BOU AVENUE
Tokumm Creek

On 4 March 2018, Zosia Zgolak and I skied partway up Tokumm Creek valley in British Columbia's Kootenay National Park.  Following the description in Chic Scott's Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies, we started from Marble Canyon parking lot and followed some old tracks past the popular tourist spot.  After skiing for about 1.7 kilometres through a burnt forest, we reached some open flats with far-reaching views up the valley.  We were breaking trail through ankle-deep snow at this point, but travel was still generally easy.  About 4 kilometres from the trailhead, we reached a big and obvious avalanche path coming down into the valley from the ridge to our right (east).  Avalanche danger was rated low-low-moderate on this day, and we judged that it would be pretty safe to go at least partway up the avalanche path to make a few turns.  As it turned out, the snow felt very stable, and we climbed about 170 metres before stopping to eat lunch in the trees to the side of the avalanche path.  After our break, we stripped off our climbing skins and descended the avalanche path perhaps less gracefully than I would have liked.  While better skiers than us would probably have climbed back up for multiple runs, we were content with just skiing down once.  We subsequently retraced our broken trail back to Marble Canyon parking lot without incident.
Try not to ski into the canyon 'cause it's a long drop! The sun emerges above an outlier of Stanley Peak as Zosia makes her way past Marble Canyon.
Great views already! Zosia follows some old tracks through the burnt forest.
I should climb Vermilion Peak again to get some decent photos... Vermilion Peak dominates the view at the mouth of the valley.
There's a lot of trail-breaking in front of us!

Zosia clears the trees and looks toward the head of the valley.

Be careful not to ski into the creek! Tokumm Creek is still flowing in winter.
Look, I'm head-butting the mushroom! Sonny ducks under a giant snow mushroom.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

The snow felt pretty safe to me. Sonny surveys the avalanche path before deciding to head up.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

The slope is steeper than it looks here! Just to be cautious, Zosia stays near the edge of the avalanche path as she climbs upwards.
Okay, Zosia. I'll stop taking photos and help break trail...for a bit! Zosia continues to break trail up the avalanche path.
Whew! This is hard work! Sonny makes a kick turn as he zigzags up the avalanche path.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Yay, I get to use my shovel! Sonny digs out a place for Zosia and him to sit.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Sticky stuff! Zosia removes her climbing skins from her skis.
See you at the bottom! Zosia begins her descent of the avalanche path.
Looking good, Zosia! Zosia passes near her up-track on her way down.
Not the best ski ever, but I'm working on getting better! Sonny rejoices after skiing down the avalanche path.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

I'm good at picking up my skis! Sonny picks up his skis to walk up the one short but annoying uphill section on the way out.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Not particularly ambitious, but a pleasant outing nonetheless! Total Distance:  10.9 kilometres
Total Time:  5 hours 57 minutes
Net Elevation Gain:  271 metres

GPX Data