Saturday, May 03, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 7

End of Shepherd Ridge to Buttle Lake

Flower Ridge Trail Parking Lot
Island Bushwhack! Started out around 9:30am and was on the highway by noon. Fairly easy route finding and a relatively open forest.

Friday, May 02, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 6

Headwaters above Tezla Lake to end of Shepherd Ridge

I didn't set an alarm and I woke up at 6am so I was happy about that. Got going at 8:30am. I planned to ascend the north ridge of Shepherd Peak and then traverse down Shepherd Ridge's north side until the ridge started to round off and I could follow the height of land. The initial skin up went well, muscles waking up to the days work. When I popped around the side of the ridge and had a view down the north side I was disappointed. I couldn't see a route, not without dropping way down below treeline or exposing myself to some big falls. I traversed down the ridge, hoping to find a way through but finally decided I needed to get over to the south side of the ridge.
North side of Shepherd Ridge
I found a col that was a very steep skin up with a boot-pack down the other side through a gully. The south side of the ridge looked much better but the clouds were closing in. I contoured along for a ways not really being able to see where I was but at least feeling I was making progress. Then the terrain started to force me to go up, into the clouds. I kept moving along, passed the last tree and was in a total white-out so I sat down and had a break because I couldn't see a thing.

After a while it cleared out a bit and I could see enough to continue moving up. Eventually, I could go no further because a large peak blocked my path. The south side was visible and looked steep with no options. The north side was obscured in cloud so I sat there wishing for it to clear out and eventually it did.
There was a large bowl with a small lake in the bottom and a clear path from the lake up a gully onto the ridge, to a point where it appeared I would then be able to follow the ridge top all the way down. How to get down into that bowl? From where I stood it was cornices and cliffs overhanging the bowl. I started moving back down retracing my steps when I saw an opening. I scouted it out and it would be a very steep line but it was possible and would have me down there before the clouds came back. Considering that if I was at a ski resort I wouldn't be nervous at all about skiing a line like this, I went for it. The legs burned but it went fine.

I ascended the steep gully and breathed a sigh of relief. The clouds were clearing out and I had a simple descent down the ridge in front of me. I could enjoy the lovely vistas once again. It was late in the day so once I reached the end of the ridge and found a spot with a magnificent view over Buttle Lake, I stopped and made camp.
View of Buttle Lake from Shepherd Ridge

Thursday, May 01, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 5

Headwaters of Siokum Creek to Headwaters above Tezla Lake

A long day. I was anxious this morning. My barometer was down from the previous evening and I was worried the weather would close in. The day turned out fine however, and there was a nice sunset this evening so probably tomorrow will be fine to.

I started off by touring to the col between the peaks of Mt. Siokum, wrapping up and around the more eastern of the two. I was nervous about the exposure so I stopped to put my ski crampons on. They make me feel like I am in 4x4 mode. Then I made my way along a high ridge of many bumps to the Aureole Icefield. Some of this terrain did require scrambling down some rocks and there was a boot back down a gully to finally reach the Icefield. Touring up to Rees Ridge was great. The view was spectacular both down to Georgia Strait and towards Mt. Harmston, Argus Mountain and the Red Pillar.
East Peak of Mt. Siokum from Peak 1909

Next, I descended to Milla Lake. I took a narrowing gully down from below Iceberg Peak which worked very well until the end. About 100m above the lake it turned into a waterfall. Referring to the guidebook, I scrambled down the rocks skier's right of the gully. This was difficult with skis, a full pack and wearing ski boots.

Once down on the lake, I scoped out the route between Mt. Harmston and Mt. Tezla. It didn't look like it would go and it was full in the hot sun, so I headed down to the other end of the lake. Here there is a gully which leads between Mt. Harmston and Mt. Argus onto the Cliffe Glacier. For the most part it looked good to go, in the shade with limited exposure. At the top was a cornice which I couldn't see a way around. I went for it and it took a long time to get to the top and the cornice was still there when I arrived. There was a sneak around the left which I took but didn't feel great about because of some cliffs below.

After that I was on the Cliffe Glacier and I had an easy time contouring around Mt. Tezla and finding a place to make camp. Another exciting day coming up tomorrow I am sure.
Milla Lake


Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 4

Mt. Frink – Mt. George V col to headwaters of Siokum Creek

I was awakened in the night to hear it pouring rain on the tent. Not what you want to hear when you have a big day ahead. However, when I popped my head out of the tent at 5:30am there was a beautiful sunrise. I did my best to be quick but it was still 8:20am before I left camp.

Once I was under the big north face of Mt. George V, I wished I had started earlier. Except for my nerves getting to the top wasn't difficult. It did require a short rock scramble at 1800m. Next up, Peak 1920. The face of it was intimidating as well but it was more laid back once I was on it. The ridgeline over to Peak 1909 was spectacular. There were some tiring bumps to get over. Getting down off Peak 1909 was tricky. Phil Stone's description of the route from the Turns and Tours book was very helpful but the pictures with arrows drawn on felt misleading to me.

It was very hot, everything was melting around me so I decided to call it a day. Tomorrow, if the weather holds, I will try for Milla Lake or possibly further to Shepherd Ridge. I will attempt an even earlier wake up!
Ridge between Peak 1920 and Peak 1909

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 3

Tent Day

I woke up this morning to a cloudy day. Everything was shrouded in fog. I didn't go anywhere. The weather has markedly improved this evening. The clouds have lifted, I can see the sun behind a haze and what appears like a high pressure system coming in from the east. Looking down the valley, I can see the southern end of Texada Island and Lasqueti Island.

So I have lost a day. Hopefully, I wake to good conditions tomorrow. Two options: Head for next planned camp at the headwaters of Siokum Creek and then the next day head out on Ralph Ridge, or carry on over Siokum Mountain and camp at Ink Lake, carrying on with the original plan to exit on Shepherd Ridge. From Ink Lake I can back track to Ralph Ridge as well, without going back up the mountain. I guess we will see what the weather brings and how I feel tomorrow.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 2

Circlet Lake to the Mt. Frink – Mt. George V col. 9am start, 6pm finish.

 It took me 3 hours from wake up to departure. Bluebird to start but then it got socked in. This was fine at first because I was still in the trees. I had a couple of steep slopes to negotiate to get up on the ridge and my new ski crampons worked well. I waited where the trees stopped to see if it would clear out. 2 hours of patience rewarded me. Low clouds kept obscuring the top of Mt. Frink however, but it was nice enough to make an attempt. I got to the top just after 3pm and thought I had it made but it ended up being a less than straight-forward descent. I had to hike up at one point and switch back to skins at another. Now it is snowing. Hopefully the forecast holds out and I can keep going tomorrow.
Mt Albert Edward and Mt Regan

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Comox-Buttle Divide Solo Ski Tour - Day 1

Standard cruise in to Circlet Lake from Raven Lodge. 5cm of new snow last night, warm temps today and snow flurries. Ski Pen 2-3cm.

Left the lodge at noon, made camp at 4:15pm, took a 1/2 hour break on route. Decided to stop just above Circlet Lake because of the avalanche terrain to be crossed ascending to the Mt. Albert-Edward ridge, a few short, steep slopes. Anyways, I will need to stop tomorrow at the Mt. Frink – Mt. George V col to be able to ascend the exposed avalanche terrain on the north face of Mt. George V early in the morning. The weather forecast for the week looked good when last checked, sunny with some clouds. Potential for significant warning on 29th and 30th. I will try to get into a routine of early starts on this trip. 
Circlet Lake Junction, Strathcona Park