Kokanee Glacier Ski Trip – Jan 23rd – Jan 29th 2016
Day 4 – Smugglers and Radio Ridge
Day1-FlyinSmugglers || Day2-EnchantedValley || Day3-Battleship || Day 4-SmugglersRadioRidge || Day 5-Happy Valley || Day 6-Griffen || Day7-Smugglers
Today the weather was overcast, but still cool. In the morning Lee and I did a beacon search in the Kokanee Beacon Basin, then we headed out towards Smugglers bowl to explore that area. We did two runs off the Apron, snow was pretty good, but the winds were howling! We then did a run down to Helen Deane Lake and off Kalima Lake or Radio Ridge to Keen Creek. The snow at tree line was again the best.
Useful links
- Trip preparation page (link may change each year)
- British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment official web-page for Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park Kootenay Rockies webpage on Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park with summer routes and activities primarily described.
- Alpine Club of Canada’s webpage on the Kokanee Glacier chalet.
- Snow forcast for Whitewater and SpotWX click on the area at Kokanee Glacier
- Our previous trips in 2007, 2008 and 2015
- 1:250 scale map of Kokanee area
- 1:50 scale map of Kokanee area – east map; west map
- 1:20 scale TRIM data map (best for navigation imo)
- For navigation I use PDF Maps on my phone and you can download my KML file here for reference
The comfort of the lodge
Lee on snowshoes heading to Beacon basin
Heading to Smugglers with Sunny Smugglers and Happy Valley in the back.
Skiing down Heli Surface, the Apron
More Apron
Sunny Powder Run into Helen Deane, nice 100+m shots.
Powder Station from Kalmia Lake into Keen Creek
Powder Station from Kalmia Lake into Keen Creek
On our way out of Keen Creek we saw Kevin and Copper heading down to check out the power station.
Kokanee Lodge at night
Google Earth Image
Elevation