Canadian Rockies // The Wapta Traverse

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  • Опубликовано: 25 ноя 2024
  • Starting at Bow Pass and working it’s way down to Peyto Lake then to the Peyto Glacier and onto the Wapta Icefield. The Wapta Traverse winds its way through the Waputik Mountains, onto and across several glaciers such as Vulture, Balfour and Niles. All together the travers covers 30 miles of Canadian scenic beauty with about 8000ft of climbing. We considered doing it in a day but I was unaware of the Canadian’s propensity for generosity and was worried we wouldn’t be able to hitch a ride back to our car in the dark. So we spent a very uncomfortable night at the Duncan hut with nothing but our hopes and dreams to keep us warm. When we did reach the road we were instantly picked up and quickly got 2 rides back to our car. Canada is awesome.

Комментарии • 261

  • @rodneyanderson8741
    @rodneyanderson8741 2 года назад +141

    SPECTACULAR, in my opinion, "thee" best documented adventure in all the years that I have enjoyed watching Mediocre Amateur

    • @JamieMiles_southmainmuse
      @JamieMiles_southmainmuse 2 года назад +3

      I thought the same.

    • @itwasanewdayyesterday2586
      @itwasanewdayyesterday2586 2 года назад +3

      @@JamieMiles_southmainmuse was here to say the same, one of the best

    • @bushtruck
      @bushtruck 2 года назад

      Stay outta Canada ya bums! We like our mountains quiet, not overrun like yours! And quit promoting unprepared traverses! Other than that great video, love ya guys!

    • @stanhumphreys9282
      @stanhumphreys9282 2 года назад +7

      With all the garbage there is on YT these days, why don't these guys have a million subscribers? It's a crime.

    • @nathanjthompson
      @nathanjthompson 2 года назад +1

      I was thinking the same thing. Great work guys!

  • @ContentsMayDiffer
    @ContentsMayDiffer 2 года назад +16

    Zero visibility on a glacier is nothing compared to the sheer terror of the conversations you might have to endure if you end up in the wrong person's truck.

  • @spelunkerd
    @spelunkerd 2 года назад +24

    I did the Wapta traverse almost 40 years ago. Interestingly there was very little standing water, no river crossings at the beginning, and I don't remember the ice cave, either. The mountain peaks were distinctive and memorable. Heavy snow covered everything and we stayed in a quick snow cave one night. The most concerning part was the telemark descent through the trees at the end, where fatigue and tricky snow made us all worry about falling. Thanks for the memories!

  • @alexadventures5620
    @alexadventures5620 2 года назад +4

    God bless the day that I came across this channel

  • @sashanorman7975
    @sashanorman7975 2 года назад +15

    You guys do not understand how lucky you were with the weather I know some who have been up 4-5 times for multi day trips and never saw any blue, well done

  • @MikeWindsor
    @MikeWindsor 2 года назад +18

    Just catching up on some of your videos that I’ve missed and wow. The adventures you guys go on and the quality of your videos are unreal. Seriously my favorite channel on RUclips, and way better than anything on network tv. Thank you for sharing and for the continued inspiration. Keep on crushing it.

  • @bFow
    @bFow 2 года назад +34

    Great video, and an awesome adventure. Very fun to see some of the traverse with better vis than when I did it. A note please though is the huts are unheated - other than Bow - and are meant to be wild sheltered and only as warm as the number of people in them warming them up. Using the propane is intended for cooking only - it is flown up to the hut. Also the propane will crank up the moisture in the hut. Please don't lead people astray with that description of warming the hut as much as you can with the cook stove.

    • @cooperpayne
      @cooperpayne 2 года назад

      Why? Who built them?

    • @bFow
      @bFow 2 года назад +12

      @@cooperpayne built by volunteers with fundraised money by the Alpine Club of Canada. They have to fly with a helicopter that fuel up there to use with the cooking stoves. Propane isn't constantly resupplied. Also when you burn propane you get a molecule of H2O for every molecule of propane burnt, really gets the hut humid and gear will not dry well.

  • @williampacey9194
    @williampacey9194 2 года назад +1

    Beautiful area, a 77 year old man can only watch a great video. Damn beautiful!

