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Rockies :: Kootenays :: Boom Lake

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Winter sunset on Boom lake looking SE towards Storm Muntain in the distance

December 31, 2015

Boom lake is one of most accessible back-country lakes along the Banff-Radium corridor. Trailhead is at the right (north) side of Hwy 93, some 10 minutes from the Castle Junction.  Fairly large parking lot fills fast in summer months.  Wide and gently angled trail leads in just above an hour of moderate pace to large cirque cradled between Mt. Bell to the north and Mt. Boom to the south. Trail ends about 1/3 of the way from east end of the lake, but there are several possible extensions. Scramblers will head up wide avalanche gully rising on the north side -- alternate Kane access for Mt. Bell.  Rudimentary trail can also be found continuing on lake north shore, but soon it deteriorates in thickets of bush, deadfall and awkward side-hilling around small bays. Several primitive campsites and remnants of camp fires can be found here.

In winter recommended option is to ski up on normally broken and consolidated trail, shared both with snowshoers and hikers.  This is one of trips described in excellent Chic Scott guidebook "Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies".  Real benefit of winter trip is opportunity to cross frozen lake on skis -- much easier than booting or snow-shoeing as you just glide across!  Takes about 30-40 minutes (~2 km, 1 way) to ski to west end of the lake.  Neat icefall at bottom of avalanche gully directly below Mt. Bell is a must see! Only drawback is that in winter months sun is low on horizon and cirque is in shade from early afternoon -- start early.  Beginner skiers might find first third of the trail fairly challenging on return as it is fairly steep with one sharp curve (near the trailhead).

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Classic View

Classic view of Boom lake from end of hiking trail in winter