Mount Sproatt

	Avalanche Hazard
	The route and terrain described here is capable of producing avalanches. Safe travel requires the skills and equipment to assess and mitigate avalanche hazards. A professionally taught training course is highly recommended.

Sproatt is a good destination for yoyoing or a tour up to the summit. There are a couple routes into the area; the most popular with backcountry skiers is up 21 Mile Creek from Alta Lake Road in Whistler to the hanging valley NW of Sproatt. This is the same approach as for Rainbow Mountain. Others routes are from the SW from the Callaghan Valley road system, or from 21 mile creek via Gin and Tonic Lakes.

From 21 Mile Creek via Hanging Valley

Basically, one should follow the trail up into the old growth forest, and then start angling up toward a hanging valley. A good place to leave the trail is at the outhouse just past the second sign that says 4.5km to Rainbow Lake. Don't go past the big log bridge though - this is the western of the two creek that comes down from the hanging valley. The climb up to the hanging valley has a short steep section in the trees. There are two options, either climb a steep section of forest between two gullies and then cross an exposed slope, or climb further east up a forested slope between two small cliffs. The cliff on the right on the way up is easy to identify as it has a yellow stained icicle on it in winter. The second route is generally better than the first one, as there is more room to switchback up the steep section and no terrain trap to ski above.

Once up in the hanging valley, subalpine meadows prevail with excellent North aspect ski runs all around. The summit is easiest to reach by skiing up to the end of the valley and then turning left up the ridge. A more direct route climbs up onto the NNE ridge of Sproatt just after getting up into the hanging valley and has excellent skiing.

From the Callaghan Road

Another approach to this area is from the North Air Mine Road, a spur of the Callaghan Road. However, this route is presently used by snowmobiles. This should be changing in the future, as the winter backcountry recreation forum has designated all of Sproat for non motorized use. Whether this will actually work is another issue.

Trip report 8 Dec. 2006

Parked at the Whistler cemetary along Alta Lake Rd, and followed the logging road up (later followed signs for Rainbow Lake). We took the NNE ridge up (and turned off from the main 21 mile creek trail at the 4.5km to Rainbow Lake signs (before small log brige over stream, red flagging tape)). Note that the route through the hanging valley probably turns off ~1km further along the 21 mile creek trail. The NNE ridge has one steep forested section, which is not the easiest skiing terrain, rest is easy-going. Bram & Andrew