  • @woweezowee334
    @woweezowee334 2 года назад +12

    7:36 is such an incredible shot

  • @christinerolle3876
    @christinerolle3876 2 года назад +4

    Wifey is very much happy now that you both are very much safe and alive.
    Thanks sharing this epic and spectacular video.1🥰😍🤩💯❤

  • @scottmccullough8030
    @scottmccullough8030 Год назад +1

    I remember going up that col in a whiteout. At least now I know what it looked like!

  • @jimbauer10
    @jimbauer10 2 года назад +20

    Love the new editing flair and the new music. As always the content itself is wonderful as well. Keep up the good work.

  • @bidenadministrationischina5091
    @bidenadministrationischina5091 2 года назад

    There is one constant in each video. A guy who loves nature and loves traversing it.

  • @alex_prizzi
    @alex_prizzi 2 года назад +41

    Changing your mindset from intimidated to awe and appreciation is a powerful tool. Another great vid. I always love seeing what you guys are doing and adding it to my own list. Currently training for my own R2R2R bid. Hopefully I only puke half as much as Danny did.

    • @joshf-o6696
      @joshf-o6696 2 года назад +1

      I know rim to rim is not uncommon, but I thought only masochistic Mediocre Amateurs do R2R2R (out and back). Hope it goes well. I'll be floating by Phantom Ranch in October and will have to stop in to get my lemonade and mail post cards.

    • @AlexanderHalaszyn
      @AlexanderHalaszyn 2 года назад

      God, that was so hard to watch. The way he powered through that heat exhaustion was unreal. And kinda unsettling. Always inspiriting though.

    • @lindsaynewell6319
      @lindsaynewell6319 2 года назад

      @@joshf-o6696 on the FB R2R2R group, there are multiple people doing it every week (maybe less in mid summer). I’ve been working up the courage - still feel undertrained but know that there will never be a perfect time so just have to pull the trigger and go do it, maybe in October/November.

    • @alex_prizzi
      @alex_prizzi 2 года назад

      For me, it was about going with the right person. We're going to try to beat the heat by going in April. The main down side being that the north rim will still be closed. I'll try to film as much as I can after the wheels come off. Lol

    • @alex_prizzi
      @alex_prizzi 2 года назад +1

      Just finished my video. We had pretty much perfect conditions on April 10. ruclips.net/video/3xj7w68IzLk/видео.html

  • @michaelwilson5344
    @michaelwilson5344 2 года назад +1

    Amazed ... at how little snow and ice are left up there ? Amazed - that you were so lucky with the weather. But it was snowing while you left Duncan hut ? Amazed at how little gear and food you guys carried. You pulled it off OK, by going very fast with light packs... But did you ever wish you could have stayed up there to enjoy the high scenery for a few more days ? Yrs ago, I was a grad student at U Calgary - I did part of that trip, using Norwegian wood skis, Swix ski wax, wool pants, Norwegian leather boots. That was before the era of plastic boots and climbing skins. We visited the old Bow Hut, Peyto Hut and Balfour Hut. There was so much more ice and snow... and lots of trail breaking. A snowstorm arrived, so we did Peyto to Bow Hut in a snow storm, by compass bearings. On a different route, J fell into a crevasse up to his armpits. Very scary. He was roped, and so I held him OK with my ice axe - but then what ? I only had a few ice screws, Gibbs ascenders and Prussics... On another route, Y almost fell through a snow bridge. the bridge collapse under the heels of his skis, while K and I fell down on the other side and dug our elbows into the snow. Very scary. My goggles were all frosted, couldn't see... K had packed a little pup tent - so we sat inside the tent, cooled down, calmed down, ate chocolate bars and waited for a lull in the blizzard. Crazy G had taken a CAC course on crevasse rescue ? He told us about being lowered down into a dripping wet crevasse and hanging there, swinging in his harness. waiting for hours, getting soaked by the drips, while the team figured out how to haul him up again. It helps to have lots of people and some pulleys and snow stakes ? I think you guys were very lucky.... But you took great risks... especially by not bringing enough food or sleeping bags to wait out a storm inside a hut or inside a snow cave ? \
    Did you bring shovels and snow saws to make a cave or igloo ?
    You should watch Mountain Rescue Season One episode One for views of a deep crevasse near Mont Blanc.

