Mt Fairview TR

[Idris]

Sunday morning started lazily, sleeping through the alarm clock and rocking up to meet DougW 20 minuets late….stopping on the way to pick up my gear we probably didn’t hit the parking lot till 11.30. Mt Fairview is the hill on lookers left of Lake Louise (the lake not the ski area). The trek up to the saddle winds gently through the trees.



We stopped for a break and for Redskea to eat – you know you should have had breakfast when you get the shakes J

Here on up required braking trail, not following a path. Starting out was ok but then things got wind affected and a little strange. The snow was affected in waves, but was flat on the surface! I would start by ploughing in about a foot and slowly rise out on crust, ending up slipping on dust on crust before plunging back into soft snow. After a few hundred feet of this I opted to follow a rocky bootpack route until the angle eased and the snow became more uniform.

DougW and Redskea not enjoying my route



The upper mountain was far more pleasant a hike, slowly varying wind affected, Changing every few hundred meters instead or every 2 or 3.
After lots of false summits we arrived at the peak. Quite a dramatic one, dropping off very steeply on all sides except the one we’d climbed.



Lake Louise behind and faithful Hound Red in tow.



Skiing down was fantastic for the first 7 or 8 turns, then things got variable.
We dropped into Dog leg Chute and I got cliffed out and about the same time the snowpack got suspect and slabby. A 40m climb got me out of that one. Down at tree level the snow got good again. Red and Redskea were enjoying themselves.



We got a little over enthusiastic and dropped below our return path. Not wanting to ski back up we went bushwhacking…..a little tiring to say the lease



To avoid lots of narrow switchbacks we cut the corners off the trail, the snow deep in the forest was surprisingly good!

A great but tiring day out, which we should have started earlier – we drove home in the dark!

[Eldo]

Excellent TR. And the name you gave this photo is perfect.

[DougW]

Skiining up and skiing with Red is an experience. One funny dog.

[Stoysluttie1]

I like Canada TR's!

[DougW]

pic of Fairview in summer from valley

[powstash]

Wish I were there. I've got a nice photo of myself and Mrs. Stash in that exact spot - summertime though. Beautiful views from up there.

I heart Canada - except the Frenchies in Quebec