play Up One Level not an important image Ski Mountaineering Photos from Mount Columbia Summit DayMay 10, 2009


I slept well during the night but heard a lot of snow falling at times. When we woke up we were in a complete whiteout. During breakfast some of the clouds lifted to reveal Mount Bryce and other mountain to the South West in BC. As we approached Mount Columbia the clouds came and went, revealing at times Castleguard Mountain and Mount Saskatchewan. We saw Mount Lyell briefly before a cloud blocked it off completely. After 3 km of approach we saw a little bit of Mount Columbia. The closer we got the better the views got. We never did see the Twins on our approach. After reaching the slopes of Mount Columbia we went into boot mode. The slopes seemed incredibly steep as we ascended. After Reinhold got tired of breaking trail Sheri took over. At Sheri's incredible pace, I was struggling to keep up, and so was everyone else. After the steepest part was over we took a break and caught our breath. I drank a lot of water and refueled on chocolate. After Reinhold's rope team finally caught up we plodded on with Yuri in the lead. The summit wasn't as far away as we expected. After Yuri navigated around some crevasses we climbed through a cornice to the summit. On the summit it was clouded over, but thankfully the view to the West cleared up every now and then. We got great views of Mount King Edward, Tsar Mountain and the Chaba Icefield. We still could not see the Twins or Mount Alberta. While traversing to the high point Yuri put his foot in a crevasse and I responded "Can you get your ski out". I must have been affected my the altitude since we left our skis behind at the start of the steep part.

After some great shots I was dragged off the summit. It was difficult leaving such a beautiful place. The way down ended up being much more fun than I thought it would be scary. All the peaks on the Southern half of the view were shimmering in the sun. After getting back to our skis we had some fun roped skiing until we got to easier terrain. We decided to unrope and unskin for the remainder of the trip back to the trench. As is tradition on any ski trip that I participate in, I did a very impressive faceplant. After that I snowplowed the rest of the way since the snow was very crusty. Now my quads are hurting. Thanks god for Tylenol. On the way back the Twins came into view for the first time. Although we still couldn't see the summits. The view from camp was greatly improved and Mount Bryce was quite a sight to behold. What a beautiful mountain. During dinner I kept my Chicken Gumbo warm by keeping it in my coat as I always do, except this time it ended badly. The sun is setting as I write this and South Twin has fully cleared up. I hope to see North Twin cleared up tomorrow morning

Click on the play button in the top left to start the slideshow or click on any picture to enlarge it. Use the icons on the top left to navigate.