  • @JamieMiles_southmainmuse
    @JamieMiles_southmainmuse 2 года назад +28

    I’m later to comment- but after watching a lot of mediocrity, this has to be your breakthrough video. Seriously, this was amazing and I know nothing of sking or navigating life-threatening cold. That was some of the most beautiful landscape, I’ve ever seen. When you are old - even older than myself-- you can look at this with your grandkids and say, “I was one crazy MotherF’er.” 😂

  • @solog116
    @solog116 2 года назад +1

    Even though this is only a few hours from my house (Edmonton) as I watch this...its a world away.

  • @arminm8186
    @arminm8186 2 года назад +3

    The mountaineers equivalent of cardboards - LOL, I love it 😜

  • @admiralcapn
    @admiralcapn 2 года назад +4

    Love those super-wide shots of your friend in the distance. Really gives a better scope of the topography when there's a human in the shot.

  • @roymeetsworld1
    @roymeetsworld1 2 года назад +5

    WOW!!!! That ice-cave was incredible !!

    • @russschwartz2046
      @russschwartz2046 2 года назад +1

      I wondered if anyone was going to comment on the misuse of the hut propane. Otherwise, nicely done.

  • @nikorolfness1327
    @nikorolfness1327 2 года назад +14

    keep up the awesome content you guys keep me hyped up to keep going out in the mountains and doing bigger and cooler things. Also, It's always great to sit down and watch one of your guys videos.

  • @beautifulportland9592
    @beautifulportland9592 2 года назад +1

    One of the Best Remote Wilderness Discovery Adventures on youtube . . . you really outdid yourself on this one . . . " A TRUE WILDERNESS CLASSIC" . . . .

  • @sigean100
    @sigean100 2 года назад +6

    Absolutely one of the best ever MA videos. Incredible scenery and videography. Wow.

  • @adamk3591
    @adamk3591 2 года назад +1

    Always appreciate the commentary regarding risk assessment. Really helps fellow MAs

  • @abscooley4365
    @abscooley4365 2 года назад +2

    Coming from a guy who is native to northeast Afghanistan which has tremendous Hindu Kush mountains, the entire Ice Fields Parkway drive is as good as it gets. From Mount Temple and Morraine Lake to Lake Louise and Bow Lake or the Athabasca Glacier, this is an amazing place, winter or summer.

  • @Winsto25
    @Winsto25 2 года назад +11

    2:48 "we're gonna have to do some dangerous skiing through the trees" Thats like 90% of what the east coast backcountry looks like

  • @lindsaynewell6319
    @lindsaynewell6319 2 года назад +9

    This was definitely one of your most ‘on brand’ adventures and one of the most awesome. Great camera work and editing.💪🙏

  • @ZonDog
    @ZonDog 2 года назад

    What a paradise for ski mountaineering!

  • @coloradolivin27.52
    @coloradolivin27.52 11 месяцев назад

    One of my favorite adventures. Stunning views!

  • @christianthompson7155
    @christianthompson7155 2 года назад +1

    These last two are definitely your best in the last year!

  • @DavidDTA
    @DavidDTA Год назад

    A favorite video. I start my mornings with your adventures. You guys are super inspiring .

  • @ruggedland
    @ruggedland 2 года назад +1

    These guys know how to live. Epic adventure and views

  • @silverdesk72
    @silverdesk72 2 года назад

    Great film. Beautiful scenery. Quite inspiring.

  • @KarlDeckerPresents
    @KarlDeckerPresents 2 года назад +4

    Totally awesome! Great footage. . . but OMG be careful, it may not always work out. . . I narrowly escaped a "bad ending" recently and only foolhardy luck and rock climbing skill got me out alive. I'm backing off a bit. It did look like you guys were in control on this one but darkness in a white out doing glacier travel in new terrain, yikes. . . incredible job!

