SnowSpider-Lizzie Traverse or Exodus Traverse

April 17th 2025

Event Details

  • Date: –
  • Spots: 3
  • Member Cost: Free
  • Destination: Snowspider-Lizzie Traverse
  • Categories:
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Attendee Screening: Attendees are Pre-Screened - The Trip Leader will review your background and contact you before accepting you on the trip. You will get a confirmation that your sign-up is pending right away.
    That doesn't mean that you are confirmed to go on the trip yet. If you are accepted, you should receive an email from the coordinator to confirm your sign-up and coordinate the trip's details.

Description

The preferred trip is the Snowspoder-Lizzie Traverse which can be done over 4 days (harder) or 5 days (easier). An ascent of Snowspider Mountain is possible with both options but is challenging on a 4 day trip.

 

The Exodus Traverse requires that the Squamish FSR is open (ie, free of snow) which is likely in late April.

Notes:

  • If conditions are not suitable for this trip then another 3 or 4 day trip will be substituted, such as the Spearhead Traverse or Garibaldi Neve, or a basecamp trip
  • Be prepared for a long walk out on the last day of the Snowspider-Lizzie Traverse as we will leave a car at 300 to 500m elevation
  • Due to a car shuttle for each trip, we will need 2 cars per 4 people
  • Hiring a van and driver for the start or end of the Snowspider-Lizzie Traverse would save time and lower the risk of a vehicle break-in.
  • Both trips will be challenging for splitboarders due to low angle riding, and side-hill travel.

 

Required Snow and Weather Conditions:

  • Mostly clear weather
  • Decent snow below treeline, especially on south-facing slopes (Snowspider-Lizzie Traverse)

 

Requirements:

  • AST1 equivalent or better
  • Glacier and crevasse rescue training
  • Strong downhill riding skills in any conditions with a multi-day pack
  • Fitness for 50km, 3,000vm over 4 or 5 days
  • Prior winter camping experience
  • Ability to rappel (YouTube experience does not count)
  • Ski crampons
  • Good attitude
  • Grit

 

Recommended:

  • Prior traverse experience

 

Risks and Hazards:

General Hazards:

Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor. Equipment failure. Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Negligence of other persons, including other guests. Negligent first aid. Negligence of the guide Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities.

Terrain:

Cornices and crevasses. Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps. Cliffs, creeks, rocks and boulders. Holes and depressions below the snow surface. Variable and difficult snow conditions. Snowcat roads and road ranks. Fences and other man-made structures. Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects. Encounters with domestic or wild animals. Loss of balance or control. Becoming lost or separated from the group. Slips, trips, and falls. 

Avalanche:

Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering. Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding). Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Communication and Rescue:

Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available. Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow.

Boots and Binding Systems:

Even when set up correctly, a ski binding might not release during every fall or may release unexpectedly. The ski boot/binding system is no guarantee that the skier will not be injured. Non-DIN-certified bindings, such as pin/tech bindings, present a higher risk of pre-release and/or injury as they are not designed to the same safety standards as a DIN-certified alpine binding.

Unlike alpine ski boot/binding systems, snowboard and some telemark boot/binding systems are not designed or intended to release and will not release under normal circumstances. Using such a system increases the risk of injury and/or death when caught in an avalanche.  

Guest sign-up

Sign-ups are no longer available for this event.