An off-trail traversing the boulders and scree in the Ymir Bowl. Climb Ymir Mountain.
Difficulty: C2 difficult
Distance: round trip: 6.7 km
Elevation: +760m
Season: mid-July to late September
Drive up Whitewater Ski Hill Road and park.
Trail. There are two main hiking routes up Ymir, both are off-trail.
The west ridge. The normal way.
The north ridge via Half Dome was developed in 2024.
Connecting these two could make a nice loop. The Half Dome route involves scrambling and may be easier going up.
WEST RIDGE
Walk past the Whitewater Ski Lodge to ascend the ‘Lower Sluice Box’ run, aiming straight for Ymir Mountain on an old rough road that quickly narrows into a footpath.
Cross a road, walk up about 10m, then the trail resumes. At a boulder field, the trail disappears.
For the west ridge, cut straight across the bowl finding your route. Going left up the boulder field goes to the north ridge via Half Dome.
Aim for a long narrow chute to the left of some steep rocky bluffs. After 1.5 hours of hiking, reach the ridge and find faint bits of trail among the rocks. It’s a steady uphill climb with a few cliffy patches. Near the summit, drop down into a deep notch with a chute far below by going onto the south slope.
Sign the summit register
Descent. Rather than descending the north ridge, it may be simpler to return the same way.
NORTH RIDGE VIA HALF DOME
This is a scramble. Half Dome is a prominent landmark on Ymir Peak’s ridge. The trail is still in development.
Difficulty: Difficult C3
Distance one-way: 4.4 km
Elevation: +680m
Season: mid-July to late September
Drive: Whitewater Ski Hill Road and park at Hummingbird Lodge.
Trail. The trailhead is in the RV campground heading up Quartz Ski Way Trail that switchbacks up the ski runs. At 0.3km, go left. Pass below the Raven Chair
2.1km. Continue east up the Silver King Ridge Trail. At the top of the ridge, go southeast towards Half Dome.
3.8km. Go over a bump on the ridge.
4.2 km and 100 m higher. Summit of Half Dome. Ymir Peak dominates the view southeast. The route to Ymir involves more scrambling.
Descend on Silver King Ridge Trail, past the winter lodge at Whitewater Ski Resort and cross the parking lots to your car.
Or traverse Ymir Peak for a big loop down the west ridge of Ymir.
References:
https://westkootenayhiking.ca/ymir-mountain/
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/canada/british-columbia/ymir-mountain-and-half-dome