  • @panksdmz
    @panksdmz 2 года назад +1

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventures and motivating the rest of us to push our limits! 👏👏👏🙏✌️

  • @traviss8354
    @traviss8354 2 года назад +1

    Hats off to those friendly Canadians for giving you rides so quickly. The only time I've had to hitchhike back to my car was after doing a few days backpacking in the backcountry in Yellowstone. I took almost an hour and a half to get a ride and I was only going 15 miles.

    • @farbeyonddriven8173
      @farbeyonddriven8173 2 года назад

      Gonna need a ride in the Beartooths this summer. Hope for better luck!

  • @2009buzybee
    @2009buzybee 2 года назад

    Nice, thanks for sharing. I’m adding this to my list.

  • @ucbikecop
    @ucbikecop 2 года назад

    One of your best, thank you

  • @ralphsadventures8901
    @ralphsadventures8901 2 года назад

    Great video !!! Thank you for showing this spectacular tour or traverse 💪👍🍀👏👏👏👏 kind greetings from Austria

  • @nathanrodriguez7080
    @nathanrodriguez7080 2 года назад +3

    This was amazing! So inspiring and honestly thank you!!! It's just a joy to watch these adventures. Can't say thank you enough!

  • @naujesojzevachsopmac6377
    @naujesojzevachsopmac6377 2 года назад

    This Is MAGNIFICO , great experience hundread of likes

  • @Naafun
    @Naafun 2 года назад +1

    You guys smashed it. Great Vid! Love the Rockies!

  • @markjones3425
    @markjones3425 2 года назад +1

    Very nice to see the traverse and experience it again from newby's eyes..great video and ENERGY from you fellows, ....definitely your best mediocrity so far! Impressive effort ! Cheers!

  • @nothankyou90
    @nothankyou90 2 года назад +2

    Definitely one of the best adventures so far. Would be awesome to see you guys tackle something difficult in the northeast like Mount Katahdin in winter. Thanks for all the inspiration material!

  • @ItaiGanor
    @ItaiGanor 2 года назад +2

    I love your videos!! amazing, the editing is great. and I got hyped every second in the video for the views and the remote place in the mountains, great job!!

  • @ChrisMillerLite
    @ChrisMillerLite 2 года назад +1

    This was pretty badass being in the middle of nature at it's greatest

  • @Ramenscooter
    @Ramenscooter 2 года назад

    Crazy good, thanks for taking us along.

  • @pei-huayen-roy1047
    @pei-huayen-roy1047 2 года назад +2

    Thank you for this AMAZING adventure. The views are spectacular!! I will never be able to do anything like what you do, but it makes me happy to watch your videos.

  • @gobikeyourself
    @gobikeyourself 2 года назад

    Every once in a while I run across one of your videos. Allways like them a lot, but this one blows me away! Awesome adventure, thanks for sharing!

  • @duncanbell315
    @duncanbell315 2 года назад +1

    Glad you enjoyed my hut.

  • @mackenzisehon8559
    @mackenzisehon8559 2 года назад

    Was a pleasure to have you guys out here in the Canadian Rockies!

  • @shauntaylor5034
    @shauntaylor5034 2 года назад

    Love that the last few uploads have been from my backyard!! You picked some good ones for when you were here.

  • @dannymoranz1589
    @dannymoranz1589 2 года назад

    We enjoyed Bow mountain hut in the summer of 1995. Beautiful area. Keep up the great adventures!

  • @robbie8825
    @robbie8825 2 года назад +2

    Dude this was absolutely rad! Well done and mad respect! I couldn’t even fathom what it must’ve been like to be there!

  • @bhe317
    @bhe317 2 года назад +1

    Absolutely beautiful, one of my favorites from you guys! Excellent job on the production!

  • @bigadventuresonaveragetale1563
    @bigadventuresonaveragetale1563 2 года назад

    Stunning! Nothing 'mediocre' about this trip though - but I won't quibble about the name and will just enjoy the awesomeness

  • @davidfantle6721
    @davidfantle6721 2 года назад +1

    Spectacular and inspiring. Being in such environments and conditions is what I live for, but am able to do so far too rarely. Thanks for taking us along.

