Last minute spots- Fairy Meadows Jan 28 to Feb 3, 2023

[LeeLau]

From the Alpine Club of Canada


An unexpected opening at the Fairy Meadow Hut for next week could be a great opportunity for those who can book off for amazing adventure on short notice. Here are the details:

From the Alpine Club of Canada
Date: January 28 to Feb 3 (Saturday to Saturday).

Cost: $650 per person (members) or $720 per person (non-members) including helicopter flights (regular $1,300).

Bookings: Per bed. FM ski weeks are booked annually by lottery, for all 20 spots. This week will be booked by the bed, meaning you can book for small groups and pay only for the beds you need.

Status: There are presently 7 spots booked, 13 available.

Payment: Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Action: Call our reservations staff at 403-678-3200, ext. 0.

[frorider]

Can’t take advantage of this one but I appreciate the fact you post these here

[Danno]

Agreed

[panchosdad]

We jumped on one of these a while back, ended up with just 5 of us at the hut, epic trip. A better snow year and I'd be all over it.

And thanks LL.

[LeeLau]

No problem, will keep posting the good deals when i see them. I think the entire group bailed on the reservation. Understandable

[upallnight]

What's the status of the snowpack?

I have some flexibility and may know some people.

Is it as grim as things were for Nelson/Rogers Pass? I haven't followed that for a few weeks.

[andy m]

I've been to the Fairy Meadow hut and it was a great experience, even though we didn't have the best snow conditions when we were there. So sign up, if you are able.

[LeeLau]

What's the status of the snowpack?

I have some flexibility and may know some people.

Is it as grim as things were for Nelson/Rogers Pass? I haven't followed that for a few weeks.

Many PWLs. Thin glacier coverage.

[Boissal]

Many PWLs. Thin glacier coverage.

If I could swing it I'd go even under these conditions. That place is incredibly special and for the price I could spent 7 days staring out the hut window and going on mellow tour then pounding all the beers and eating all the food...

[LeeLau]

If I could swing it I'd go even under these conditions. That place is incredibly special and for the price I could spent 7 days staring out the hut window and going on mellow tour then pounding all the beers and eating all the food...

Agreed. The hut also will not be full.

Anecdotally the glaciers that are thin are the usual suspects with some adjoining and c loser the hut in better shape ie Echo, Shoestring and even the glaciers spilling off Sentinel but all of this knowledge requires self-discipline and knowledge-set to exploit so I didn't think its fair to do anything but outline the stark negatives of this year's snowpack

[upallnight]

Many PWLs. Thin glacier coverage.

Thank you, Lee! Tough combo.

I appreciate the transparency.

If I could swing it I'd go even under these conditions. That place is incredibly special and for the price I could spent 7 days staring out the hut window and going on mellow tour then pounding all the beers and eating all the food...

I get people saying "the hut is amazing just for the views!" — I really do. For me, the primary drivers of a last-minute trip are (a) a screaming deal (check) and (b) good conditions... whether that is for skiing pow or getting into interesting terrain safely.

As a skier, if I leave for a ski trip I'd like to actually ski. If I want alcohol and views that might be a different trip. That's just me, though!

[LeeLau]

Thank you, Lee! Tough combo.

I appreciate the transparency.



I get people saying "the hut is amazing just for the views!" — I really do. For me, the primary drivers of a last-minute trip are (a) a screaming deal (check) and (b) good conditions... whether that is for skiing pow or getting into interesting terrain safely.

As a skier, if I leave for a ski trip I'd like to actually ski. If I want alcohol and views that might be a different trip. That's just me, though!

UAN - take a look at this series - http://www.leelau.net/sharonandlee/f...ows-2007-day1/. It's two weeks there at FM. It may give you some ideas. You may want to sit down with a map. Part of my issues with going back to FM is that I'll never ever hit it that good ever again. Been back again and it was never that good

I also spent a week traversing from Great Cairn to Mica but that's not relevant

[Boissal]

get people saying "the hut is amazing just for the views!" — I really do. For me, the primary drivers of a last-minute trip are (a) a screaming deal (check) and (b) good conditions... whether that is for skiing pow or getting into interesting terrain safely.

As a skier, if I leave for a ski trip I'd like to actually ski. If I want alcohol and views that might be a different trip. That's just me, though!

I get not wanting to jump on that trip, even with the discount it's super last minute, logistically challenging, and the conditions do sound sub-par. What I don't get is the cancellation. If I had committed it would take a lot to get me to bail, bad conditions or not. Maybe if my entire group wanted to stay home and it was down to just a couple people I'd consider it, but you could have a grand old time as a party of 3 or 4 in that zone even in a bad year. Granted I have no idea if the group bailed because of conditions but if it were me and I knew I wasn't getting my money back I'd go up there to look out the window rather than choke on fresh snow in the Wasatch. The opportunity to disconnect completely in such an amazing place is worth it. The skiing is the cherry. That's just me, though!

[kootenayskier]

I get not wanting to jump on that trip, even with the discount it's super last minute, logistically challenging, and the conditions do sound sub-par. What I don't get is the cancellation. If I had committed it would take a lot to get me to bail, bad conditions or not. Maybe if my entire group wanted to stay home and it was down to just a couple people I'd consider it, but you could have a grand old time as a party of 3 or 4 in that zone even in a bad year. Granted I have no idea if the group bailed because of conditions but if it were me and I knew I wasn't getting my money back I'd go up there to look out the window rather than choke on fresh snow in the Wasatch. The opportunity to disconnect completely in such an amazing place is worth it. The skiing is the cherry. That's just me, though!

My sentiments exactly. No way I’d be bailing on a FM trip. I’ve done 3 ski weeks (and a ski traverse through there), and they’ve all been highlights regardless of the conditions. I spent a week guiding a group where it snowed constantly, minimal visibility, avalanche hazard was off the charts, and we never got above the hut, just tentatively trenching a few lines in the tree triangle below the hut, and it was fucking awesome. The sort of people who would pass on a trip like this because conditions aren’t perfect should be banned for life. Jump on this opportunity if you can.