The first week of May usually conjures up thoughts of spring singletrack or dusting off the climbing shoes, but for G3 ambassador and ACMG mountain guide Jasmin Caton, it meant heading deep into the Lyell Icefields for a classic high-alpine journey. The Icefall traverse.
Visiting all five huts in the area, the trip had all the ingredients of a legendary Canadian ski mountaineering expression session. Breathtaking ice caves, classic summits, and stellar spring travel conditions were balanced with just enough valley-bottom slogging to truly build character and expand a guide's toolbox.
But this wasn't your average guided trip.
Instead of setting the track and leading clients, Jasmin flipped the script. She spent the week being guided by a group of candidates taking their final, high-stakes exam to earn their ACMG Ski Guide certification.
Navigating complex glacial terrain and variable spring snow is tough enough, let alone doing it with a seasoned mountain guide evaluating your every move. But out there, amidst the grit and the high alpine winds, something awesome happened.
"While skiing off classic peaks and exploring spectacular ice caves make for great photos, the real highlights happen outside the frame," Jasmin shared.
For her, the magic of the traverse came down to moments a camera simply can't capture. Belly-shaking laughter after a long day on the skin track. Deep camaraderie and lifelong friendships forming when good folks tackle a grueling, high-consequence adventure together. The immense reward of participating in the learning, mentorship, and growth of a fresh crop of ski guides who will soon be leading the community.
Huge congrats to the new certified guides who crushed their exams on the Lyell Icefields! We'll see you on the skin track.
