Savvy adventurer, Iannick CM, and I had planned on hiking the Jade Pass trail in Mount Revelstoke National Park for more than a week by now. To his surprise, I had never explored the area before, even if it is so close to my hometown. He was so stoked on introducing me to this gem of a park that he coined the term “Mountain Mondays”. The trip actually ended up happening on a Tuesday instead!

Related Article: Mt Revelstoke to Sale Mountain Traverse: Off The Beaten Path

Report from September 24, 2019

Driving up the 26-km perfectly paved road to the Mt Revelstoke trailhead meant experiencing a rushed transition from summer to fall, all the way to winter. From time to time, you could spot our home resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, and its crown jewel, Mt Mackenzie through the wispy clouds.

After a lengthy discussion about the new 2020 line of Arcteryx jackets, we grabbed our packs and headed for our morning’s objective. While we intended on bagging Mt Williamson with an elevation of 2373m, the low-lying fog forced us to settle for Miller Lake, a stunning alpine lake entombed within a large glacial cirque.

Iannick led at the front, moving swiftly on the trail, singing classic hiking tunes as the rain was beading on our jackets. Believe me when I say that the mightiest grizzly wouldn’t dare approach us!

After passing two hikers from Belgium, we arrived at Miller Lake. It welcomed us with emerald-colored water and, shockingly, snow. We were ecstatic: ski season was fast approaching. We could make out in the distance a bit of fairy dust on Inverness SW Peak further up.

After a short snack break consisting of delicious homemade granola bars and energizing Cliff Bloks, we spotted some clear skies heading our way – a testament to the unpredictability of mountain weather. Rejuvenated by ample calories and sunshine, we ran up the Jade Lakes Trail to get a glimpse of the snow-capped peaks beyond the Jade Pass.

As we gained elevation, my breath was fogging up. The snow was noticeably accumulating on the nearby rocks. Suddenly, the western face of Inverness SW peak arose beyond the pass, scarred by several large snowy couloirs. I knew Iannick was already crafting plans to ski from the summit.

After a quick photoshoot, we summited Jade Pass and gasped at the jaw-droppingly beautiful landscape. It’s in those moments that I’m most grateful for what mother nature has to offer.

We could barely make out Albert Peak (3045m) shrouded in thick clouds. This is a mountain both Iannick and I have wanted to summit for a long time.

After taking in the scenery of Mt Revelstoke National Park, we bolted back down the way we came at an adrenaline-fueled pace. We quickly made it back to the car under a strange combination of spotty rain, sleet, and sunshine.

At 7 AM this very morning, I was far too fond of my warm bed. At 2:30 PM this afternoon, I was far too glad I came along for the ride. Thanks Iannick for showing me around one of our local gems!

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For more beta on my adventures, check out the Route Map. This online map interface is a repository of my ski touring and mountaineering adventures. Simply follow the rough trace!