Cerise Creek March 21-23

Eric and I went to Keith's Hut in the Cerise Creek area for two nights. The weather started off snowy and overcast but quickly cleared up for an unbelievable two days of skiing.

Keith's Hut where we stayed

The hut is usually very busy, but we had it all to our selves on Monday night. After arriving at 5 we skied till dark and went back to the hut for some dinner and relaxing. It was snowing overnight so we were amped for more fresh powder.

We headed out in the morning at 7:30 and worked our way up the cabin ridge. Our plan was to get some turns on the way to an avy path called Cheques in the mail on the other side of the valley.

Coming out of the trees on Vantage ridge

After skinning through the trees for a good 3 hours we came out near the top of Vantage ridge, where we were pleasantly surprised at all the fresh tracks to be had. Cheques in the mail is a 700 m vertical run with open skiing leading into sparse trees half way down. The view from the top was so awesome! We could see the Duffey lake on one side, and the anniversary glacier on the other.

View from the top of Vantage ridge

The Duffey Lake

Eric skiing Cheques in the Mail

Eric starring at a socked in Anniversary Glacier

After Cheques in the Mail we went back to the hut to refill our water bottles before doing another lap of the cabin bowl. On the way back to the hut we planned our route for Tuesday up the anniversary glacier to Mount Matier. By the time we got back to the hut it was 5 pm and we had skied about 1700 m of vertical in 9 and a half hours... and the cabin was now full of people getting ready for the incoming high pressure system.

Mt Matier (Left), Joffre Peak (Right)

After a warm night in a packed cabin we woke up to a blue bird day. We made a quick breakfast and talked to some people in the hut before heading up the cabin ridge for a 4th time. We left at 8 am with a solo girl from Quebec named Jess and an eager american couple close behind. Our plan was to skin up as high as we could on Mt. Matier and then ski down its flanks onto the Anniversary glacier.

Heading up cabin ridge with our tracks from the day before in the Cabin bowl

Joffre looming over us

Working our way off the ridge onto the Glacier with Eric in the lead

Almost at the top of the glacier!!

Skinning up the side of Mt Matier

Some bad ass guys getting ready to ski the face of mt matier

Our American friends parting ways (check out cascadecrusades.org)

Our highpoint - 2600 m

After just over two hours we reached our high point in a col about a hundred meters shy of the peak of Mt. Matier at 2600m. The view from the top was amazing. We could see the Matier glacier on the other side of the Matier-Joffre col which stretched to the Matier ice fall. Big crevasses were visible as well. Some guys got dropped off in a chopper and started boot packing there way up the aussie colouir on Joffre peak.

There was cool rock formations all around and sprawling mountain ranges as far as we could see. The american couple were looking to ski some steep faces and possibly the aussie colouir so they took off around the side of Matier. They were really inspiring as they were both super stoked to ski the big stuff as they steamed past us.I seriously didn't want to leave, but the massive ski down the glacier was beckoning so we got ready to go. 

Skiing down the Flank of Mt Matier

The ultimate glacier run

sooooo awemsalghaegmgeeome

 

Our Tracks down the Glacier

Finishing off the Glacier at 1600 m

We skied the entire glacier to 1600 m with a vertical drop of 1 km!!!!! It was one of the coolest things I have ever done. Working so hard to get to the top and then carving fresh tracks the whole way down. On our way down we counted about ten people heading up the glacier, but they were too late to be first down it... early bird gets the worm! We then headed back to the hut around 12 to pack up our bags and grab some water and food. Some clouds started to move in but it was still ridiculously hot and sunny.
Despite all the 45 I used I was still burnt.

Last view from the Hut

Our tracks on the glacier

I did not want to go home!

Eric skiing down the cabin bowl... still getting first tracks!

Last look up the side of Joffre before leaving

Now we had to ski out with all our gear after a solid two and a half days of skiing. We got another 1650 m of vertical in on Wednesday for around 3500 m in total since we got there Monday night. This is a really awesome place and I will have to go back soon with Dani!

Slalok from Eric's Car, If you look close on BBQer's right there are ski tracks.