Isthmus Peak Ski - March 2020

Jutting like a giant tooth of ice into the sky above the the Spencer Glacier, Isthmus is seared into the mind of every Turnagain skier. And, like every Turnagain skier who likes a slog, I've been dreaming about Isthmus. The challenge of Isthmus is its allure: its 20 miles from the trailhead, a giant wind tunnel, and in the middle of a rainforest of snow.

Last week Nyssa saw the upcoming break in the winds, and realized it was time for Isthmus. Hard snow conditions would make the approach manageable and stability was good. Firm skiing conditions were simply the cost of entry.

After parking at the quiet visitor center we cruised across the firm crust of the frozen lake.


Once past Portage Glacier, we took a hard right south and followed the lateral gully onto the river of ice.


Free for the constraints of a rope, travel was fast on the windbuffed and smooth lower glacier. Just short of the icefall, we turned left up a tributary and for a pass to the Burns Glacier.