathered from all heavy, bulky loads. possible sources. White from his experience The first part of the journey was made by of the previous winter believed that this train, our party taking to skis at Lake 250-mile ski trip through the heart of the Louise. Here we had a choice of two routes: Canadian Rockies would be possible and either following the Bow Valley and the safe, success, however, depending directly Lake Louise-Jasper highway, which is now upon that unknown factor, the weather. under construction, or swinging to the east Another suitable member to our party was and proceeding through the Ptarmigan and necessary and we were fortunate in getting Molar country, coming back to the Bow Rube Edwards to come with us. down Mosquito Creek. The latter course, In order to have the best chance with the though double the length, was chosen since weather, we arranged to leave Banff. part of this country had never been travelled Alberta, on March 5, as at this season ski by skis. conditions are getting good, and the light for Half a mile from the station we en camera work much stronger, An under countered a sharp ascent for four miles, the taking of this kind must be carefully trail leading steadily up hill, and as the planned, for extra weight means extra work, distance to be covered this first day was As only a small quantity of food had been only seven miles, rests were frequent, for "cached" it meant that each skier would be the heavy packs were tiresome to uninitiated packing around fifty pounds to start with, shoulders. By five o'clock in the afternoon though this would soon be lightened as the party reached the Half-way Hut of the food was eaten, or "cached" for the return Skoki Ski Camp, where we stopped for the trip, A tent was necessary, a ground sheet, night. glacier rope and axe, these articles being Leaving the hut at ten next morning the chosen for their lightness and servicability trail to the Skoki Camp was taken, over weighing only ten pounds, Sleeping bags. Boulder Pass, on to Ptarmigan Lake, with weighing six pounds each, and personal glorious ski mountains on all sides tempting equipment such as clothes, toilet articles and us to drop our packs and enjoy a few of the ski repai.rs were cut to the minimum. A limitless runs. Directly in front rose spirit stove and fuel, to be used on the ice Deception Pass, between Mounts Pika and fields, was considered a necessary addition. Fossil, rightly called "Deception" as it With this weight of equipment, ninety appears to be easily climbed, but is not, pounds of food could be packed, which, rising to an altitude of 8,100 feet. Once on together with the small "caches" already out, top, a glorious run was made to the 7,000- would prove sufficient for twenty-five days, foot level, where nestled the Main Skoki Every item was checked and rechecked and Camp with smoke lazily rolling from the on March 4, 1933, packed in the bergans, chimney. Mr, and Mrs. Peter Whyte ex and as the food and equipment took up all tended the hospitality for which the camp the inside space the sleeping bags were rolled is famous and we spent tw,o hours of com- 32 CANADIAN SKI ANNUAL dropped down on. to Molar Creek, a wide, open valley which or dinarily would have been good travelling, but with the new snow trail break ing was tiresome and speed much cut down. The tops of the neigh bouring mountains were obscured and just for fleeting moments we saw the glorious peaks of Mount Hector (11,135) to the left and Molar Moun tain (9.924) to the right.

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