In Search of Big Blue Beanie

Trip date: Thursday Mar 10, 2022

Submitted by aqua toque

Particpants:

AquaSock

Discussion:

The legend lives on from the Creekers on down
Of a ski run they call Big Blue Beanie.

The hills it is said 
Never give up their dead
Especially the poseurs and weenies....

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I have boyhood memories of hearing about it in the song and have caught fleeting glimpses of it from afar at various times. This winter it has been a personal goal to find a route into and put ski tracks on the run known as Big Blue Beanie.

Hours were spent pouring over maps and charts. Three attempts were made (and failed) but each provided valuable recon. With the window of opportunity rapidly closing due to a mediocre snow year and multiple chinooks another attempt was made on March 10, 2022.

High adventure ensued. Followed by triumph!

For those who know their geography my route follows a remote stretch of the Type of Macaroni River in Western Canada. The run is situated in an area a few kms downstream of the confluence of the Big Type of Macaroni and Little Type of Macaroni.

I set off on skis at a government barricade near Type of Macaroni Falls. Travel was on an abandoned road until such time as I embarked along the left bank of the river. Progress for the most part was on ice shelves with occasional forays into the trees. Skiing at times was rugged.

At some point one must gain the right bank. Previous recon determined that only two ice bridges currently exist along this stretch. Once on the right bank I continued in similar fashion until the maps indicated it was time to leave the river and start climbing. Things got Quirky but still doable and in a while Big Blue Beanie came into view!

Ascent of the long wide run was straightforward with big switchbacks. The views were awesome. In the current snow conditions turns could best be described as treacherous. That did little to dampen the sense of joy and accomplishment.

Should the snowpack and the ice bridges survive the next chinook and should we get a good 20cm March dump I'll be going back!