Feb 2-9, 2007, Ice Creek Lodge, Valhallas

Our group of 7 spent 7 days in the Valhallas at Ice Creek Lodge last week. About a 9 hour 500 mile drive from Seattle, heli-in/out to a rustic lodge at 6100' adjacent to the border of Valhalla Provincial Park (i.e. no competition from the numerous heli ski outfits). Fabulous terrain, including alpine bowl after alpine bowl, lots of gladed slopes, and a more or less continuous run from the summit of Urd Peak (8789') to the door of the lodge. Snow conditions were not the best, with only 2 days of the powder we expected, and minimal new snow one day topped off with a thin layer of freezing rain below 7500'. Most of the week we skied wind affected compacted snow with the occasional breakable crust.  No significant instability. The terrain was vast enough that we could always find a bowl or glade worth the effort.