Bow Peak
On Saturday, April 09 2011 So and I did the Bow Peak winter slog.
This was my third attempt at this diminutive peak. In 2010 I made it all the way to the summit ridge before noticing my partners weren't following me, but rather were leaving me behind! :-) On hindsight I'm glad I turned back that day when I did because I wasn't quite as close to the summit as I thought at the time. Earlier this year we made another attempt but didn't even make it halfway to the pass due to high winds and avalanche concerns.
The weather forecast was interesting for Saturday. One web site was predicting clouds and another was hinting at some nicer weather. http://www.mountain-forecast.com proved to be the most accurate - and it's been impressive for the past few trips. I'll be using them more often.
We finally managed to cut about 1km off the approach to Crowfoot Pass by parking about 750 meters south of the Crowfoot lookout on highway 93. Another car pulled in right behind us. After lending them some batteries for their avi beacon (you gotta hate it when you buy the wrong batteries!) So and I followed old tracks down the embankment and across the ponds towards Crowfoot Pass. The ski up to the pass was without difficulties, we passed another group of skiers just before the grind up through the trees. We followed old tracks all the way to the pass, avoiding any terrain that would expose us to cornice collapses off either Crowfoot Mountain or BowCrow Peak.
It took us 2 hours to reach the pass under a clearing sky and very little wind. The slope up to the ridge of Bow Peak looked quite snowy so I decided to keep skiing as far as we could. I knew what awaited us once the skis came off... :-(
I led the way and after a while So took the lead. We managed to get about 2/3 up the west face to the ridge. We could have gone higher and on hindsight we probably should have but the slope gets pretty steep up high on the face and we didn't want to be hitting rocks all the way down. The coverage was about as good as it ever gets on that slope. Like Crowfoot Mountain a couple of weeks earlier, there seemed to be more snow than 'normal' in this area. Eventually we ditched the skis and kept going on foot to gain the ridge.
I led the way up steep snow and rock that seemed to conspire against us each and every step of the way! The trick to Bow Peak is realizing that you are only half way when you reach Crowfoot Pass. Yes, the mountain looks small and the west face looks easy and short but it's all one huge deception for suckers who attempt this peak, especially in the winter. The issue with Bow Peak, especially in the winter on ski boots, is that the west face is scree and the ridge is composed of larger rocks covered in rime, snow and lichen. I'm sure in the summer you can merrily skip your way up the ridge from rock to rock but in the winter it's a bit of a nightmare.
Once I hit the ridge I was hoping that the snow would be fairly solid. It wasn't. Loose, unconsolidate powder with icy drifts and huge cornices along with deep pockets of snow among the loose rocks made the going pretty tough. We slogged up the ridge which never seemed to end. Each 'summit' was simply a high point with more ridge ahead. The weather didn't help the mood any either. Clouds had started to pour in off the Wapta as soon as we got on the ridge and our views were nil. After finally making the summit I stood there and looked around at a world of white, no views! The sun was poking through the clouds and it wasn't cold so I decided maybe the clouds would dissipate as quickly as they had formed. So joined me at the summit and we spent over an hour waiting for the sky to clear.
And believe it or not, it did! We were treated to the promised views and it was worth waiting and freezing for.
The trip down was fun and fast. We skied down the west face, only hitting a few rocks on the way. The snow further down was extremely wet and heavy but the ski to the car was quick and warm. Our round trip time was 7 hours including an hour at the summit waiting for better views. We could have done the trip in 6 hours but I'm sure glad we waited! I'm not sure if this is a good winter objective or not. Normally you can't even ski the west face like we did. I'm sure the views are great in the summer too. Either way, this is a nice outing.
Getting ready to leave the car. Bow Peak is sneaking into view over the open hatch door.
So skis across the flats on the way to Crowfoot Pass. Bow Peak rises on the left.
So struggles up the steep access gully to the pass. Some people go left of this gully on a treed ridge but the gully is relatively safe. If conditions were sketchy enough to avoid this gully I think staying home would be a good option...
The terrain just above the trees is an interesting mix of huge boulders and open slopes.
Getting onto more barren terrain before the pass.
So skis up behind me to the pass (click for full size).
So struggles up the last steep obstacle before the pass. The slope in front of us (coming off BowCrow) slides regularly and you should avoid getting near it.
I am working my way up the west face of Bow, So is following me from the pass. (Click for full size.)
So breaks trail ahead of me on the west face. BowCrow to the left and Bow Lake in the center background. (Click for full size.)
Looking over to the west. Mount Daly is the striking peak on the right.
The higher you go on the face, the steeper it gets. This is way more snow than you'd normally get on this slope but it get packed in by the wind and was bomber on this particular day.
I broke trail from the skis to the summit - driven on by an urge to finally bag this peak! Here So follows me up the west face after ditching the skis. Crowfoot Pass is below - there are a couple of skiers down there if you can spot them.
Looking back (north) as we start up the ridge. (Click to view full size.)
Finally on the ridge, looking north at the encroaching clouds. :-( It went from blue sky to this in about 30 minutes. You gotta love the Wapta!
Still some views to the east. That is NOT the summit on the right - it's still out of sight. (Click for full size.)
Well. That was worth it! Cloudy summit view looking south over Hector Lake. (Click for full size.)
So makes his way over to the summit from the last false summit.
After waiting for over an hour the weather finally clears. Gorgeous views to the north, east and south. (Click for full size.)
Willingdon and its two neighboring peaks. I want to climb them all this summer.
Summit view looking over Hector Lake. Mount Hector on the left and Balfour on the right as the two highest ones. (Click for full size.)
Leaving the summit (left) looking south (click for full size).
Descending the ridge is much quicker than ascending it but you still have to be careful for the loose and slick rocks.
Even Mount Temple is coming into view now.
Enjoying the great views on descent (click for full size):
The ridge just below the summit (click for full size):
Looking north from Crowfoot Pass. We ski'd 2/3 of the west face of Bow Peak (right). Click for full size.
Looking back at Bow Peak (right) and ahead to Bow Lake (left). Click for full size.
Looking back at Bow Peak as we continue our descent (click for full size).
Done!
