We prefer to take 3 days for this traverse as it allows us to spend more time skiing without the big packs on, and gives us an opportunity to get more vertical skiing in. Canada West Mountain School has been leading this trip since 1985.

Dates:
March 1-3, 2008
March 21-23, 2008
April 12-14, 2008

Private dates available on request - please contact our office directly

Location
The Garibaldi Neve is located in the Coast Mountains above Squamish, BC. The traverse starts at the Diamond Head access point, and continues past Elfin Lakes and down through Ring Creek to get out onto the Neve - an expansive ice field feeding a series of glaciers above Pitt River.

The heart of the Neve Ski Traverse is the crossing behind Mt Garibaldi and down to Garibaldi Lake. From there, the trip heads down to join onto Highway 99 just south of Whistler.

Your first day you will plan on touring into Elfin Lakes at the edge of the Neve proper. Here you may stay at the Elfin Shelter, or you will pitch your tents for the night. Usually you will have ample opportunity for getting some turns in at the end of the day without your big packs on!

Day 2
You will be up early and descend into the Ring Creek valley and onto the Garibaldi Glacier. From here you will climb steadily up to the high point on the north shoulder of Mt Garibaldi. Camp will be set up on the Warren Glacier in time for an afternoon of skiing on the glacier slopes of Mt Garibaldi.

Day 3
From your camp on the Warren Glacier you will traverse over and down the Sentinel Glacier into Sentinel Bay on Garibaldi Lake. This is one of the premier glacier ski runs in the region, and if time permits you will drop your packs and head back up for another run before striking out to cross garibaldi lake. The final trail down to the trailhead at Rubble Creek takes you down past the impressive "Barrier", a unique geological formation caused during recent volcanic eruptions in the area.

We will arrange a car-shuttle at this point in order for everyone to get back to their vehicles in Squamish.

• Touring skis (AT or Tele)
• Boots - touring boots appropriate to your bindings. A warm and comfortable boot is recommended.
• Poles
• Climbing skins for skis
• Backpack, approx. 70+ liters capacity suitable for carrying all required gear.
• Hard shell outerwear jacket – waterproof/breathable type with hood (Gore-tex, etc.) (1)
• Outerwear pants or bibs – same as above (ones with full zips are nice for ventilation while touring)
• Personal active-wear clothing layers that are adjustable and suitable for all conditions (no cotton)
• Down or synthetic warm parka/jacket
• Sleeping bag – down or synthetic; good for –15 degrees Celsius
• Sleeping pads – Therma rest type and/or closed cell foam style (1)
• Lightweight camp booties for around camp (optional)
• Personal kit (toothbrush, personal meds, etc.)
• Gaiters (unless your ski pants have built-in gaiters or snow-cuffs)
• Gloves or mitts with removable wool or synthetic liners (1 pair, plus 1 pair extra)
• Lightweight gloves - wind stopper, fleece, etc (1 pr)
• Sweater or vest - wool, fleece or down
• Toque/warm hat - wool or fleece
• Hat with sun brim - baseball cap style (1)
• Sunglasses with side protection and 100% UV blockage
• Ski goggles
• Headlamp with fresh batteries plus 1 set extra batteries
• Misc. personal items (camera, journal, etc.)
• Water bottle w/insulation (no "hose"-systems) - 2 liter
• Compass & map in waterproof bag (optional)
• Note pad and pencil
• Knife - small pocket-knife style
• Avalanche transceiver (supplied by CWMS if needed)
• G3 Shovel (supplied by CWMS if needed)
• G3 Probe (supplied by CWMS if needed)
• Harness (supplied by CWMS if needed)

Communal equipment required:
(this may be shared among the group participants)
• 2 or 3 person tents (as necessary)
  
• Single burner stoves and fuel (1 stove per 2-3 people)
  
• Cooking sets (2 pots per 3 people

All other group safety gear and emergency equipment is supplied by CWMS (ropes, crevasse rescue gear, satellite phone, etc)

Please go over this list before the trip to ensure that you are properly prepared. Contact our office if you have any questions, and we can suggest places for you to purchase or rent equipment if needed. Keep in mind that you will be spending all of your time outdoors in the snow in cold conditions (-5 to -20), and that the weather can vary from one extreme to the other. It is recommended that you also have a set of spare street clothes for the end of the trip after you have left the mountains.