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Vermillion Pk.

  • 2011-02-12 20:06:34

    Skied the Vermillion path on Highway 93 today.  There was 20cm of new in the Inkpots parking lot and 40+ at treeline it snowed  all day and was still snowing when we left. The main path ran big in Jan, I’m guessing, and put debris almost all the way to the road it’s impressive. At treeline the air temp was -5 and there was a moderate to strong SW wind that was really moving the new snow around, forming soft slabs and depositing lots of snow into any lee features. We didn’t venture up into the alpine at all it was a little to nasty up there. There was fresh avalanche debris that ran out of one of the steeper gullies on the far skier right that stopped above where the gullies join. We couldn’t see where it came from how far it ran or really anything up there… Skiing was great in the burn and out of the wind up high, or anywhere with wind effect, it was really too scary to ski anything steep enough given the ski pen.  There were 4 other parties up there today but my guess is with all the new snow there is still lots of good skiing to be had in the burn. If you head out that way keep your heads up it’s definitely scary at and around treeline with more snow wind and mild temps I wouldn't be suprised if there was more natural activity.



  • 2011-02-13 20:17:23

    Hey JoeBuzz, great photo and route tracking - any chance you would like help us populate the route section for the rockies as you see to be da' man?


    Let us know if you can help out.

    [email protected]

  • 2015-02-01 16:18:38

    Skied Vermilion Peak yesterday. About two inches of fresh snow within last 48 hours on top of hard crusty snow. Avalanche stability was solid top to bottom - there was very little to worry about today. 

    Skinned up the full 1200m and kept going, scrambling to the summit ridge. The last 30 m of bootpacking through weak crust on sugar snow was very slow going, as we were punching through to 45 degree slate bedding planes. After much effort gained the summit ridge and skied a short way east towards the true summit, but stopped due to scary cornices and lack of time.

    Ski down was good through the alpine and treed areas of upper slied path - about 400 metres of consolidated snow, not powder, but not crust either. Decent skiing.

    The rest of the slide path below that was a skiff of snow on increasingly icy crust. It was survival skiing by valley bottom.

    We didn't probe any snow depths but it was sufficiently deep to cover any rocks. Some small trees  poking through but no risk of damaging skis.