If possible, check with ski patrol before leaving; they may request you stay out of some areas.
09-Feb-2015, update on my injury.
A visit at the Sport Medical Clinic in Banff confirmed a torn ACL requiring surgery.
Terminator Peak GR:952800 |
| elevation: 2,408 m. | height gain: 1,220 m. |
| area: Golden,BC | map 82 N/6 |
| 2014-May-05 |
| We parked at the
administration buildings and ski toured below
the Pionner Chair at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. We veered towards
the gondola line and
ascended "Show Off" to tower 15; from there, we climbed "Bowl Over" to
the gondola top. We followed Terminator Ridge a short distance and
bootpacked up to the summit. If possible, check with ski patrol before leaving; they may request you stay out of some areas. |
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| Looking down on Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, the cloud layers are beautiful. | ||
| Ski touring: RT 4.75 up. The
weather this weekend
was unsettled; a decent storm passed through dumping 40 cm of snow
across the Rockies. We didn't want to drive anywhere, we chose a
convenient objective close by. Terminator Peak is easily accessible
from the top of the gondola, it is a popular destination for
slackcountry skiing during winter months. Now that the ski hill is
closed, the area feels more natural and quiet. The ascent offers
reasonable height gain, we were lucky to use existing uptracks to tower
15. We broke trail into Bowl Over, the fresh snow was already well
settled and ski penetration only boot-top. It felt nice to arrive at
the top of the gondola; there was no one, just ravens flying about.
This reminded us of when we used to ski tour up here in the Whitetooth
days.
We followed Terminator Ridge for a short distance and left our skis
behind to bootpack up the summit. We sat at the top for quite some
time; the sky was painted with several layers of clouds, the valley
below appeared to be filled like the sea. Eventually, our attention
turned to the descent and we started down. We were keen to ski the
bowl; we
waited for a sunny window and after stomping on the wind lip and ski
cutting
the top of the slope, Fab dove in. Then came my turn. I skied the deep
heavy snow with enthusiasm until I felt instant
heat in one knee as it gave way... I fell to my side and came down the
slope sitting on a small wet point release avalanche. Dang, I've
suffered numerous knee injuries in the past but this one felt
different; I sat for a moment then stood up and freed my skis from
the stiffened snow with difficulty. I skied back down to tower
15,
mostly
on one leg. When we started down Show Off, the upside down snow proved
too tough to ski and I fell again, it really hurt... Fab took my
skis and I walked from that point. I still managed to fall a couple
more times before reaching the truck... that's when it
dawned on me that I had really damaged my knee, sigh... This outing was
very nice, we're glad we went despite the injury; c'est la vie! 09-Feb-2015, update on my injury. A visit at the Sport Medical Clinic in Banff confirmed a torn ACL requiring surgery. |
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| Reaching the gondola line. | ||
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| Looking back again. |
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| As we climb Show Off, we're in and out a cloud layer. | ||
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| Breaking out of the cloud layer. | ||
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| Gorgeous weather above the valley fog. | ||
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| Past tower 15 and into Bowl Over. | ||
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| Continuing to the back of the draw. | ||
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| Aiming for the gondola's top station. | ||
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| Terminator Peak (T1) and T2 on the right. | ||
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| Dipping down on
Terminator Ridge, the cat track is still obvious. |
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| The objective is close by. | ||
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| Ascending to a saddle where we'll leave the skis. | ||
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| Bootpacking up to the summit. | ||
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| Blue Heaven and The Molars behind the Eagle's Eye restaurant. | ||
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| Arriving at the top. | ||
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| T2 is another fantastic destination for some great long runs. | ||
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| Cheers! | ||
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| Heading back. | ||
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| Waiting for a sunny window to ski down Bowl Over. | ||
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| Survival skiing on one leg back to tower 15. | ||
| Back to home page |