Buller Creek Peaks | Scrambling in Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)

01 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

Buller Creek Peaks

Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)
Activity: Scrambling
Height: 2,697 m (8,849 ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,100 m (3,609 ft)
Distance: 14.7 km / Round Trip (9.1 mi)
Avg Steepness: 8.5°
Estimated Time: 6-8 hrs
Technicality: Intermediate (Scrambling) / Advanced (Skiing)
Fitness Level: Moderate

Download GPX: [Trail] Buller Creek Peaks.gpx
OpenStreetMap: See track recorded by GPS
Print: Display in printer-friendly format
Related Trips:
Conditions:
- Weather
- Avalanche Bulletin

I kept saying to people that I cannot rely on December for outdoor because it normally can get too cold to go out… However this year I have been out no matter how cold it is. Saturday was cold near -30 and Sunday forecast was saying -22. I debated myself whether or not I should go out two days in a row in such cold weather, but since it also said sun should be up, I decided to go to Bow Peak. However when I wake up on Sunday, -22 stuck in my head and didn’t want to go. So I had a war in my head between lazyass devil and scrambling goddess. The war lasted 4 hours… 4 HOURS!! But once again the goddess won the battle but she took quite a long time to defeat the devil this time. I had to change my plan and I left home past 9 am.

So instead of ski touring / scrambling at Bow Peak, I decided to go for an unnamed peak at GR204384 which I nicknamed “Buller Creek Peaks”. It’s the peak which divides North and South Buller Passes. I parked at driveway to Buller Pass parking lot since it’s closed for winter. I followed South Buller Pass until right about treeline. Once I was out of trees, I went off-route to the bottom of endless scree slope. If I went farther towards the pass just little bit, there was a snow covered slope which I could have used for ski ascent, but I only find it out once I ditched my skis at bottom and started scrambling up. I wasn’t going to ski anyway since I was soloing. I rather wanted to take scramble line (less snow). I have to mention, the slope was about 40 to 45 degrees pretty much all the way up near summit. Skiing such degree is difficult, but it also hard to scramble up that too… At the top, there were 2 small peaks next to each other. I thought for sure east peak is taller but according to my GPS, west peak, which had a small cairn, was 2 m higher. There was no technicality, and only fitness for this one.

I didn’t go to Bow Peak for ski touring / scrambling, but after all Buller Creek Peaks were similar to Bow Peak in that sense I guess. I have to admit though, skiing on Buller Pass wasn’t fun. Snowshoeing is better here.

02 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

Mount Buller.

03 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

"Buller Creek Peaks". The peak you see here is false peak but it not too far from the true summit.

04 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

Mount Assiniboine.

05 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

Buller Pass.

06 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

"Buller Circuit Peak". Shaun and I had a fun with that peak.

07 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

Still going up. I breathed like a dog... The rockband on left is what you saw from bottom, the true summit is in the center and east summit is on right.

08 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

WOW. I have to admit, Shaun's 9:00 am start in Dec was lame I first thought, but after Windtower and now here, I start liking late start in winter. This time it wasn't quite sunset but snow got pretty orangish color. Mouseover for names.

09 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

East peak and Bogart behind it.

10 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

Getting dark. Skiing in dark was fun. Couldn't see much at all even with a headlamp…

11 Buller Creek Peaks | 2010-12-19

The end.