Ski Touring Photos from Bonnet Icefield

March 21-24, 2008

Described in "Summits and Icefields: Canadian Rockies" by Chic Scott. This was supposed to be a fun wilderness outing to a rarely visited Icefield East of Skoki. Unfortunately we never got there. A col we would have to pass to reach the Icefield was very dangerous looking when we reached it and we decided to turn around. Maybe when I return someday I will find a way through. Hopefully the snow conditions will be better then too. The snow was kinda crappy this time.
Usually the trek requires about 4 days to allow time for ascents of peaks on the Bonnet Icefield such as South and North Bonnet Peak and Mount Hickson. To get there follow the access trail for Skoki Lodge to Boulder Pass then diverge from the trail and head down across Ptarmigan Lake and Baker Lake to the Baker Creek Valley. Go up the other side of the valley to Lychnis Col(The col to the left of Lychnis Mountain at the top of a valley). Somehow(I don't know how) descend from the col and head South along glaciers along the East side of the range that includes Lychnis Mountain to the Bonnet Icefield. Return the same way you came for the shortest possible time required. There are other return routes

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Looking back on Mount Temple across the valley as we approach Skoki.

Looking back on Mount Temple ...

Mount Richardson on the left, Pika Peak to the right of it and Ptarmigan Peak on the right as we head towards Boulder Pass.

Mount Richardson on the left, ...

A close up of Pika Peak an advanced scramble in the scrambles guide.

A close up of Pika Peak an ...

Skiing out onto Ptarmigan Lake. Fossil Mountain is in the center.

Skiing out onto Ptarmigan ...

Mount St. Bride across the Baker Creek Valley.

Mount St. Bride across the ...

Skiers on their way to Skoki Lodge.

Skiers on their way to Skoki ...

Skiing across Ptarmigan Lake with Fossil Mountain ahead of us.

Skiing across Ptarmigan Lake ...

Skiing down towards Baker Lake.

Skiing down towards Baker ...

Looking East to Lychnis Mountain Col our destination for the day. Lychnis Mountain is on the right of the col. The little hill in front of Lychnis Mountain is Tilted Mountain.

Looking East to Lychnis ...

Yours truly on Baker Lake.

Brachiopod Mountain on our right.

Brachiopod Mountain on our ...

Skiing across Baker Lake.

Looking South from near Baker Lake. Not sure which peaks these are.

Looking South from near Baker ...

Looking back to Ptarmigan Peak.

Looking back to Ptarmigan ...

Lychnis col with Lychnis Mountain at the back.

Lychnis col with Lychnis ...

Heading up the forest towards the Lychnis col valley. The snow had plenty of depth hoar and was very unpleasant when you broke through.

Heading up the forest towards ...

Heading up the Lychnis col valley.

Heading up the Lychnis col ...

Unnamed peak on the left(North) side of the valley.

Unnamed peak on the ...

Looking up the slopes of Tilted Mountain.

Looking up the slopes of ...

Looking back West to Fossil Mountain.

Looking back West to Fossil ...

Looking back across the Baker Creek Valley. Anthozoan Mountain is the ridge on the left with Brachiopod Mountain to the right. Ptarmigan Peak is in the distance and Fossil Mountain is on the right.

Looking back across the Baker ...

Heading up the Lychnis col valley.

Heading up the Lychnis col ...

Looking down the Lychnis col valley.

Looking down the Lychnis col ...

Lychnis Mountain.

A panorama of the Lychnis col valley. Unfortunately the snow in this valley wasn't any better than in the trees. We would break through ever now and then and that was exhausting.

A panorama of the Lychnis col ...

A close up of Ptarmigan Peak to the far West behind us.

A close up of Ptarmigan Peak ...

Brachiopod Mountain to the West.

Brachiopod Mountain to the ...

Heading up to Lychnis col.

Looking back down on Tilted Mountain.

Looking back down on Tilted ...

Lychnis Col.

Looking back West down the Lychnis col valley to Tilted Mountain.

Looking back West down the ...

Carrying our skies up to Lychnis Col on very tricky frozen scree.

Carrying our skies up to ...

The left(North) side of Lychnis Col.

The left(North) side of ...

The open valley on the East side of Lychnis col. Mount Douglas on the left and Mount St. Bride to the right of Mount Douglas.

The open valley on the East ...

A close up of Mount Douglas.

The dangerous looking Lychnis col. The North ridge of Lychnis Mountain behind. The way down was very steep in all places and the snow looked like it would avalanche. Given the choice between tearing ourselves up on very steep loose rock or starting an avalanche, we decided to turn around and take another look in the morning.

The dangerous looking Lychnis ...