Brunch at the Lake O'Hara lodge is an annual tradition, one that mixes in an easy, uncommitting day on track skis with a fantastic meal and a fun ski back down. However, I would wistfully look at the tracks turning away from the trail, leading into the trees, and wonder where they led.
Today, I would find out. Narao Shoulder (and Pope's Peak beyond) are accessed via the Lake O'Hara fire road. Starting at about the 1km mark, we saw the occasional set of tracks leading towards (or was it away from) the col between the two peaks. Just a bit past the 2km mark, the fire road dipped and that is where we started the bushwhack.
We were breaking trail, but the forest wasn't too dense and our objective was easily visible. As the slope steepened, we ran across some old tracks, and eventually hit a new track made by a group of 4 in front of us. We caught up to them right around treeline and proceeded to go a bit higher, to the top of the shoulder.
 |
| Wind-swept ripples |
Another beautiful spring day in the rockies. We sat and had lunch in a glorious alpine setting, then prepared to ski down.
 |
| Mount Field (2635m) on the left and Wapta Mountain (2778m) on the right |
There was a great view of the route up Mount Field. That's another destination I'd like to try sometime.
 |
| Top of Narao Shoulder, with Cathedral Mountain (3189m) in the background |
We wanted to avoid the problems of Storm Mountain, and picked lines on the northern portion of the glades. The snow was amazing and we had no globbing on our bases.
 |
| Surfing |
 |
| Untouched powder as far as the eye could see |
The ski down was fantastic, and upon reaching the fire road, found that we were at the 1km mark, which meant that it was all downhill to the car. How convenient!
No comments:
Post a Comment