<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/52761514724/in/album-72177720306872867/" title="Mt Cayley"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52761514724_d11b82b152_b.jpg" alt="Mt Cayley"/></a> Mount Cayley at sunrise # Stats and Links - [Flickr]( https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/albums/72177720306872867/ ) - Day 1: 13 miles, 7000ft gain to Powder Mountain (15 hours) ( [Strava](https://www.strava.com/activities/8742377154)) - Day 2: 20 miles, 750ft gain (10 hours) ([Strava](https://www.strava.com/activities/8742389163)) - Gear: Snowshoes, ice axe, crampons, shovel, 1-person MSR Hubba tent. - Area: [[British Columbia]] # Report I did the Powdercap Traverse (up via Brandywine and down via Callaghan valley). This is an extremely popular area for snowmobiles, and while it certainly defeats the feeling of solitude, it also helped me feel a bit safer doing this solo in unfamiliar terrain. The trailhead and the initial groomed road is managed by the [Powder Mountain Snowmobile Club](https://www.powdermountainsnowmobileclub.com/) (active on Facebook). I was planning to start in the middle of the night, and messaged with people of the club on Facebook to make sure that's okay. There were very friendly. During the traverse I was evidently a curiosity to the sledders. Everybody was very nice and checked in if I was okay, "do you need a sandwich" etc. Rough time estimates (I was carrying overnight gear and was not in the best shape of my life, so it can certainly be done faster) : - Started 3am - 4.5 hours to the Brandywine Creek crossing - 6.5 hours to the first pass after Chocolate Bowl (7.5 miles) - 9 hours (accumulative) to the bottom of the glacier SE of Mt Cayley - 14 hours (accumulative) to the top of Powder Mountain I had a somewhat major incident: at the end of the first day, when preparing to cook dinner and melt snow I found the pump of my stove was broken. I was out of water, so this was kind of a problem. I melted some snow in my sleeping bag during the night. Next day, a friendly snowmobile couple gave me some of their water. I walked out through the Callaghan valley, which was the location of cross country skiing in the winter Olympics. The people at the Journeyman Lodge were extraordinarily nice and helpful and filled up my bottles. Lesson learned: check stove before leaving. Note that for Callaghan you should buy a day ticket if you walk out via the trails. It's easy and can be done online. # Resources - Powder Mountain Snowmobile Club - [Maps & Safety \| Powder Mountain Snowmobile Club](https://www.powdermountainsnowmobileclub.com/maps-safety/) - [Powder Mountain Snowmobile Club \| Whistler BC \| Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sled.whistler) - Trip reports - [Powdercap Ski Traverse – Adventures All Year](https://adventuresallyear.com/2021/03/11/powdercap-ski-traverse/) - [Powdercap Traverse \| Alpine Baking](https://www.alpinebaking.com/2015/03/powdercap-traverse.html) - [Powdercap Traverse - Feb 21 2015 \| Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/richso/albums/72157650983211082/) - Passes - [Callaghan - Season Pass & Tickets](https://www.thecallaghan.com/season-pass-and-tickets.htm) - Weather - [Little Ring Mountain Weather Forecast (2165m)](https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Little-Ring-Mountain/forecasts/2165) # Route <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/54253204696/in/dateposted/" title="Powdercap Traverse"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54253204696_7948446c89_b.jpg" alt="Powdercap Traverse"/></a> # Highlights <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/52761265881/in/album-72177720306872867/" title="Mt Fee from Powder Mountain"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52761265881_235d360335_b.jpg" alt="Mt Fee from Powder Mountain"/></a> Mt Fee from Powder Mountain <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/52760721492/in/album-72177720306872867" title="Camp at summit of Powder Mountain"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52760721492_6bd14c7355_b.jpg" alt="Camp at summit of Powder Mountain"/></a> Camp at summit of Powder Mountain <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/52761266101/in/album-72177720306872867/" title="Mt Cayley"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52761266101_5d09ff976f_b.jpg" alt="Mt Cayley"/></a> Mt Cayley and the glacier approach <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bravenboer/52760720617/in/album-72177720306872867/" title="Mt Fee"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52760720617_5229cab887_b.jpg" alt="Mt Fee"/></a> Mt Fee