December 22, 2012 

Four of us started out just after 8 AM - Craig Speir, myself (Paul Kubik), Michelle Hy-un and her friend Roger.

Road was plowed to first switchback. We skinned from there although it was melted out somewhat on the way out. We were able to ski down to between switchbacks 2 and 3 leaving about a 10 minute walk back to the parking lot.

About 30 to 50 trees are down across the road above switchback 5 (well below Brunswick turnoff) and all the way up the traverse past Alberta Creek until the road turns up Harvey Creek. The trees are down in clumps in places forcing us to remove skis.

Skiing was very good in stormy conditions. Deep powder, right-side up snowpack. We did hear an avalanche come down the north face of the Lions but visibility across the valley was impaired due to fog. About a three metre or greater snowpack in the upper basin.

We ran into BCMCers Marcus and Robin Dell and friend Graham in the upper clearcut. They had followed our track up. There was enough time for a couple of laps in the bowl.

The junction with Brunswick trail.

Around 800 metres.

After the first lap, Craig and I were waiting for Michelle and Roger, so we skinned up again. It was one of Michelle's first backcountry ski trips.

Craig in the debris gully near 1100 metres.

Craig.