Oh yeah, it never ends! A week ago, I skied Forbes, my biggest Rocky yet at 3612m. Though I didn’t plan it like this, this is the final peak I’ve skied a line off this year in the Banff-Yoho-Kootenay big boys trifecta. Forbes, the biggest peak wholly within Banff Park, Goodsir S tower representing Yoho and Mt Ball, again, the largest peak fully within Kootenay Park. Mt Ball was an awful day of really bad bush,\u00a0 driving snow near the summit and legitimately hazardous runnels and crusts on the descent, finally culminating in fatigue-induced hallucinations on the escape, so I didn’t bother writing it up, but Forbes on the other hand, what a beaut of a ski mish!<\/p>\n
I first tried for Forbes two weeks prior, with a different crew and a different approach. We went up the BC side around the rim of Icefall Canyon, the plan being to cross the divide, go down the Mons Icefield east toward its terminus, and then ascend part of the North Forbes Glacier, all in one day. Then bivy and ski the face and exit the next day. Oh, and in fresh powder. It was a big gamble, one that didn’t pay off. The approach was too ambitious, especially with the extra load of overnight gear, and fresh pow means weather, and in June, weather means a pretty good chance of lightning and locally heavy loading. We nixed the plan at the divide and skied partway up Mons Peak in seemingly good weather the next day, only for an ominous black cloud to form to the west. With tingling axes, we retreated all the way back to the truck.<\/p>\n