Elk Lakes Cabin (Overnight)

Name: Elk Lakes Cabin

Activity: Backpacking / Ski Touring

Total Distance: ~25 km

# Nights: 1

Date: February 24 - February 25, 2018

Area: Elk Lakes Park (BC) / Peter Lougheed Park (AB)

Crew: 13! I'll shamefully say I don't know everyone's names, but Bennett and I joined Jordan and Shannon, Andrea, et. al.
Trailhead: Elk Pass Recreation Area Trailhead

Route: 
Day 1 - Trailhead to Elk Lakes Cabin (10km), tour around the area, up the Viewpoint Trail (~5km).
Day 2 - Return to the trailhead


Bennett and I were invited to join Jordan, Shannon and a huge crew of their friends to spend a night at the Elk Lakes Cabin. We met at the trailhead and headed out on the x-country trail system for 6km to Elk Pass. There was a Cross Country Ski Marathon happening on the same day so we did our best to stay out of their way.. Once we hit Elk Pass, we dropped down the other side into BC, along the power line for another 3-4 km. Its a pretty shallow downhill for touring skis (but pretty decent downhill for cross country skis!), so we kept the skins on for most of it as there were some flats and uphill sections. We skinned off for the last maybe 400m of distance to get a bit of skiing in.

After eating lunch at the cabin, we headed out to find some more skiing, and decided on the Viewpoint Trail which took us maybe 60m up to a gorgeous view, and skiied back down & across the lake to get back to the cabin. Bennett and I had our dehydrated chili from our cancelled Bow Hut trip (Special Avalanche Advisory was posted that weekend. Heartbreak.), dark chocolate, and red wine. Perfect combo.

The next day we had our classic dehydrated eggs and salsa (+a pack of bacon this time) and skiied back out the way we came in.

 The cabin!

 Skiing along the lake to find some tuuuurns

 Bridge Crossing

 Up the Viewpoint Trail

 Again.

 The Viewpoint

Making dinner back at the cabin.