Metal Dome

VOC Ski Guide

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Difficulty Rating Advanced Road 4km/1hr Route 4hrs Starting Elevation 700m High Point 2010m

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Access

The best present access to Metal Dome is via the north side from the Callaghan Valley. Compared to the historic approach from Brandywine Creek, this route is shorter, has much less snowmobile traffic and has better skiing terrain. Drive the Callaghan Valley Road to the Callaghan West FSR turnoff. This is the second turnoff on the left. The turnoff is signed as "Blackcomb Dogsled" and is located about 1km south of the bridge over Callaghan Creek. Callaghan West FSR is only plowed a short distances to a small parking area.

Route

• From the parking area, take the right road heading north
• Take the first left turn, leaving the groomed dogsled track
• Keep right onto a snowmobile trail
• Take the next right, leaving the snowmobile trail and going up a hill.
• After the road levels out there is a branch on the left. The road you want to follow continues straight ahead. The road on the left also works, as it goes to the same clearcut as the main road. This option can be used to squeeze in a few extra turns on the way home at the end of the day.
• The main road turns left, crosses a stream, enters a clearcut then switchbacks to continue north.
• At the end of the road, cross two streams then begin climbing. The second stream has a waterfall - it can be crossed at about the same elevation as the end of the road, but it may be possible to cross it up higher.
• The terrain is steep, bushy and bluffy at first but improves higher up. The best route follows the crest of a broad ridge in open forest to the west of both creeks. Tree line is at 1400m, just below the terminal moraine of the Metal Dome Glacier.
• Traverse to climbers left to gain the glacier. This is the steepest part of the route.
• Ascend the glacier to a col east of Metal Dome, then follow the ridge to the summit. There are many wind features along the ridge that could pose big problems in whiteout conditions. The ski run down from the col is excellent.

Hazards

1. Avalanche terrain from about 1400m to the top
2. Cornice Fall

Historical Route from Brandywine Creek

	Out of Date
	This article contains old out of date information from an early 1990s edition of the VOC Ski guide. Road conditions may have changed considerably since this article was written.

Topo of Area

Route at a Glance

Rating	Location Key	Map Refs	Road	Route	Start Elevation	High Point	Technical Notes
Intermediate	N	92 J/3	5.5km/2hrs	5km/3hrs	560m	2010m	End of road:1020m

Access

See the Brandywine and Brew access. Take the Dority Creek spur at ~3km. This spur is ill-defined; to find it turn right off the man road towards the horizon, that being defined as that part of the northern sky line with no trees on it.

Route

Head across the slash towards a left hand knoll, past an old bus (may be buried) and continue into a small gully below the knoll. At the end of the gully drop down left to Dority Creek, then head back up through open forest until on a broad ridge. Stay slightly to the left until the slash above Brandywine road is seen. Swing right to avoid bluffs then continue up the ridge to Metal Dome.