Bow Summit to Pulpit 7 tours

Parkland’s Bow Summit to Pulpit 7 Access March 20 and/or 21, 2021 ski trip

Overview

This is a 30 km ski tour, done over 2 days starting, at Bow Summit. The route skis down the meadows, across Bow Lake, beside Bow River, thru treed sections and across many meadows. The trail gently drops 345 meters along the length but there are no downhill turns. Join us for one day or for both.

Goals

Goals are:

  • Do a long tour
  • Introduce some novice skiers to safe gentle backcountry skiing

Ski Discussion (for those new to backcountry skiing)

A set of light backcountry skis is recommended. Two examples:

  • Rossignol has a nice BC positrack ski with ski widths of 70 mm at tip, 60 mm under foot and 65 mm at tail. It is a metal edged no wax ski.
  • Alternatively Rossignol has an OT 65 ski with ski widths of 65 mm at tip, 53 mm under foot and 60 mm at tail. It is a no wax ski with partial-length metal edges. This OT 65 has less floatation in powder versus above. It can be used on tracked trails although it will grind-on-sides when going around curves.

Bigger backcountry, telemark or AT skis are also suitable.

Day 1

  • Start skiing from Bow Summit parking lot, headed south thru thin trees and meadows
  • No avalanche risk
  • zero probability trail has been broken
  • reach Bow Lake and ski south across lake
  • reach Bow River and ski on rivers ice or thru treed meadows
  • At kp 13.5 leave Bow River and ski thru meadow plus over small treed knoll
  • At kp 16.2 cross Bow River and ski to Mosquito Creek parking lot (kp 16.9)

Photo

View, from above, of Bow Summit and meadow; kp 0.5 to kp 2.3. Ski route will be down meadow (photo’s left side).

Photo

View, from above, of meadow from kp 1.2 to kp 5.0. Ski route will be down meadow.

Photo

View of meadow kp 13.5.

Panoramic view, from above, of valley from kp 13 to kp 21. Ski trail will be in or beside open area in center of photo.

Day 2

  • Start skiing from Mosquito Creek parking lot (kp 16.9)
  • No avalanche risk
  • 70% probability about half of trail will be broken
  • At 17.6 kp cross Bow River, turn south and ski down or in meadows beside river
  • Near kp 22.3 join the Pulpit 1 access route
  • Near kp 23.8 leave Pulpit 1 access route; ski beside Bow River in trees and meadows
  • At kp 30 intersect Pulpit 7 access route, ski it to road (kp 30.6)

Photo

Typical ski terrain in trees/meadows near kp 19

Photo

Two Parkland skiers on blustery day near kp 20, March 2018

Photo

Long distance view, from above, of section between kp 22 and kp 25

Photo

View, from above, from kp 25 to end of trail. Trail will go thru meadows seen in photo.