Rummel Lake To Chester Lake Traverse

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Rummel Lake To Chester Lake Traverse

On 20 January 2018, Andrea Battistel, Marta Wojnarowska, Racquel Wood, Zosia Zgolak and I skied the Rummel Lake to Chester Lake traverse in Alberta’s Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Leaving one vehicle at Chester Lake trailhead, we started skiing from the unofficial Rummel Lake trailhead which is at the Mount Engadine Lodge turnoff along the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail (Highway 742). The trail to Rummel Lake was already broken, and we made good progress initially. Rather than go all the way to the lake, we left the trail early and worked our way southward to an open corridor where we enjoyed some easy skiing until the trees closed in again at the top of a steep forested slope. The descent down this slope was quite challenging, and we endured a bit of misery trying to dodge deadfall and make hairpin turns. We eventually bottomed out in a drainage and then followed it into a big open meadow. Crossing to the far side of the meadow, we climbed over a low ridge to reach Elephant Rocks and subsequently Chester Lake. The ski down to the Chester Lake trailhead was less enjoyable than I had imagined, but it was fast nonetheless.

Feels good to be skiing again after a long layoff!

Marta and Racquel start up the broken trail beside the highway.

Looks tempting to go ski there instead!

An opening in the trees early in the traverse grants this view of Tent Ridge.

	After leaving the trail to Rummel Lake, Zosia follows this convenient open corridor.
	The corridor widens considerably midway through the traverse.
	Even while taking a break, Andrea, Zosia, Racquel and Marta stay active by doing calisthenics.
	The group continues their traverse of the corridor.
	The easy skiing comes to an abrupt end as trees close in while the slope drops away steeply.
	The group makes a descending traverse down the steep forested slope.
	There are inevitably a few spills in this kind of terrain.
	The group eventually clears the trees and reaches this drainage.
	Zosia climbs out of the drainage and into a big open meadow.
	At the far side of the big meadow, the group follows ski tracks into the trees to the right.
	The group takes a breather at Elephant Rocks.
	The ski out along Chester Lake trail is relatively straightforward.
	Total Distance: 13.7 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 5 hours 24 minutes Total Elevation Gain: 649 metres GPX Data