BOU AVENUE
Rummel Pass
On 9 March 2019, I accompanied Andrew Chinnick, Wendy Kadar (plus her dog, Ruthie), Angie Keller, Marta Wojnarowska and Zosia Zgolak for a ski into the Rummel Lake area of Alberta's Spray Valley Provincial Park.  Our original plan was to climb Little Galatea, but after reading several online trip reports, we felt that it would be a bit too challenging to attempt on skis.  Instead, we opted to ski to Rummel Lake with a possible extension to Rummel Pass.  Although I had already been to both places before, this would be my first time visiting Rummel Lake and Rummel Pass during winter.

For some crazy reason, we started our trip from the trailhead for Rummel Ridge which is not the recommended starting point for visiting Rummel Lake.  Climbing up a fire break which leads to Rummel Ridge, we soon reached a junction with High Rockies Trail at a viewpoint with a bench.  We briefly followed High Rockies Trail southward but somehow got diverted by a snowshoe track which was leading inexorably up Rummel Ridge.  When we realized our mistake, we tried to traverse southward across the west slope of Rummel Ridge in hopes of reaching Rummel Lake without losing too much elevation.  Unfortunately, the forested west slope is choked with enough deadfall to make skiing problematic, and after some frustratingly slow progress, we finally dropped down the slope until we re-acquired High Rockies Trail.  Moving much more quickly, we soon reached a bridge where we again left the trail behind to follow a track up Rummel Creek.  The gradual climb up the creek bed was quite pleasant and straightforward, but ultimately, some deadfall forced us to climb a steep embankment to join the official snowshoe trail to Rummel Lake.  Other than one rather awkward descent to re-cross Rummel Creek, we had no further problems reaching Rummel Lake.
Tent Ridge looks so enticing to ski... The group arrives at a viewpoint with a bench at the junction between High Rockies Trail and the route to Rummel Ridge.
Only recommended for masochists! Traversing across the west slope of Rummel Ridge is not much fun.
These slopes could potentially slide, but there's probably not enough snow to bury you fully!

Skiing up Rummel Creek is very pleasant.
Looks well-fed... This is one of several whisky jacks at Rummel Lake looking for free handouts.

This is where we said farewell to Wendy, Ruthie and Andrew.

Gathered at Rummel Lake are (L to R) Wendy, Zosia, Marta, Ruthie, Andrew and Angie.

 

At Rummel Lake, Andrew and Wendy elected not to continue to Rummel Pass, and they, along with Ruthie, parted ways with the rest of us.  Angie, Marta, Zosia and I continued to follow a track which ran along the north shore of Rummel Lake before climbing through the trees to the open valley above.  Other than the odd thin spot with rocks sticking out, snow coverage was quite good in the open valley, and we were able to ski virtually all the way to Rummel Pass.  A brisk wind made it too uncomfortable to linger there, and we only stayed for a few minutes before promptly turning around to head back to Rummel Lake.
Lotsa tempting slopes to ski in the cirque...

Angie, Marta and Zosia ski along the north shore of Rummel Lake.

The Tower was my nemesis back when I was chasing Kane peaks!

In the open valley above Rummel Lake, Zosia, Angie and Marta pass below the south face of The Tower.

 

I miss my old scrambling buddy, Dan Millar!

Angie, Zosia and Marta ski past a familiar-looking rock en route to Rummel Pass.
Not a great place to ski...

The slopes near the pass are quite wind-blown.
On our way back, it wasn't too bad skiing down the right side of the photograph.

Zosia, Angie and Marta navigate through a slope with many protruding rocks.
It was pretty awesome to ski almost all the way to the pass. The group reaches Rummel Pass.
Zosia's covered face tells you that it's brutally cold here. Angie, Zosia and Marta rejoice upon reaching Rummel Pass (2411 metres).
Looks a little daunting now...

The cold wind prompts Marta and Angie to quickly retreat from Rummel Pass and start heading back.

I should probably go bag Mount McDougall one of these days...

The view eastward from Rummel Pass includes Mount Kidd South Peak (left), Mount McDougall (right of centre in distance), and Lost Lake (foreground).

 

On the descent to the lake, I inadvertently wiped out next to a small tree well and struggled for several minutes to untangle myself and get upright again.  I was in a bit of a foul mood after that spill, and it did not help that the ski out along the official snowshoe trail is so undulating which necessitated a lot of uphill herringboning and cursing (mainly by myself).  Adding to the gong show was the fact that my car was parked at the wrong trailhead, and after arriving at the normal start for Rummel Lake, we still had to travel an additional 1.4 kilometres northward along the side of the highway.  Fortunately, there was a perfectly wide and smooth bench of snow next to the road, and we were able to ski all the way back to my car without any difficulty.
Birdwood... The group skis back out the open valley.  Peaks which are visible in the distance include Commonwealth Peak, Mount Birdwood, Pig's Back, Mount Smuts and The Fist.
This is where I fell into a tree well. Zosia descends a steep gully leading back to Rummel Lake.
It took us about 20 minutes to ski back to my car. A convenient snow bench on the side of the highway makes it easier to ski back to the starting point.  The peak in the background is Mount Nestor.
Probably my least favourite ski trip of the season...so far... Total Distance:  17.9 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  8 hours 28 minutes
Net Elevation Gain:  592 metres

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