While it's not uncommon to park at the large pull-off at the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint (especially if the highway hasn't been plowed) we chose to continue about 1 km south down the parkway (why skin for an extra kilometer when you could spend that time skiing?!) and were surprised to find 3 cars already parked on the shoulder as we pulled up!

Having never skied Crowfoot Glades before, we weren't familiar with the route, but that would turn out to be a non-issue, as a solid skin track clearly led us down through a short stint of forest and to the open flats at the south end of Bow Lake. We headed directly across the first clearing, to an obvious "gateway" through the trees, before changing our trajectory and heading almost due south across a second clearing (this one holds water in summer and should be treated as such), continuing up a short drainage on the opposite side and arriving at a final (much smaller) clearing directly below the glades.

Here we passed the big group who had gotten a head start on us (they appeared to be taking part in an AST 1 or Intro to Backcountry Skiing course), and continued up the skin track as it switch-backed its way up the densely treed ridge directly ahead. Before long the terrain began to flatten out and we found ourselves crossing a drainage and entering the alpine in the shadows of Bowcrow Peak's impressive NE face.

The skies had gone through a complete transformation as we climbed, and as we now passed the last few strands of trees, we enjoyed beautiful views back across Bow Lake with a deep blue sky overhead! I was honestly starting to regret not going for a bigger objective with how beautiful the day was turning out to be, but the environs around Crowfoot Glades are quite impressive in their own right, and having never been up here before, we decided to make the most of the unexpected improvement in weather and explore further up the moraine towards Crowfoot Pass.

Bow Peak stole the show as we leisurely wandered up rolling terrain and it took everything in my power to hold myself back from going and bagging it right then and there! As tempting as it was for the peakbagger in me, I knew my group wasn't all that interested, and we instead transitioned for the ride back down when going any farther would've resulted in uphill skinning on our way back. Even so, we still ran into our share of "uphill troubles", and after dropping into the central, boulder filled drainage we quickly found ourselves in a bit of a rut and were forced to side-step back up a short, steep slope to our left in order to gain the gladed bench we wanted to ski. 😂

Once back on track, we were finally able to enjoy some actual turns and started down sugary powder in the generously spaced upper glades. Unfortunately the fun ended all too soon as the trees "jailed up" near the bottom and we popped out at the base of the glades in what felt like mere moments after leaving the top.

I wasn't all that impressed with the glades to be completely honest (especially given all the attention that this area gets!), but the snow was pretty good and after sitting down for a relaxing lunch, we were soon starting to get chilled and decided we might as well head back up for another lap. Not wanting to backtrack to the start of our original uptrack, we followed what would turn out to be a super janky skin track, entering the forest almost exactly where we came out and very steeply climbing back up the glades with some very questionable kick turn locations. 😂 While this skin track often had us scratching our heads, it did the job and led us (very directly!) where we needed it to.

This time we tried something different and stayed far to skier's left, finding a nice open line alongside the cliffs below Crowfoot Glacier. This worked out by avoiding the "tree jail" but once again felt like it was over before it even started.

I was bringing up the rear as we cruised down the slope, hoping to carry our speed around the base of the glades and back to the flats, and with both my friends already out of sight, I decided to hit a small pillow feature, landed directly in a powder-filled compression, double ejected and lost both my poles...literally! When I got up and looked around, my poles had completely vanished! I was able to locate the first one relatively quickly after digging around the crash zone, but I couldn't find the other one for the life of me, and spent at least 10 minutes thrashing through deep, fluffy white stuff, wondering where on earth it could have gone! I was relieved when I finally dug the silly thing up, and by the time I gathered all my things and continued around the corner, Avery and Daniel had already switched to their skins and were on their way back to me, wondering what the heck I was doing 😂. Oops! Sorry guys!

The remainder of the hike out was uneventful and before we knew it we were back at the highway, packing up our things for a long drive back to Edmonton...

It could just be that I'm a little bit spoiled after my last day on skis, but I was honestly pretty disappointed with Crowfoot Glades. The climb feels disproportionately long for what you get on the way down, and the skiable terrain just wasn't that great IMHO. Now don't get me wrong, the area is absolutely beautiful, and if you want to just spend the day going for a walk, I'm sure Crowfoot Pass is a more than worthwhile destination in and of itself, but as far as skiing is concerned, I just can't say that I was blown away. With that being said, this was my first time visiting the area, and I'm sure Crowfoot Glades has much more to offer than the tiny sliver that we had a chance to explore. I've heard of some fun chutes on the east side of the glades and alpine fans near the pass, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, check out the area for yourself, and don't hesitate to let me know if you discover any hidden gems! 😉

Photo Gallery

Setting off from the parkway on a very dreary morning.

Crossing the flats on the southern end of Bow Lake. Crowfoot Glades are straight ahead.

Following a solid skin track up a densely treed ridge.

The sky begins to clear as we quickly start gaining elevation, with Center Crowfoot rising behind us in the morning sun.

The slope eases off as we approach treeline alongside a drainage.

Crossing the drainage and ascending to the bench below Bowcrow's NE face.

It's shaping out to be a beautiful winter day as we gain the upper bench!

Continuing along a well-trodden skin track up the alpine bench.

Looking ahead as we follow the bench towards Crowfoot Pass.

Views open up back to Bow Lake as we continue to gain elevation towards Crowfoot Pass.

Enjoying beautiful views across to Bow Peak as we continue wandering up rolling terrain.

Soaking in the warm sunshine and stunning winter scenery as we start up the moraine.

Dolomite Peak rises dominantly across the highway as we explore further up the moraine.

Looking towards Crowfoot Pass - with Bow Peak on the left and Bowcrow on the right - from our turnaround point.

A closer look at Bow Peak. I so badly want to go climb it right now!

Crowfoot's center summit towers above as we start our ski run down Crowfoot Glades.

Avery skis down the gentle moraine, with Bowcrow's NE face continuing to impress.

Skiing down the gentle moraine.

Dropping into the central drainage. (We should've stayed high to skier's left...)

There are some BIG boulders in this drainage!

Unfortunately this drainage wasn't quite steep enough for any real skiing, and we simply bombed down it, trying to carry as much speed as possible.

Daniel finally has a chance to enjoy the fluffy powder as he flies down the lower glades.

This stretch of open glades was a hoot! If only it lasted longer...

Experimenting with a different skin track as we ascend back up the glades from another lap.

Steeply ascending back up the glades for round two on a very direct skin track!

The slope eases off as we gain the upper bench.

Nearing the top of our second run.

Having some fun airing off pillows on the upper bench.

Avery scopes out a more open line far to skier's left.

Daniel rips down the steep, open slopes with Cirque Peak, Crystal Ridge, and Dolomite Peak glowing in the evening light.

Avery skis down the open line.

Skinning back across the southern edge of Bow Lake.

Comprehensive view back at the Crowfoot massif as we follow the flats back to the highway.

Now for the long drive back to Edmonton...