Loki is a prominent fixture on the East side of Kootenay Lake directly across from Kaslo. With it’s Everest looking summit ridge rising head and shoulders above surrounding peaks its dominance is hard to miss. In spring it’s a not-so common ski touring objective but with the compressed lack-lustre season we just experienced the opportunity to lay fresh lines down Loki’s south-west face were limited to say the least. Even though we awoke to a skiff of snow on the summit of Loki the spring ski season has long been over for this mountain.
(click photos for larger views)
With the Portman Creek FSR pushed higher in the past few years the ascent of Loki is now within reach of most hikers. Instead of 6,500’ of climbing you need only ascend 3,900’ to reach its 9,090’ summit. While the last few thousand feet are steep (low 4th class scrambling), there’s no real exposure. Even 1st-timers can easily conquer their fears after first sighting the intimidating summit ridge from treeline.
Leaving tree line.
The first look at the summit ridge makes it look more daunting that it actually is.
In order to get an early start we camped at Garland Bay just a few more clicks up the FSR road that leads out of Riondel where $12 will get you one of the nicest camping spots in the Kootenays (east or west!). After about 3.5 hours of climbing we arrived at the summit of Loki with 360° views of the Purcell Mountains, Kootenay Lake, Kokanee Park and more. Retracing our route back down we cooled off with a more than brisk swim (if you can call running into and out of Kootenay Lake swimming?) dinner and a camp fire.
Approaching the summit.
Summit views.
A few words of wisdom for climbing Loki, bring poles if you are not steady on your feet or have knees that have seen more summits than most, and also bring plenty of water as there is none on the trail.
Mount Loki deserves a place on your spring ‘to-do list’ as the ferry ride across Kooentany Lake will never look the same again. (For all the details on the route up Loki have a look at our Garmin Connect data over here as captured by the Garmin Fenix 3 GPS watch.)
Enjoying the spoils of the summit.
