| Park at the Rogers
Pass Discovery Center. Skin up Connaught Drainage. Before the back of
the draw, head
north-west into the forest, 607826. There's usually an uptrack to
Ursus Trees; it initially climbs to the right of a sheltered gully.
Further up, near the top of "Hospital Gully", 606828, Hospital/Ursus
Minor Bowl divides Bruin's Ridge (left) and Ursus Trees
(right). Make your way to the head of Hospital/ Ursus Minor Bowl. Video
Peak's north-east
ridge is accessed by a steep slope climber's left of some rockbands. It
is possible to ski right to the top.
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Connaught Drainage. |
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Shortly after the
trailhead.
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| Ski touring: RT 6.5; 4.5 up.
Fabrice and I have spent our weekends in Rogers Pass this month. It's
been nice to return to the area where I started ski touring, already
twenty years ago... We've been taking advantage of the really good
skiing conditions and milder temperatures on the west side of the
Divide. With a stable snowpack, ski lines mark steep slopes and chutes
everywhere in the alpine. Using a popular approach, our objective is a
great outing which doesn't require too much time, offers great views
and grants an excellent ski run; it's a must for all skiing
peak-baggers!!! On a previous trip four days earlier, we spotted a
couple of lines down Video Peak. Since then, a few more skiers have
reached the top and laid down some nice turns; Fab and I simply
followed the uptrack. As we neared the steeper terrain higher up, I
was pleased to see there had been no recent wind event; the snow was
light and the track wasn't drifted-in. For the final stretch to the
ridge and summit, we were basking in the sun. We continued, keeping our
distance and skinned all the way to the top. We were very pleased with
the sights even if the southern view was obscured. The wind was calm so
we stayed until clouds started moving in. We prepared to ski
down before losing good visibility. Fab went first and when he got to
the bottom of the slope, I
went. I aimed for untracked snow right away. The first turns
were exciting with sloughing snow running fast ahead of my skis. Skiing
the fluffy boot-top to knee-deep snow was phenomenal, that ski run was
perfect!!! We were so lucky the slope wasn't tracked out. Lower down,
we watched another group make their way to the top; by then, visibility
was reduced... Yep, we were lucky indeed. |
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Connaught Creek
below. |
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Emerging into Ursus
Minor Bowl, Video Peak is in the sun. |
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We veer towards
Ursus Minor Bowl, the uptrack for Bruin's Ridge is visible behind Fab. |
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Ursus Minor Bowl. |
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Climbing alongside
of Ursus Trees. |
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Video Peak offers an
excellent ski run. |
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Cheops Mountain is
engulfed by clouds, Balu Pass can be seen (far right). |
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Ursus Minor Mountain
is another popular destination. |
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The uptrack climbs
steeply climber's left of the outcrop. |
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Stepping into the
sun. |
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Approaching the
steep pitch to gain the ridge crest. |
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Spacing ourselves
out on this steep terrain. |
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The summit is a
short distance away. |
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Fab at the top of
the steep pitch with Ursus Minor Mountain in the background. |
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Skinning to the top! |
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Visibility is
greatly reduced south of us. |
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Enjoying sunny
conditions and no wind on our 40th summit this year! |
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Pinnacles down
the ridge look like bear teeth, inspiring another name for the summit
we're on. Balu Peak and Ursus Major Mountain (right) in the background. |
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Ursus Minor and
Grizzly Mountains. |
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Looking north-west
with Ursus Creek below. |
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Bear Teeth
protruding behind Fab, Video Peak is the highpoint.
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Two skiers at
Bruin's
Pass. |
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Skiing from the top,
whoot, whoot!!! |
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Phenomenal skiing
conditions down an excellent ski run. |
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