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Skoki Mountain

Home » Mountains » Banff National Park
Published by vdewit on April 29th, 2009
Trip Details
Trip Activity: 
Scramble
Attained Summit?: 
Yes
Location: 
Banff National Park
Trip Date: 
September 7, 2005
Summit Elevation: 
2,697m
Summit Elevation (ft): 
8,848ft
Related Content
Interesting Facts: 
(info from peakfinder.com) Named by James F. Porter in 1911. Skoki is an Indian word for marsh or swamp. Official name.  
Related Trips: 
Oyster Peak
Fossil Mountain

Trip Report

After summitting Oyster Peak it was time to work our way through Jones Pass and down into the Skoki Valley and Skoki Lodge so that we could climb Skoki Mountain. Jones Pass was a wonderful hike, mostly above treeline, along the east and north slopes of Fossil Mountain into the Skoki Valley area. There was lots of bear sign as usual, but no sightings again. My constant 'bear-yelling' probably accounted for the fact that we never actually saw any bruins on this trip!

Here's where I made my second big gaff of the trip. The first was when I was practicing my knife throwing skills and puntured our white gas bottle (don't ask!). Kane mentions that the best place to tackle Skoki Mountain from is the backcountry campsite at Merlin Meadows. This had me thinking that the way to bag the peak was from the campground. Silly me! We hiked right past the lodge and tramped on down another kilometer to the merlin campground. (Literally 'down') That's when I read the description in detail and realized that the scramble trail starts at the outhouses behind Skoki Lodge!!

The hike back up to the lodge was silent and swift! Rod stayed at the lodge (he got free soup and tea) while Jon and I went up to the summit of Skoki Mountain. This is a fast little mountain and it only took us 1:52 minutes to go from the Merlin Meadows campground to the summit of Skoki and back down to the lodge!

Not too many people climb this little mountain, probably because of how hard it is to access. It's really only a hike and is not anything special - other than the area that it sits in which is gorgeous of course!

Next we 'had' to climb Fossil Mountain on our way through Deception Pass.

A sign points back along our trail from close to the Skoki Lodge.
A sign points back along our trail from close to the Skoki Lodge.
Skoki Lodge has to be one of the most beautiful settings for a backcountry get-a-way!
Skoki Lodge has to be one of the most beautiful settings for a backcountry get-a-way!
Vern works his way up the loose rubble on Skoki Mountains ascent ridge. (Jon Pic)
Vern works his way up the loose rubble on Skoki Mountains ascent ridge. (Jon Pic)
Red Deer Lakes is visible from the summit of Skoki. (Jon Pic)
Red Deer Lakes is visible from the summit of Skoki. (Jon Pic)
Mount Douglas and St. Bride tower over Oyster Peak and the ridge we traversed about 4 hours ago.
Mount Douglas and St. Bride tower over Oyster Peak and the ridge we traversed about 4 hours ago.
Vern and Jon at the summit of Skoki Mountain.
Vern and Jon at the summit of Skoki Mountain.
Looking at The Wall of Jericho with Ptarmigan, Pika and Richardson in the background. Merlin Lake can be seen draining into Castilleja Lake. Merlin Castle is the mountain on the right.
Looking at The Wall of Jericho with Ptarmigan, Pika and Richardson in the background. Merlin Lake can be seen draining into Castilleja Lake. Merlin Castle is the mountain on the right.