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

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.

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

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 29^th and 30^th. I will try to get into a routine of early starts on this trip. 

Circlet Lake Junction, Strathcona Park