BOU AVENUE
Redoubt Lake
On 14 April 2024, Zosia Zgolak and I did a ski tour to Redoubt Lake near the Skoki area of Alberta's Banff National Park.  We had both sort of been here before when we skied Heather Ridge in 2017, but with warm temperatures and marginal ski conditions, I was not expecting much in the way of good skiing.  Sure enough, the climb up the ski out was icy in the morning, but at least coverage was still good.  Both Zosia and I had not skied in awhile, but I especially felt out of shape as we grinded our way past Temple Lodge to Boulder Pass.  After taking a short break at Boulder Pass, we skied across snow-covered Ptarmigan Lake and climbed up a shallow draw to the height of land between Redoubt Mountain and Heather Ridge.  We continued southward along the east side of Redoubt Lake and made it as far as the top of a bench near the south end of the lake before turning around.

Skiing back the way we came was a little faster but still felt long especially with a hot sun beating down on Zosia and me.  Worse, my ski boots were starting to kill me since I had not worn them in awhile.  It also did not help that we were mostly cross-country skiing all day in our AT gear.  I finally felt some relief when we began skiing downhill on the ski out which had softened up considerably later in the day.  Otherwise, there was nothing else worthy of note for our return trip.
I would like to try skiing Ptarmigan Peak someday... Mount Richardson (left), Pika Peak (left of centre) and Ptarmigan Peak (right) are a familiar sight on the way to Boulder Pass.

Surprisingly quiet here on such a gorgeous day.

Zosia arrives at Boulder Pass with views of Fossil Mountain (left) and Heather Ridge (far right).

 

The lake is still pretty solid despite the warm temperatures! Zosia skis across frozen Ptarmigan Lake.  At distant right are Mount Douglas and Mount St. Bride.
Maybe too gentle for good skiing... Zosia climbs up a gentle slope below the north end of Redoubt Mountain.
A whole lotta nothing here!

Boulder Lake is still frozen.  At distant right is Unity Peak.
Lotsa spindrift avalanches happening on this day. The east face of Redoubt Mountain stands impressively above its namesake lake.
Note the ski tracks going down into the valley on the left.

Zosia heads southward along a bench beside Redoubt Lake.
You know it's warm when Zosia is in short sleeves!

Zosia and Sonny pose at the top of the bench (2407 metres).
Heather Ridge doesn't look too enticing to ski on this day!

At right are the western slopes of Heather Ridge as Zosia returns along the bench.

Packer's Pass Peak doesn't look that great for skiing today either!

Ptarmigan Peak dominates the view to the north of Redoubt Lake.  Visible at right is the more diminutive Packer's Pass Peak.

 

Would be better just to tuck straight into the lake! Zosia (bottom centre) tries to make a few turns in the crusty snow while descending to Ptarmigan Lake.
The views in this area on a sunny day never disappoint. Zosia skis back across Ptarmigan Lake toward Boulder Pass.  Visible on the right horizon is Richardson Ridge.
Ach! My AT boots are killing me! Should've brought light touring gear! Mount Temple looms in the distance as Zosia skis out the valley.
Mostly a conditioning ski--albeit a very scenic one--after not strapping on AT gear for over a month. Total Distance:  21.3 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  7 hours 36 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  691 metres

GPX Data