Chester Lake 11 | Ski Touring in Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)

01 Chester Lake 11 | 2011-01-15

Chester Lake III

Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)
Activity: Ski Touring
Height: 2,220 m (7,284 ft)
Elevation Gain: 310 m (1,017 ft)
Distance: 8.5 km / Round Trip (5.3 mi)
Avg Steepness: 3.5°
Estimated Time: 2-4 hrs
Technicality: Novice
Fitness Level: Easy

Download GPX: [Trail] Mount Galatea.gpx
OpenStreetMap: See track recorded by GPS
Print: Display in printer-friendly format
Related Trips:
Conditions:
- Weather
- Avalanche Bulletin

I joined Scramblers for a ski touring event to Chester Lake. As avalanche forecast being high for more than a week, I felt I needed to go safe at least until I get out and see condition myself. Because of deep snow without any steep hills to ski, we didn't do much skiing at all, but going down trail to parking lot was fast.

One note. They made a change in trail that traditional ski trail is now one way for descent. They put a sign to indicate that but it wasn't clear where is new ascent route was. Because of that we ignored the sign. I suggest to do some homework if you are going to go skiing there. Here is related link from Kananaskis Country Trail.

02 Chester Lake 11 | 2011-01-15

I don't have much luck with weather here… My past visits here always were like this… Chester snowshoeing, Galatea, Gusty…

03 Chester Lake 11 | 2011-01-15

Skiing up Elephant Rocks for lunch. Destroying beautiful fresh snow.

04 Chester Lake 11 | 2011-01-15

Near Three Lake Valley. Avalanche everywhere at lower section of slope.

05 Chester Lake 11 | 2011-01-15

It was more like XC skiing with AT.