  • @lukefromtexas
    @lukefromtexas 2 года назад

    Great content as always. Love the channel. Keep ‘‘em coming!

  • @bennysworld16
    @bennysworld16 2 года назад

    Wow Amaizing Adventure and incredible shot i love it

  • @softride12
    @softride12 2 года назад

    You guys are awesome! Fantastic scenery. Thanks for going places that mere mortals can only see in our fevered dreams!

  • @kgsz
    @kgsz 2 года назад

    Came here from the Xander's recommendation and OMG, where you've been all my life? Love your style, cinematography, background music, montage; everything. You're amazing. Happy to meet you!

  • @MarcLacasse
    @MarcLacasse 2 года назад +1

    Great job guys! Amazing scenery and vlog skills!

  • @ClimbSnipes
    @ClimbSnipes 2 года назад

    Great video guys. Thanks for making these. I am from Utah & moved to Florida 2 years ago. These videos help when I’m missing the mountains

  • @michaelfrymus
    @michaelfrymus Год назад

    That looked amazing. Id normally consider hiking this, but going on skis looked amazing!

  • @devonbailiff
    @devonbailiff 2 года назад +1

    So good - keep up the good work guys!

  • @whenopportunitycomes8718
    @whenopportunitycomes8718 2 года назад

    Woohoooh. Awesome. 👊👊
    Amazing view. This episode is the motivation for the weekend.

  • @kylesnavely6165
    @kylesnavely6165 2 года назад

    Absolutely incredible.

  • @ConquerYou
    @ConquerYou 2 года назад

    U guys are amazing.

  • @CorentinHarbelot
    @CorentinHarbelot 2 года назад

    Yes! New vidéo! Thanks ! Greets from France.

  • @RabbitCarrots
    @RabbitCarrots 2 года назад

    The views! Amazing!!!

  • @zinexo
    @zinexo 2 года назад

    Epic video. One of the best on the channel which already has an incredibly high bar set.

  • @BreakOutOfTheAlgorithm
    @BreakOutOfTheAlgorithm 2 года назад

    Sorry about that first comment. Y'all are my heroes and you make bushwacking and ice caves look like more fun than a day at Disneyland. 👍

  • @AleksandarGospic
    @AleksandarGospic 2 года назад +1

    Wow, fantastic adventure in mesmerizing scenery of Canadian Rockies! 😍😍Awesome video guys, that last sentence was perfect ending!

  • @Matt_________9
    @Matt_________9 2 года назад

    Always makes my day to see a new MA video posted. Awesome trip. Cheers!!

  • @antonioloredo8800
    @antonioloredo8800 2 года назад

    So wonderful way to show us the Rockies, amazing trip guys. Super well done as always...

  • @45coopaloop
    @45coopaloop 2 года назад +1

    You guys are great! Keep coming up to Canada and doing these kinda adventures :)

  • @MostlyThoughtThisThrough
    @MostlyThoughtThisThrough 2 года назад

    I just love this channel so much. WTG boys!

  • @1800marwin
    @1800marwin 2 года назад

    Incredible work as always. I love the new title cards.

  • @remingtonevert8451
    @remingtonevert8451 2 года назад

    Magnificent! Another gem on the channel.

  • @kevinw1129
    @kevinw1129 2 года назад

    Wow, what a trip. Amazing scenery. Good job Amateurs!

  • @joshgonzalez2885
    @joshgonzalez2885 2 года назад +1

    Best edited video by far. Some shots looked like out of interstellar

  • @TheVirtualsherpa
    @TheVirtualsherpa 2 года назад

    I always laugh at these videos when I recognize the music from my own browsing of Epidemic. Great work as always guys

  • @zinger2967
    @zinger2967 2 года назад +4

    That ice cave was amazing! Hopefully you guys were able to go to Columbia Icefields during your time in the Rockies. It is the largest ice field in the Canadian Rockies and makes the Wapta seem small!

  • @ericmenocal3768
    @ericmenocal3768 2 года назад

    Great footage, guys. Just awesome!

