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Trip Report

On Saturday, October 14 2006, I scrambled Mount Bell with Sonny, Calvin and Jeff.

The weather was generally very acceptable for mid-October with some high cloud and temperatures anywhere from around 10 degrees at the base of the mountain to around 0 at the summit.

There are no real route-finding issues on this scramble. We chose to do the 'alternate' approach, going up the scruby, steep slope above Boom Lake rather than all the way to Taylor Lake and then to the col.

There are two things that may color my perception of this scramble a bit more negative than it would otherwise be. The first is that I was sick already before the trip (I was sick on Yukness already!) and it only got worse as the day wore on. By the time I was done I had a good fever going. This made the whole outing quite unpleasant for me, physically. The second is that I really, really, really HATE rock-hard scree slopes. Even worse is that I forgot my trekking poles for the first time in over 2 years - bad timing!

So with those two disclaimer statements up front...

This was not my favorite scramble! ;-) After getting up to Boom Lake, we took some pictures in the morning mist and then head around the lake on the North side (climber's right). There's a trail right by the shoreline. We followed this till we came to a large pile of rocks, settled between a small pond and Boom Lake. We headed up the avi slope coming down to the pond. If you want to avoid losing elevation later you can start traversing climber's left after getting to treeline. Eventually you will spot the col above you and you can gain the col directly. We didn't know this so we went straight up to the ridge above us.

The lower slope is nasty, hard dirt / scree but the views opening up to the south make up for it (almost). Jeff outclimbed us quite quickly and was soon headed up to the wrong summit! He didn't realize that we had to go left at the ridge. I wish he had it right because our day would've been a lot easier! Once he was half way up the wrong slope we yelled at him but Jeff decided to bag the nub anyway - a decision that probably cost him the summit in the end but Linda would be proud! ;-)

Once reaching the ridge we realized we were high above the col and reluctantly set off down the ridge about 100m vertical to reach the col. I was feeling quite dizzy by this time but the weather was great, the views were only getting better and the ridge started getting exciting so there was really no good reason to turn back. My favorite part of the day was scrambling up this ridge. Too bad I was so dizzy or I would have stuck to the ridge even more than I did. If you don't like ridges there's lots of nasty, big, loose scree to keep you company on climber's left.

Speaking of loose rock, don't climb Bell with lots of other people because you'll probably kill one of them with large rockfall. (or one of them will kill you) I found the rock disturbingly loose in places, even on the cliff bands where rocks the size of a small car would shift with your weight sometimes. Good thing I left my helmet in the car to save weight eh?!

After an eternity of false summits we were finally on top. I couldn't believe that I was actually stubborn enough to make it to the top in my condition and even Sonny professed to feeling lethargic on this particular outing. Jeff was feeling exhausted too and turned back well before the summit. (We never did see him again till the parking lot at the end of the day.) Calvin seemed unaffected so I guess the rest of us just need to excerise more or something!

The views were incredible but the wind was biting. Soon we were headed back down. Here's where the negative feelings towards Bell start for me. The loose, hard, shifting, solid, big, small rocky terrain was not that much fun. Since the views were basically done the only thing to look forward to was a 5km march on steep, unstable terrain to get back to the lake and then another 5km plod on a concrete-hard trail in the trees that seems to go up more than down. Don't say I didn't warn you either! Pick a nice clear day to do this one or you may be disappointed.

Sonny and Calvin walk the somewhat boring, but gently graded approach to Boom Lake.

Jeff waits for the rest of us to catch up.

Jeff walks along the shore of Boom Lake with the morning mist dissipating beside him.

Reflections.

Early morning sunlight lights up our ascent slope. Boom Lake and the west shoulder of Boom Mountain are behind us.

Sonny and Calvin climb up the gully with Chimney Peak in the background.

Mount Whymper shows up across Boom Lake to the South.

Jeff bags a nub! Linda would be proud. ;-)

The view on the way back down to the col. Summit is out of the picture to the top right.

Sonny and Calvin come up the shoulder from the col.

One of the most interesting parts for me. You can just spot Calvin (black dot in center of photo) way below the cliff band.

On the way up to the summit of Bell looking west we have Bident, Quadra, Fay, Babel and Mount Temple.

No introductions necessary.

Vaux (distant left), Quadra, Bident and Mount Fay.

View of Chimney Peak from the shoulder of Bell.

Just before heading up the final ascent slope you get this view of Castle Mountain across the Bow Valley.

South Goodsir and Sentry Peak show up over the Chimney Peak.

Mount Ball and Stanley Peak.

Sonny grinds up the ridge to the summit of Mount Bell.

Mount Hungabee, Ringrose and Babel from the summit of Mount Bell.

A smiling Sonny reaches the summit of Mount Bell.

Calvin, Vern and Sonny on the summit of Bell.

Bident, Quadra and Mount Fay as seen from the summit of Mount Bell.

Mount Storm, Ball, Boom Mountain and Stanley Peak.

Sonny is still on the summit as I make my way down the ridge.

Sonny and Calvin traverse down Mount Bell. Boom Lake is on our right and Copper Mountain is in the distance.