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Clearing a bit as we descended, view along SE Ridge
of "Ochre Spring Peak". |
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| View back to summit as we descended. |
March 29 met up with Curt to explore a new area for some turns and hopefully a new summit. We decided on "Ochre Spring Peak", a little unofficial bump along Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park. This little mountain with a summit at 2780m or so metres, sees many ascents and there are several online trip reports. Easy approach and easy uphill slog, with views to many big summits likely increase the popularity of the hike. From the Paint Pots trail head, about 3km along the summer trail takes to you a tall avalanche slope that descends all the way from the summit. This trail has packed with boots, snowshoes and ski tracks and was easy travel. Once we arrived at the avi slope, a big slide debris path came straight down the centre of the primary avalanche slope. Looks like it started around 1900m on a south facing slope, where the edge of gully steepened into the trees. Likely slid around March 19 or March 20 with that large natural avalanche cycle. There was a well defined up track up the center of gully, obviously that group were getting turns after the big natural slide.
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| Starting up the long avi slope. |
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| Lots of avi debris. |
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| View across the valley to Vermillion Peak. |
As we slogged up the long and foreshorterned view in the avalanche channel, the old up track provided a clear path through much of avi debris. After about 250 vertical metres of gain, there was a side channel to main drainage/avi channel. The trail stayed on the crest of division. Old turn tracks could be seen in the side channel, yeah, didn't have to ski down bumpy avi debris.
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Old up track in the thick of avi debris.
(Photo by Curt) |
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Bumpy up track.
(Photo by Curt) |
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Mini ridge dividing the major channel from the smaller drainage.
No avi debris in the side channel. |
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| Curt soaking up the day. |
After gaining another 100 metres up the mini ridge, the up track went up a steep slope, but ended near 2000m. Above the old track high point, trail breaking was easy and the snow conditions improved. Once above the main tree line, about 2100 metres, the snow quality really improved, no more sun crust, with a nice layer of soft powder. Weather deteriorated with high wind speed and partial whiteouts as we gained elevation into the alpine.
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| View to the valley. |
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| Partial view to summit. |
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Looking down to tree line.
The incoming blast of heavy snow can be seen in the valley. |
We had hoped to continue to the summit, just to be peak baggers, but the weather really deteriorated once we were above tree line. Our highpoint was about 2400 metres at 2pm. The wind was really howling, the snow was blasting and falling fast and full whiteout conditions, we chose to turnaround. At our highpoint we had gained about 1000 metres and the weather was nasty.
Above tree line the snow was excellent, no sun crust, didn't feel or dig up any wind slabs, just nice powder. It was a delightful ski back to the main tree line, but these nice conditions didn't last long.
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Curt just getting back into the trees. End of the nice snow. |
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OSWB heading down for some bumpy turns.
(Photo by Curt) |
As we dropped in elevation the snow got more sun affected and had a hard sun crust. Much of the lower skiing was not great and you had to stay sharp and use your sharp edges.
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OSWB skiing the lower slopes, sun exposed snow was fast and furious.
(Photo by Curt) |
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OSWB skiing the sun blasted hard packed snow
low down in the valley.
(Photo by Curt) |
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| Curt enjoying the day out. |
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| Last look up the avi slope as we head out. |
