Description

From the Steed Hut ski in a northerly direction across the headwaters of Rush Creek on the eastern flank of Siwash Mountain.

Several options exist depending on avalanche conditions.

Gain a 2020m col (grid 684-677, NAD 83) 1.4 km Northeast of Siwash Mountain.

From here the traditional traverse route descends through the convoluted forest and cut blocks in a North-north-easterly direction to a 1650m pass between the headwaters of Snowwater Creek and Erie Creek, located 1km south of Mount Conner.

The safest and slightly longer route to the Hut from here is done by ascending northeast into a basin between Mount Conner and Copper Mountain to a point where it is possible to safely reach the southwest ridge of Copper Mountain near 1980m.

From this point on the ridge, a 700m long gentle downhill glide across sparse trees in a Southeasterly direction will bring you to the Hut at 1920m (grid 720-705, NAD83).

The Hut is located in a clump of older trees in the middle of a large southwest-facing bowl, 1km southwest of Copper Mountain.

Depending on conditions, there are a few alternate route options to reach the Copper Hut.

One of them is described here: From the 2020m col (grid 684-677, NAD 83) 1.4 km Northeast of Siwash Mountain, travel east along the ridge separating Snowwater Creek and Rush Creek for nearly 1km.

Descend along this ridge in an easterly direction for a distance of 250m and then ski down a forested, u-shaped, valley in a northerly direction for 1.5km.

From here, follow the west fork of Erie Creek down in an easterly direction to a 1460m-creek junction near the headwaters of Erie Creek (grid 706-694, NAD83).

From this point, ascend forested slopes and eventually meadows in a northeasterly direction towards the southwest facing basin of Copper Mountain and eventually the Hut.

This option can be faster and is interesting.

However, it is more exposed to avalanche terrain than the regular route and requires a slightly bigger vertical gain.