31 m away
Hamilton-Emerald Circuit
NE facing Ski Line with Tricky Descent
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Emerald Slide Path
Yoho National Park
Classic High Risk Descent
Ski Touring Moderate
- Distance
- 7.6 km
- Ascent
- 1.1 km
- Descent
- 1.1 km
- Duration
- 4-5 hrs
- Low Point
- 1.3 km
- High Point
- 2.4 km
- Gradient
- 32˚
Several years ago infrequent alpine slope atop Emerald Peak released, carving a large gulley out. The snow is often excellent, but the risk of remote triggering is especially high. It is often best to wait for this area to have had an avalanche already that season before skiing.
Description
Most folks approach up the slide path, climber's left. The route stays to the left, before running through a copse of trees about 1650m and crossing the climber's right of the slide path. This side is a little steeper, but not in the barrel of the gun as much.
Keep ascending upwards towards the bowl. This flattens out, and can be a good place to do a pit test. Remote triggers are common in the rockies. Be careful and observant in this section.
If the test looks good, the col is a short distance above, and you can skin, or bootpack to the summit depending on conditions. Stick to the ridge if possible.
The best descent is the more open terrain down the centre.
Difficulty
Moderate
Slopes become slightly steeper at around 25-30 degrees.
Low Exposure (E1)
Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.
Remoteness
Away from help but easily accessed.
Best time to visit
Features
- Bowl
- Alpine
- Cliffs
- Tree Skiing
- Single Descent
Equipment required
- Skins
Similar routes nearby