The Forbidden Tour is the quintessential North Cascades ski traverse. It features everything from steep cols, long descents, big climbs, and spectacular camping in a remote and wild setting.

This tour is only recommended for experienced ski mountaineers in good physical condition. While none of the individual days are extremely difficult or long, the combination of days will prove taxing to most. Combined with the fact that most of this tour takes place far from any road, participants will want to arrive feeling strong and confident in their ski abilities.

This tour is a circumnavigation of Forbidden peak. Beginning in Boston Basin, around Forbidden and over to Eldorado peak. We will summit Eldorado and ski out the Rousch creek drainage. The trip will cover 19 miles, ascend over 10,000 vertical feet and descend over 11,000 feet. It crosses 6 glaciers and explores some of the least visited parts of North Cascades National park.

Our exact itinerary will depend on the conditions at the time, though will likely closely resemble the following:

Day 1 ~ Meet in Marblemount. We will run through a gear check and carpool up to the trailhead up the Cascade River road. From here we will climb into Boston Basin and make camp below Sharkfin Col.

Day 2 ~ We will ascend on foot to Sharkfin col and rappel on to the Boston glacier. From there, it's over the North Ridge of Forbidden and down the Forbidden glacier to stunning camp at Moraine lake.

Day 3 ~ From Moraine lake we will ascend up to the Inspiration glacier and make a camp at the base of the East ridge of Eldorado peak.

Day 4 ~We will summit Eldorado via the East ridge, ski off of the summit and down the Roush creek drainage where we will pick up the climbers trail for the remainder of the hike out. We should be back in Marblemount by early afternoon for a celebratory meal.

Skills Required

On a tour like this to maximize your enjoyment, the most important skills are skiing skills. While most of the terrain is fairly moderate by resort standards, on any traverse of this size, its not uncommon to encounter a wide range of snow conditions. It is important for skiers to be able to comfortably ski black runs at a ski area in any conditions. Further you must be able to perform survival turns (hop turns, stem christie etc.) down steeper terrain and in very difficult snow conditions. Skiers should have some touring experience and be adept at using skins, performing kick turns and skiing with a pack.

Previous Mountaineering experience is not required though will prove beneficial. We will cover skills such as the use of ski crampons, avalanche transceivers, boot crampons, and ice axes as well as traveling as a rope team. We have factored time into the tour to cover these skills thus insuring a high degree of safety and comfort for all members of the team.

This tour will also demand a high degree of fitness. Obviously you don't need to be an Olympic athlete, though the more fit you arrive, the more you will enjoy the tour. Not to mention having energy to ski an extra run after arriving at camp for the day. 

If you have any doubts or concerns about your abilities or skiing skills, please don't hesitate to call and address them. We will gladly offer training advice or we can arrange for some pre trip training to insure your skills are up to speed before embarking on this trip.

 

Forbidden Tour Guiding Fees

Great skiing on the Forbidden tour.

• 3-6 Skiers with 2 Guides (max ratio 3:1) - $650 Per person (with minimum of 2 skiers)

• May 1st - 4th , 2010

• Guiding fees
• Avalanche safety equipment
• All technical group gear

• Travel to and from Marblemount
• Food during trip
• Personal ski equipment