February 19-21, 2005, Cerise Creek, BC

We arrived expecting to need approach shoes, but ended up being able to hike all the way into Keith's Hut (5600 ft.) in our plastic boots.  Though there was not as much snow as in previous years, it was cold and they had reportedly got around a foot of snow the previous weekend.  A party had put in a fine track up to the col between Joffre Peak and Mt. Matier but had continued through to who knows where (around Joffre?).  We took advantage of this ramp and after a brisk snack skied back down the Anniversary Glacier (staying in the shaded aspect) in rich, deep, and virgin powder for about 1500-2000 feet.  At about this point, I did a head plant and twisted my knee - making for a slow, gimpy trudge back to the car on Monday morning.  My partners, Nick and Tom, enjoyed a Monday morning run just west of the ridge that climbs up from the hut toward Joffre.  Beautiful weather, beautiful ski, bad luck with a head plant, but lived to tell about it.



Anniversary Glacier with Joffre peak at right (ski run in shade below col).