Fossil Mountain Ski Summit

Lat/Lon: 51.5042°N, 116.044°W
Fossil Mountain is part of the Slate Range located in Banff National Park, one of four
connecting national parks in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The whole range
sits behind the Lake Louise Ski Resort on the east side of the Bow Valley. Although
you enter via the ski resort, you soon find wilderness as you break through Boulder
Pass and up to Deception Pass in full view of the smaller glaciers surrounding the
Wall of Jericho. The much more popular objective, Castle Mountain, sits directly
south of the Slate Range.

Fossil Mountain was officially named in 1906 and yes, because it contains an
abnormal amount of fossils. Since I skied the mountain in winter conditions, I
cannot attest as to what fossils exist on the route today. It was first ascended in
1906 by a topographical survey team. Interestingly enough, the first ski fatality in the
Canadian Rockies occurred on Fossil Mountain in 1933 via an avalanche. More
recently, in 1988, two experienced mountaineers died in an avalanche on the
mountain as well (after parking their skis).

The views from the summit are mostly dominated by Mount Temple to the southwest.
The only published route is the easy scramble. However, I chose the more
challenging alpine ski ascent/descent in the winter.

Getting There
The Trans-Canada dissects Banff National Park east to west as you come in from
Calgary. Travel to the Lake Louise exit and turn right towards the Lake Louise Ski
area and drive 1.6kms to another right onto the Temple Lodge access road.
Proceed another kilometer and turn right into the Fish Creek parking area on the right
before the gate. If you are on skis, skin up a low angled groomed slope to the right
4kms to the Temple Lodge ski lift. If this is a summer scramble, hike or bike 4kims
up the vehicle restricted gravel road. Either way your objective is to get up the hill to
the lift area as you will be circumventing around the east side of the ski resort.

Red Tape
You will be required to purchase a national park pass as you enter the park. This
pass is good for all four national parks. If you plan many visits to Canadian National
Parks within one year, you should purchase an annual pass. There are no permit
requirements to climb in Banff National Park, but all camping is regulated. There is
also a backcountry permit required if you plan on spending a night in the backcountry
versus the town campsites. This can be obtained via the parks website which is
included in the camping section below. Park headquarters are located in Banff and
you will drive through the manned kiosks as you enter the park.

This is active grizzly country, therefore, you should always have bear spray on your
person. This approach trail is often restricted or even closed in the summer,
therefore, I advise checking with Parks Canada for any area and/or trail closures.

When To Climb
As with most scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, the driest time is from June
through September. I chose to ski Fossil Mountain in March. There is regular cross
country ski traffic back to Skoki Lodge in the winter, but no regular track setting. I
used back country skies and recommend treating this trip as ski mountaineering if
you plan to ascend Fossil Mountain, which is not a common objective in the winter.
You will return much faster on backcountry skis versus cross country skis as
well.

Camping
There are four excellent back country camp sites surrounding Fossil Mountain that
can be used during the summer months, Hidden Lake Sk5, Baker Lake Sk11, Red
Deer Lakes Sk19 and Merlin Meadows Sk18. In the winter you can make
reservations to enjoy Skoki Lodge, but it is relatively expensive. It is a ski lodge
located through Deception Pass. You can go on line at Banff National Park to pick a
camp site and obtain your camping permit. You will also be required to obtain your
backcountry permit which is separate, but can be obtained simultaneously if you plan
on camping at a backcountry site.

Mountain Conditions
The Banff National Park website has weather, wildlife reports, trail closures, etc.
Outside of the parks web site, Canadian Avalanche Association is also useful,
particularly for winter travel. Canadian Alpine Accident Reports is also extremely
useful.

Route
This is a 4300’+/- ascent day. I parked at the Fish Creek Trailhead and hiked up the
road. There are two better solutions however. Lake Louise was running a shuttle
(for non-purist) that ran up a limited access road to a lift area on the backside of Lake
Louise. Even though I was not a paying customer, I was offered a ride by the
operator which I graciously turned down. I imagine not a whole lot is said if
someone wants to use this shuttle. Another, my preferred option now that I am
aware, is to skin up a green ski run to the right of the parking lot. I received less
than stellar information from the Internet regarding taking cross country skis versus
alpine skis. Definitely take alpine skis for this ascent due to icy conditions and
two passes to climb and descend. With alpine skis, if conditions are right, you
can practically ski from the summit to the car.

Ski from the trailhead past the halfway hut and up to Boulder Pass. This pass lies
between Redoubt Mountain and Ptarmigan Peak. The wind can get brutal here.
Continue on this nice flat section to Deception Pass which doglegs to the left. Once
at the pass, take your skis off and head up the southwest ridge of Fossil
Mountain (right). This southwest ridge stays clear of snow most of the winter due
to intense winds (70+/-mph during my trip).   After about 1700' of gain you will reach
the final summit ridge and simply head east to a marker memorizing two cousins
who were killed on the mountain in 1988. Off to the northeast is Mount Douglas (not
to be confused with Mount Sir Douglas) and prominent Mount St. Bride. Ptarmigan
Peak's glacier and the Wall of Jericho fill the west, and Mount Temple is to the south.

This snow is extremely wind blown creating wind slabs on the south face of
Fossil Mountain. Therefore, I do not advise trying to ski this mountain unless
you have appropriate avalanche safety experience. There are other options to
find quality powder below on the other side of Deception Pass. Whichever
descent you use, the south face or returning the ridge, once back down to
Deception Pass or Baker Lake, the return is the same.

Essential Gear
Skis, Skins, Goggles, Alpine Ax, Gaiters, Wind Resistant Clothing (the passes can
be brutal)

Trip Report
Part of a short solo ski mountaineering series I put together. No one was heading
back to Skoki Lodge and the weather was marginal, so I had a remote ski. DO NOT
SKI DOWN THE SOUTH FACE, unless you are absolutely sure of the snow pack,
particularly the wind load. Super area to ski. Cheers.