Tokumm Creek

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.

	The sun emerges above an outlier of Stanley Peak as Zosia makes her way past Marble Canyon.
	Zosia follows some old tracks through the burnt forest.
	Vermilion Peak dominates the view at the mouth of the valley.
	Zosia clears the trees and looks toward the head of the valley.
	Tokumm Creek is still flowing in winter.
	Sonny ducks under a giant snow mushroom. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Sonny surveys the avalanche path before deciding to head up. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Just to be cautious, Zosia stays near the edge of the avalanche path as she climbs upwards.
	Zosia continues to break trail up the avalanche path.
	Sonny makes a kick turn as he zigzags up the avalanche path. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Sonny digs out a place for Zosia and him to sit. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia removes her climbing skins from her skis.
	Zosia begins her descent of the avalanche path.
	Zosia passes near her up-track on her way down.
	Sonny rejoices after skiing down the avalanche path. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Sonny picks up his skis to walk up the one short but annoying uphill section on the way out. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 10.9 kilometres Total Time: 5 hours 57 minutes Net Elevation Gain: 271 metres GPX Data