Photo missing.
Looking South to Mount Bryce and peaks of the Bush River Valley.
Looking South to Mount Bryce ...
Photo missing.
Skiing up from the trench.
Skiing up from the trench.
Photo missing.
Looking back at our camp.
Looking back at our camp.
Photo missing.
Looking South to Mount Bryce as the clouds slowly clear.
Looking South to Mount Bryce ...
Photo missing.
Skiing up the Icefield.
Skiing up the Icefield.
Photo missing.
Unnamed subpeak of Columbia on our left as we approach.
Unnamed subpeak of Columbia ...
Photo missing.
Looking back Castleguard Mountain emerges from the cloud.
Looking back Castleguard ...
Photo missing.
A panorama from our break spot looking South.
A panorama from our break ...
Photo missing.
Mount Saskatchewan emerges from the clouds.
Mount Saskatchewan emerges ...
Photo missing.
We catch a glimse of part of Mount Columbia as we approach.
We catch a glimse of part of ...
Photo missing.
Mount Columbia clears up for us.
Mount Columbia clears up for ...
Photo missing.
Unnamed subpeak of Columbia on our left as we approach. Has a cool summit cornice.
Unnamed subpeak of Columbia ...
Photo missing.
Snowdome clears to the East.
Snowdome clears to the East.
Photo missing.
Looking behind me to the expanse of the Icefield.
Looking behind me to the ...
Photo missing.
A cool anvil cloud forms on our left as we ascend.
A cool anvil cloud forms on ...
Photo missing.
The East face of Mount Columbia. Looks very cool.
The East face of Mount ...
Photo missing.
Seracs on the face of Columbia.
Seracs on the face of ...
Photo missing.
Our group taking a break on the slopes of Mount Columbia. Sheri in the foreground.
Our group taking a break on ...
Photo missing.
Looking SouthWest to King Peak in BC.
Looking SouthWest to King ...
Photo missing.
Our group heading up the face. Gets very steep.
Our group heading up the ...
Photo missing.
Zoomed in looking far South to Cockscomb Mountain.
Zoomed in looking far South ...
Photo missing.
Continuing up the slope.
Continuing up the slope.
Photo missing.
Reinhold catching up after our sprint up the rest of the steep part.
Reinhold catching up after ...
Photo missing.
Sheri our super trail breaker. Snowdome behind.
Sheri our super trail ...
Photo missing.
Looking back down to the trench.
Looking back down to the ...
Photo missing.
Heading up the last bit.
Heading up the last bit.
Photo missing.
Heading up the last bit.
Heading up the last bit.
Photo missing.
Sheri climbing over the final cornice.
Sheri climbing over the final ...
Photo missing.
Heading up the final section of Mount Columbia.
Photo courtesy of Reinhold Mayerhofer
Heading up the final section ...
Photo missing.
Our team on the summit. Eric, Yuri, Sheri, Marion, Reinhold and Bernie. Reinhold took the photo and I stitched him in.
Photo courtesy of Reinhold Mayerhofer
Our team on the summit. Eric, ...
Photo missing.
The view to the West of the summit. The highest peak in the photo is Tsar Mountain. Omega Peak is directly in front of it in the foreground.
The view to the West of the ...
Photo missing.
Zoomed in looking West to Tsar Mountain.
Zoomed in looking West to ...
Photo missing.
Looking North West. Sundial Mountain is the peak on the far right.
Looking North West. Sundial ...
Photo missing.
Looking North West to Warwick Mountain
Looking North West to Warwick ...
Photo missing.
A clearer view to the West. This is as good as it gets.
A clearer view to the West. ...
Photo missing.
Unnamed peak to the South West of Columbia.
Unnamed peak to the South ...
Photo missing.
Looking South West. King Peak is on the left.
Looking South West. King Peak ...
Photo missing.
The fun descent.
Photo courtesy of Reinhold Mayerhofer
The fun descent.
Photo missing.
Heading back down. Came down fast and fun.
Heading back down. Came down ...
Photo missing.
Looking East across the massive Columbia Icefield.
Looking East across the ...
Photo missing.
Looking back up the slope.
Looking back up the slope.
Photo missing.
Looking South to Mount Bryce.
Looking South to Mount Bryce.
Photo missing.
Peaks above the Bush River Valley. The Pawn is the big one in the center. On the far right is King Peak with Queen Peak to the right of it on the edge of the photo.
Peaks above the Bush River ...
Photo missing.
Looking back up Columbia.
Looking back up Columbia.
Photo missing.
Looking across the Icefield to Mount Andromeda.
Looking across the Icefield ...
Photo missing.
Looking South West to Mount Saskatchewan and Castleguard Mountain.
Looking South West to Mount ...
Photo missing.
Looking South. Mount Bryce in the center. The Bush River Valley on the right.
Looking South. Mount Bryce in ...
Photo missing.
A panorama of the view South of Mount Columbia.
A panorama of the view South ...
Photo missing.
Looking East to Mount Columbia.
Looking East to Mount ...
Photo missing.
Zoomed in far South East to Mount Saskatchewan. Mount Cline can be seen on the left in the distance.
Zoomed in far South East to ...
Photo missing.
Unnamed cool looking summit near Columbia to the South.
Unnamed cool looking summit ...
Photo missing.
Looking far South West to Mount Willerval.
Looking far South West to ...
Photo missing.
Looking back to Mount Columbia.
Looking back to Mount ...
Photo missing.
Looking far North up the Athabasca River Valley. Blackfriars Peak on the far left. Catacombs Mountain behind it with the Icefield on it. Dragon Peak in the center. Mount Kerkeslin is the very far peak on the right.
Looking far North up the ...
Photo missing.
Panorama of peaks by the Athabasca Valley to the North. Mount Quincy on the left. Another unnamed peak of Mount Quincy. Catacombs Mountain in the background with Blackfriars Peak in front of it. A long ridge extends to the right of Catacombs Mountain. One of the peaks on it is called Dragon Peak. The mountain on the far right is Mount Kerkeslin.
Panorama of peaks by the ...
Photo missing.
Looking far South. Cockscomb Mountain in the center in the sunshine. Rostrum Peak on the left. Not sure about Rostrum but it seems to be the most likely.
Looking far South. Cockscomb ...
Photo missing.
Skiing down to the trench.
Skiing down to the trench.
Photo missing.
Looking back to Mount Columbia.
Looking back to Mount ...
Photo missing.
Looking across the trench to the East.
Looking across the trench to ...
Photo missing.
Looking far South East to Mount Lyell on the left. Watchman Peak is the cool tower in the foreground right of center. Oppy Mountain on the right.
Looking far South East to ...
Photo missing.
Looking back to Mount Columbia.
Looking back to Mount ...
Photo missing.
Skiing back to camp.
Skiing back to camp.
Photo missing.
Skiing down the trench.
Skiing down the trench.
Photo missing.
Mount Bryce to the South. It looks really cool.
Mount Bryce to the South. It ...
Photo missing.
Our camp at the trench.
Our camp at the trench.
Photo missing.
Looking South into BC. Ladylove Mountain is on the left. The rest of the peaks are unnamed.
Looking South into BC. ...
Photo missing.
Looking back to Columbia from our camp.
Looking back to Columbia from ...
Photo missing.
The view South of the trench. Mount Bryce on the left.
The view South of the trench. ...
Photo missing.
Icefall to the North East of the trench.
Icefall to the North East of ...
Photo missing.
Sunset at the trench. Mount Columbia on the left. South Twin and North Twin on the right.
Sunset at the trench. Mount ...
Photo missing.
South and North Twin from the trench at sunset.
South and North Twin from the ...

Please send me any comments, suggestions or mountain/flora identifications ecoulthard@gmail.com

All Content © Eric Coulthard. All rights reserved - Commercial use without express written permission of the copyright holder is expressly forbidden.