Hidden Lake - Backcountry tour and turns

Halfway Hut (Ptarmigan Hut)
Lovely historic hut below Hidden Lake.
Almost 100 years old. 

Got out Sunday March 9 with young bucks Curt and Max for some backcountry turns. Not being out much this season, decided to ski conservative terrain. Last couple of seasons did some winter mountaineering trips near Skoki (Mt. Richardson, Ptarmigan Peak) and enjoyed skiing the slopes above Hidden Lake, so we headed there. Simple, but not short approach to Halfway Hut (Ptarmigan Hut) for lunch. 

Earning our turns. Long ski slog towards
Temple Lodge at Ski Louise. 
(Photo by Curt)

Heading to hut for a snack on the way up.

Making our way above the hut.

It was snowing hard all morning. Once in the alpine, travel was slow due to sticky (high moisture content) snow and limited visibility. We did one long run back to the hut. Lots of snow, but low angle and fresh wet powder made turns so so. Snack at the hut, then quick ski out. Good day out in the hills.

Typical conditions in the alpine.

OSWB looking for best up track. 
(Photo by Curt)

Transition to down hill mode. 
(Photo by Curt)

Curt in pow. 

Max in pow.

Nice pow, but we needed more steepness. 

Low vis near the hut on the way out. 

"Fairmont Hill" (GR 848769) - North Slopes Ski

 

Fairmont Hill

Saturday February 8 set out on what I thought would be a short mission. Turned out to be 650 metres of gain over 8 km of steep bush and boulders, and a lot of unconsolidated snow. I had a late start at 3pm from the upper parking lot of the Fairmont Ski Resort. I was headed to the treed summit of the high point above the ski hill. This little summit is an outlier of the taller and long Fairmont Ridge, but this little peak is quite visible from the Fairmont Hot Springs village area.

Parked at blue dot.
Skied north, then south to summit (red dot).

View north from the summit of Fairmont Mountain.
Photo taken August 10, 2021.
Can see the little bump of "Fairmont Hill"
and the beautiful Fairmont Ridge and north summit of 
Fairmont Mountain.

View to Fairmont Hill from the slopes of ski resort base.
(Photo taken March 1, 2025)

A convenient road heads up Cold Spring Creek for a short distance, this trail sees some action. Once above the small dam, I was breaking trail into the upper reaches of the creek. 

Gate on start of road in Cold Springs Creek.

Foot and snow shoe traffic along road.
Tracks stopped at the dam.

Little dam on Cold Spring Creek.

Aimed for the low angle terrain just east of the little hill. Lots of cool cliffs and big boulders on the way up the slopes. Reached the treed summit after dark, about 6:30. The resort was hosting night skiing so some of the runs were all lighted up, was cool to look down on these runs. Enjoyed the moon and the lights of Fairmont and headed down in my up track. Much faster on the way out. About 2:30 back to the car. I was happy to bag this minor peak, but most people wouldn’t bother.

Big Dipper WI4, 100 m, 2 pitches

 

Sunday January 26 had a great day of ice climbing with a fun group. Enjoy the company of Jason, Raff and Lindsey. We headed to the Big Dipper (100m, WI4) accessed from the South Ghost, but the climb is located in Banff National Park. Once in the tight canyon, there was very cool scenery. Part way up the canyon, large chockstone prevents easy passage. Installed metal rungs and chains help, but bolted station is located on top, so we did use the rope. Pitch one of Big Dipper was full value WI4 or WI4+, steep and hard ice. Pitch two was a bit softer ice and less steep. Group of 4 was a bit slow to get up two pitches, but we enjoyed the conversation and the climbing. Great day out. 

Cool canyon hike in.

JW leading pitch 1.

JW on pitch one.

Young and strong Jason leading up pitch 1.
(Raff's photo)

OSWB seconding pitch 1.
(Raff's photo)

Old guys, OSWB on the left, and the Crazy Pole,
Raff, on the right. 

Three amigos.
Raff, Jason and I

WD40 WI4, 60m and Green Monster WI4+, 30m

 

Nearly 17 years ago, on January 5, 2008, Jason Wilcox and I did 3 first ascents in Upper Evan-Thomas Creek. WD40, Slurpee and Green Monster. All WI4 one pitch routes. Over the last 16 or so years, I have climb these routes several times, but not since 2008 with Jason. December 20 I had the pleasure to climb these routes with Jason, well we skipped Slurpee because it looked awful. WD40 or Wilcox is Dangerous and Barton is 40, was in good shape, with some spice mid route. Green Monster was smaller than most years, but provided some sporty climbing. Great day out with young Jason and enjoyed reminiscing with beer post climb. 

WD40
on Dec. 20, 2024.

Wilcox is Dangerous, back in 2008, Barton was 40.
WD40

JW heading up.

Slurpee.
Not looking very good, we gave it a pass.

JW at the base of Green Monster.

View to Rehab Wall from top of 
Green Monster.

View down to JW at base of Green Monster. 

While climbing on Green Monster, local legend Raphael Slawinski, was leading up the mixed route, Physo-Therapy 50m M7, WI 5. He made this difficult mixed route look like a walk in the park, cool to witness this skill. 

“Buller Pass Peak” (GR204382) - South Slopes Scramble

"Buller Pass Peak"

                              

Had an enjoyable day in the snowy hills on Friday October 25. Laurie and I needed some cardio and alpine views so we headed out for a scenic hike up “Buller Pass Peak” (GR204382). More snow than I was expecting, but fortuitously, a group of strong trail breaking alpine friends were on the Buller Creek trail before us. Turns out, they too were headed up Buller Pass Peak. Funny, we never saw or meet our friends as they chose steeper frozen scree  directness, while we chose a snowier lower angle slog to the summit. Once upon the rocky prominence of the summit, I was convinced the snowy summit slightly to the North was higher, so I slogged over, while Laurie stayed on the rocky summit. Winter like light on the summit and a casual return with a cool winter vibe. Great day in the hills.

Bridge at road side, fresh tracks.

OSWB enjoying the late fall day.
Photo by Laurie.

Wind crust, glad the trail was broken.

LK enjoying the day.

View to Buller Pass (South)

"Buller Pass Peak"

View to Mt. Buller.

Cool clouds.

Thin snow cover on the south slopes.

View to Buller Pass (South).

LK enjoying the fresh air, Mt. Engadine behind.

LK with "Mt. Lillian" behind.

Close up of "Mt. Lillian".

Wintry view to Mt. Engadine (r) and 
"The Tower" (l).

Rocky summit of "Buller Pass Peak".

View north to snowy summit of "Buller Pass Peak".

Laurie on the rock summit.

View to "Mt. Lillian".

View to Mt. Galatea (l) and 
"The Tower" (r).

Laurie on rocky summit, OSWB behind on snowy summit.
Photo by Laurie.

Views to Mt. Assiniboine.