Canada’s Greatest Ski Traverse

Canada’s Greatest Ski Traverse

In 1967, four Canadians—Don Gardner, Chic Scott, Charlie Locke, and Neil Liske—etched their names into the history of ski mountaineering by completing the first-ever Jasper to Lake Louise traverse. At the time, this 300-kilometre journey through the heart of the Rockies was more than an adventure; it was an audacious challenge that had thwarted previous attempts. Over 21 grueling days, they pushed through deep winter conditions, crossing eight massive icefields and redefining the limits of what was possible in Canadian ski mountaineering.

The feat remains one of the most remarkable accomplishments in backcountry skiing. While the “Great Divide Traverse”, is well-known today, the accomplishment was nearly forgotten in its immediate aftermath. A full ten years passed before anyone wrote about it, leaving this achievement unsung for far too long. But the passage of time only adds to its legend. Without modern gear, without satellite communication, and without the luxury of detailed weather forecasts, these four pioneers relied on sheer determination, skill, and the deep-rooted Canadian spirit of adventure to complete what had never been done before.

Canada’s Greatest Ski Traverse

Gardner, Scott, Locke, and Liske’s success was not just a victory over the landscape but over the unknown. Every day presented a new question—was this passable? Would the weather hold? Could they find safe passage across crevassed glaciers? There were no rescue helicopters waiting in the wings, no online forums detailing conditions, no GPS tracks to follow—just four skiers breaking trail into history.

This achievement set the stage for the modern era of long-distance ski traverses in Canada. Today, thousands of skiers and splitboarders attempt multi-day routes across the Rockies, often with far superior equipment and better information. But in 1967, these four men ventured into the deep cold with little more than their skis, their resolve, and their belief that it could be done.

The Jasper to Lake Louise traverse remains an inspiration—an embodiment of the Canadian backcountry spirit. More than half a century later, it’s time to recognize it not just as a remarkable expedition, but as a defining moment in Canadian ski history. The mountains have seen many great stories since, but few rival the boldness and significance of what was accomplished that winter.

This was—and remains—Canada’s greatest ski traverse.

Sources: Gripped & Backcountry Skiing Canada

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