The Iceline Trail

Last Hiked: July 2005

Trip Report
(click thumbnails to enlarge, hover over pictures for descriptions)

	Bob and Dave nubbing it.
	Dave looks out over the rainbow from the nub. (Barometer Peak actually)
	Linda on Barometer Peak.
	The Presidents from the Iceline.
	The group hikes out over the Iceline
	Hiking out on the Iceline.
	Mount Gorden from the Iceline.
	Mount Rhonda from the Iceline.
	Mount Niles from the Iceline.

Trip Report

A group scramble weekend with Sonny, Dave, Bob, Dinah and Linda. Dave, Sonny and I walked into Stanley Mitchell hut on Friday morning and managed to negotiate steep snow slopes to Isolated's summit that afternoon. We just beat the rain back to the hut but Linda, Bob and Dinah weren't so lucky. They were soaked from head to toe from their hike and dripped their way into the hut late Friday afternoon.

On Saturday we were happy to see blue skies but by the time we summitted Mount Kerr (my second summit of this mountain - and LAST I might add) we were in thick clouds and occasional sleet. On the way down Kerr it became obvious that Kiwetinok, Pollinger and McArthur would not be in season yet so we sumersaulted off a cornice at Kiwetinok Pass and slowly made our way back to the hut. We ended up getting bored at the hut so we went 'nubbing' for something different! Basically we went for a walk on the President's morraine. It was good excercise and offered some amazing views of the glacier on the way back down.

I ended up getting bored again in the hut because of the noise level (there was lots of kids in the hut...) so I went nubbing again and bagged another morraine 'summit'. Quite useless from a peakbaggers perspective but it gave me another 200 meters of height gain and some much needed peace!!

Late on Saturday night as I was moping about only bagging one new peak on a three day trip, Sonny suggested that those of us who hadn't climbed Mount Field yet should try to get this summit on the way off the Iceline. Once the suggestion came up the group spent the next hour or so trying to decide which option would be best for summitting Mount Field. Option A was to hike all the out on the Laughing Falls trail and then drive to the Burgess Pass trailhead and hike Mount Field from there. Option B was to hike all the way out to Burgess Pass via the Iceline trail, drop our heavy packs, bag the peak and then walk out on the Burgess Pass trail where Sonny would pick us up. Option C was to hike to Yoho campground, drop the heavy packs, bag Mount Field via the Wapta Highline trail and then come back, pick up the heavy packs and continue down the Iceline. We decided to sleep on it and decide in the morning.

Sunday morning was a beautiful morning so we packed up and quickly headed out over the Iceline trail to try option 'C' from the night before. It became apparent early on that Dave and I would be the only ones to try for Mount Field so we forged ahead. We almost kept going down the Iceline once the rain started again but since neither of us wanted to be the one to whimp out we trudged on down to the Yoho Lake campground. Once at the campground Dave and I dropped our packs and began the long walk down the Wapta Highline trail to Mount Field.

We almost thought the trail was closed when we encountered a huge Closure sign, but thankfully it was only referring to a section off the trail further ahead where ancient fossil beds are protected. The funniest thing happened when we caught up to a large group of guided tourists on a very narrow section of the trail. Since we were behind them I guess they didn't really realize how fast we were walking and assumed we would just 'fall in line'. After about 2 minutes I started clearing my throat and sighing really loudly. Then I starting making as many rude noises as I could think of. Finally I asked very politely if we could please pass on the right. Two people kindly let us pass. The next 7 just ignored us. I was getting really impatient now and I think Dave was getting worried about what I would try next so he spoke very loudly and asked if we could please pass the group. Finally we were allowed to pass!

After first thinking that Mount Burgess was our destination and then very briefly considering Mount Stephen (!!) we realized that Mount Field was going to be quite a bit easier than the previous two options looked! We headed up obvious scree slopes till we finally reached the skyline ridge and headed toward a line of cliffs up above. As we got closer to the cliffs we spotted a way through and after a brief bit of exposed scrambling we were on the final summit slopes. We summitted in the sun for the first time that weekend and after taking in the view and snapping some photos we headed back down.

I don't remember much of the long walk back to the Iceline except that it was very long and my feet were getting very sore. Eventually we did make it out to a very patient Sonny. All in all it was a fantastic trip with 3 peaks, 2 nubs, good times and good friends.