Catamount Glacier. Ref: Aaron
Cameron and
Matt Gunn's Hikes
around Invermere & the Columbia River Valley.
Winter access: Park at the snowmobile trailhead on
Horsethief-Forster Creek FSR at kilometer 20. A grooming fee of 10
dollars a sled is in effect. They stop grooming where the summer
parking is, 348116, the last few kilometers are bumpy. Park the
sleds at the bottom of the ascent to the moraines, 324118, about 24
kilometers
in. From there, ascend towards the low point on the north facing slopes and proceed in the draw. At
the toe of the glacier, 317110, head west-south-west towards Mount
Griffith. |
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24 km access on
Horsethief-Forster Creek FSR. |
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Start of
the ascent towards Catamount Glacier, sleds prohibited. |
| Ski mountaineering: RT 5.0; 3.25 up (from the
sled). This recon trip on Catamount Glacier surpassed our
expectations. There was possibility of low to nil visibility on the
glacier and we were not familiar with the winter ascent route through
the moraines. We started the trip with a "see what happens" kinda
attitude. We parked our sleds and started to skin up. The snowpack was
firm with ankle-deep snow on top. We could see snowmobile tracks
leading up the steep slope, trail breaking was easy. Atop the slope,
the moraines come into view. We easily picked our way through and
gained height quickly. Snowmobilers with guts and big machines
obviously have no problem making it up here either. Above the moraine,
we skied towards the glacier quite amazed at the weather and snow
conditions. After a quick stop, we proceeded on the glacier. Soon
thereafter, the objective came into view beyond a long, steep climb.
Crevasses were few and quite far from our ascent line, we remained
unroped. While going up the steep slope, we realized it would be a very
nice
ski down, with fluffy fresh snow on top of a smooth, solid base. At
the crest of the climb, a short plod leads to the summit ridge. We went
through the snowdrifts (avoidable climber's left) and ascended near the
ridge crest. We kept our skis on save for the last 30 feet where the
ridge
narrows. We remained at the top for nearly an hour and watched the
weather
move-in. Our descent was quick, an hour top to bottom. Mostly though,
it was some of the best skiing on a glacier, and good all the way back
down to the sleds, WOW!!! Check out this little video.
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Looking back,
already well engaged in the climb on the moraine. |
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Top section of the
moraine. |
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Travelling on the
glacier towards Griffith, barely visible right of center. |
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A gradual ascent
from the moraine. |
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A close up of
Griffith's summit ridge. |
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Another look back,
minutes from the top. |
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Sunlight through
thin cloud, no wind. |
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Last steps to the
top. |
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Taurus
Mountain to the north. |
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We
stayed on the summit ridge for a while, it was very mild. |
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We
circumvented the "gargoyles" on the descent. |
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Mount
Griffith. |
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The
shaded slope provided an awesome, leg-burning ski run. The conditions
were primo. |
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Gentle
grade of the toe of the glacier. |
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Great
turns all the way back down. |
| Back
to home page |
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