Burstall Pass Cross Country Skiing

A few Kms up the trail

A few Kms up the trail

Feb 27th Thursday

On short notice we went  on Thursday to Burstall Pass due to the impending cold weather arriving on Friday. The temperature at the parking lot was -5c and warming through out the day. Unfortunately the sun was hiding behind the clouds all day. Burstall Pass trail head is opposite Chester lake  on the Spray Lakes road. The snow conditions for cross country touring were excellent. The plan was to go up the trail to the Valley and then head up towards the Robertson Glacier.

Tricky trail through the trees just before the open valley

Tricky trail through the trees just before the open valley

The trail is well packed with lots of deep fresh snow just off the hard pack. This section in the photo is unlike most of the trail which is up an old forest road.

Don, Kerry & Mary enter the Roberson Glacier Valley

Don, Kerry & Mary enter the Roberson Glacier Valley

Here we are reaching the valley. It is way easier to cross than in the summer when it is awash with many streams. After crossing the valley we head up towards the valley head and the glacier.

Robertson Glacier ahead

Robertson Glacier ahead

We had to break trail as we head up the valley but the scenery is spectacular.

This was as far as we went due to avalanche danger

This was as far as we went due to avalanche danger

We stopped here  for a break and snack before heading back. We had seen a trail along the lake on the way up and took it on the way back, which cut out narrow trail through the trees.

 

 

 

Looking back down the valley

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Looking back down the valley