We did a 4 day traverse of the classic 6 Pass route April 14-17. Our group started at Maligne Lake and then skied south to finish at Poboktan Creek. The route traverses the scenic Bald Hills then climbs over 6 passes before it heads down to Poboktan Creek. The trip is 50 km long with 2200 m of elevation gain. We travelled mostly at TL, going up to 2500 m at some of the passes, and down to 1600 m at the trail head. The trip felt surprisingly remote, buffered from Highway 93 Nth by the Endless Chain Ridge.

The weather was unsettled with spring squalls depositing up to 20 cms over the period. Cool temps to -6 kept the new snow generally dry on a supportive M-F crust. This was favourable for easy travel and gave excellent ski quality. On the ski out, the crust carried most of the day, with some collapsing off-trail. The main trail had been compacted by previous skiers and there was enough coverage all the way to the parking lot.

The snow pack was typical of the eastern Rockies with HS of 150 cms at TL and 20-30 cms at lower elevations. There was a variable thickness M-F crust over top a faceted lower snow pack.

There was widespread evidence of the March avalanche cycle including some size 4s in Poligne Creek that filled the creek and went up the far side. We also observed several point releases in the new snow from steep alpine features.

Overall this is a spectacular trip that has minimal exposure to overhead hazard and has ski terrain that can be managed safely. Critical for fast travel is a supportive upper snowpack over the facet layers that can be weakened by isothermal temps this time of year.