Vermillion Peak and Mount Haffner seen from the highway. Mouse over to see the col from
Vermillion Peak before the fire.
Mount Haffner After an enjoyable if unsuccessful ascent of the North Ridge of Storm Mountain two weeks ago, I wanted to return to the Kootenays to try another summit, Mount Haffner. The map contours looked promising and like Storm Mountain, the slopes should be easy to navigate because a forest fire had left the trees bare. Sonny Bou (his trip report) agreed to join Dinah Kruze and I. The best course appeared to be to park at Numa Falls trailhead on Highway 93 and head for the Vermillion-Haffner col. We would, though, have to detour the drainage below the col. From the col, we could trace the ridge to the summit. After parking our car, however, no approach presented itself: being in the bottom of a steep valley we could see nothing of the slopes above us. We walked up the highway for about 300 m before putting on our snowshoes and setting off into the trees. Five minutes later we were surprised to find a road running parallel to the highway. Perhaps a portion of the old Highway 93? We snowshoed up it a short way before leaving it. Immediately it appeared we would have no problems, for a while at least. The snow was excellent and we found ourselves easily ascending one of the “ribs” running down the lower slopes of Mount Haffner. The snow covered the deadfall and underbrush so there was no bushwhacking. In time we found ourselves trekking above the drainage below the col. We reached the col but we could see little of the summit because of the trees. Four and a half hours after starting out, the three of us were standing on the summit. We spent more than half an hour there, snapping photos in all directions, before starting back down. Retracing our steps, we were back at the car in short order. For a snowshoe trip based largely on guesswork, it unfolded remarkably well. We encountered no cruxes or major detours and the mostly clear skies gave us fine views of the area. Named after Lieutenant H. J. Haffner who made the first survey for the Banff-Windermere Highway. He was killed in World War I. |
Vermillion Peak and Mount Haffner seen from the highway. Mouse over to see the col from
Vermillion Peak before the fire.
Near the start our snowshoes barely leave an impression in the snow.
We ascend one of the narrow ribs on the slope.
This is Sonny's first time on snowshoes.
Higher up, the trees are smaller and begin to thin.
The trees cast striking shadows on the snow.
First view of the summit, or rather, the false summit
We also can make out the valley below.
As we near the col, we can see Vermillion Peak.
Our first break in the trees
Looking down the break
After passing through more trees, the false summit appears.
To reach the false summit we cross this beautiful plateau.
Vermillion Peak fills the view northwest.
Dinah and Sonny ascend a gully while I stick to the ridge (mouse over).
Looking back at the plateau
Sonny (right) and I head to the false summit. Near the top we were forced to detour left because
of snowdrifts too steep to climb.
View to the north: The pointed peak on the right is Mount Whymper (mouse over for a close up).
Looking back from the false summit
Looking at the true summit from the false summit.
The Rockwall on the right (mouse over for a close up)
We set off for the summit.
Sonny, Dinah and I on the summit
Unnamed peak to the west
Vermillion Peak
Coming down from the false summit
Retracing our steps back along the plateau
Panorama from the top. Stanley Peak on the right.
82 N/1 Mount Goodsir
