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 Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 4:33 PM
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Reco Mountain is in the northern Kokanee Range, on the divide between Retallack and Sandon. I've wanted to ski it for a few years because it has this brilliant east face that would be an awesome ski run:
I left Nelson before 5 am and we sledded up Stenson Creek FSR, only rolled the sled onto my leg once - lucky it's a pretty light sled - so all in all, considering the other sled mishaps I've had this one seemed quite benign.
We parked the sled in the trees out of the way of all the overlapping slide paths in the valley and skinned up to the SSE ridge of Reco Mountain. Right away, it was obvious that we weren't in any position to ski the east face of Reco. Already, the snow was isothermal mush and we were sinking calf deep. We had had a series of warm nights without significant overnight freezes and the snowpack was showing it.
There was a huge cornice hanging over the east face so we had to abandon skis before the summit and hike the last bit to the top on loose shale.
Hiking up this stuff in ski boots sucks, even BD Swifts that are supposed to have some "pivot flex" technology to make them easy to walk in.
Lots of great views from the top:
Carlyle and Cody
Silver Ridge - Idaho, Selkirk and Sandon
Texas and Paddy
Given the snow conditions, we had to content ourselves with skiing back down the SE ridge and doing some ridge walking.
This chunk of cornice peeled off in the few hours we were out, so it seems not skiing the east face was probably a good call.
A 4 am start from Retallack instead of Nelson might have made the descent possible, but, then again, it was awfully warm so maybe not. |
Edited by - sandy on 05/18/2012 4:34 PM
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13478 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 5:26 PM
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You got some really great views from high up.
K |
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bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4650 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 5:10 PM
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The views up there are spectacular!
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Hope, BC
Canada
7100 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 6:02 PM
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Awesome report and photos! That sled is icing on the cake  |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
761 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 09:24 AM
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| Mountains sure look imposing above Sandon. I use to hike to Idaho Lookout quite a bit. |
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Reco Mountain