  • @skydetherfangirl
    @skydetherfangirl 2 года назад

    what’s this about an avalanche? such a gloriously glamorous word for sure. Be careful!
    I love you danny💕

  • @rejeangagne4524
    @rejeangagne4524 2 года назад

    Watched this a few months ago. Amazing video. In fact, my mind was blown enough this had to be added to our todo list. So witha couple firends, we're registered to a (guided) Wapta traverse in april of 2023. Thanks to your source of inspiration!

    • @svenhodaka9145
      @svenhodaka9145 Год назад

      How was your trip on Wapta?

    • @rejeangagne4524
      @rejeangagne4524 Год назад +1

      @@svenhodaka9145 A very nice experience, even tough we had to turn back after the 2nd day. It didn't come as a surprise, because prior to starting the traverse, our guides gave us a pretty good overview of the forecast, which was for a rather intense blizzard and risk of avalanches. On the first day it was kind of okay up to Bow hut, and on the second day the blizzard started, but it was still possible to take a relatively safe path to the pass and down the 2nd refuge (Balfour hut). It was however impossible to progress more in a safe way for the 3rd day due to major avalanche risks. So we headed back to the Bow hut. We were able to do a few good ski runs on the last before heading back to the cars.
      Overall, it was awesome, the ski, the scenery, that was incredible. Even the progression during the blizzard was a great experience. The guides from Yamnuska (Canmore) were very competent and explained very well all the decisions. The huts and food were A1. Would love to go back and attempt the full traverse again.

    • @svenhodaka9145
      @svenhodaka9145 Год назад

      @@rejeangagne4524 Sounds like a great adventure with some good risk management decisions. I’m really interested in backcountry trips and it sounds like the Yamnuska team is a good choice to learn from. Thanks for the update. ⛷️🏕️

  • @pagewhite61
    @pagewhite61 2 года назад

    Wow! What an adventure! That ice cave was amazing! Thanks for another great video.

  • @papajon62
    @papajon62 2 года назад

    Man that looked cold, you could almost feel it. Great adventure and please stay safe!

  • @john26razor340
    @john26razor340 2 года назад

    INCREDIBLE video. So well edited.

  • @K2dot
    @K2dot Год назад

    Thanks for a great video!

  • @maggiemao6472
    @maggiemao6472 2 года назад

    Thanks for sharing. I don't get the chance seeing it in person, it is nice to see it from you guys video. Appreciate it lots

  • @wayphun72
    @wayphun72 2 года назад

    You two are a great duo, I really enjoyed this!

  • @bobbrown4212
    @bobbrown4212 2 года назад

    Once again an awesome video and you guys are awesome

  • @flukeofficial
    @flukeofficial 2 года назад

    Such epic views in those Canadian Rockies.

  • @diostejastierras7898
    @diostejastierras7898 2 года назад

    *I can't believe we missed this trailhead/scenic overlook between Jasper and Banff National Parks!* Thank you for sharing this, and giving us a little gem to find if we ever go up north again! *Take Care and Safe Travels! Stay midocre and keep being amateur Everyone!*

  • @rickblodgett9133
    @rickblodgett9133 2 года назад

    Hey Mediocre’s keep up
    The great adventures
    You inspired my cousin ‘s next Vacation
    This summer in Switzerland.

  • @kennyd6388
    @kennyd6388 2 года назад

    You guys live an awesome life!!!

  • @amateurhouradventures
    @amateurhouradventures 2 года назад

    I definitely was a little nervous when you tried to open the door the first time and it wouldn't open! Great video as usual!

  • @georgehaeh4856
    @georgehaeh4856 11 месяцев назад

    Wow! I hiked the Wapta in August 99, but there was 3' of fresh snow and we all put our feet in the guide's bootprints. We stopped at all the huts including a couple extra days for peak bagging. That was a week and you guys blitzed it to Duncan in a day!
    Lovely video; brings back memories.
    PS. Having the hut to yourselves, nobody would complain if you piled sleeping mats over yourselves.

  • @AlexanderHalaszyn
    @AlexanderHalaszyn 2 года назад

    Maybe someday I'll grow up to be this mediocre. What an epic send, nicely done!