Bow Summit: Fireroad Trees

Bow Summit

The ultimate classic area on the 93N and the site of the first posted avalanche bulletin back in the 30s. The easy, short access, varied terrain and fun laps make it a perfect place to ski some great snow and test pieces. It is often the first area to get enough snow to get some turns in and sometimes the pocketed north aspects will hold enough snow for “skiing” until late summer. Generally speaking this area is very busy in early and late seasons but seems to be forgotten outside those times, likely due to people getting sick of going there in fall and early winter.

Parking Style: Peyto Lake (Bow Summit) parking lot or roadside

Fireroad Trees

The tree area directly below the summer trail has short access and descent skiing once the trees have been filled in. Although this area may feel isolated from avalanche danger the upper alpine paths have been known reach into this area.

Vertical: 150-200m gain for access, 50-150m runs.

Distance: 1.25-1.5km for access, 0.15-0.4km runs.

Directions: From the Parks Canada gate at the start of 93N drive about 39km and turn left onto the road marked for the Peyto Lake (Bow Summit) parking lot. From here you will likely find several skin tracks leading up to the Bow Summit ski area but I will give the most straightforward route here for beginners. Go past the outhouse found at the parking lot and follow the road to the summer tourist bus parking area. Head south in the upper parking lot to the looker’s left of the parking lot’s wooden fence and follow the open sections of forest (sections of the summer trail) towards the upper alpine ridge to reach an area with a small open convex slope above you. Head climber’s left (south south-east) from here, the route should become obvious, as it is basically a flat and straight road at this point. At any time you can ski down from this road feature into the trees with the longer runs being further up near the high point of the road. To lap you can either head back the way you came or skin directly up the slope.