Frosty Mountain

VOC Ski Guide

Using This Ski Guide Preface Winter Safety Avalanche safety Waxing Navigation Snow Shelters Gear Lists

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Difficulty Rating Intermediate to Advanced NTS Mapsheet 92 H/2 Starting Elevation 1250m High Point 2400m

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Introduction

Mount Frosty is the highest summit in Manning Park. Compared to the surrounding mountains, Frosty Mountain is rather steep and offers some excellent challenging ski terrain. The summit can also be accessed in the summer as a nice day hike.

Access

Access for all the different routes are the same. Drive to Manning Park (highway 1 east, then highway 3 east) and follow signs to the Lightning Lake day use area. The road is plowed in winter, but the last couple hundred meters is often compact snow.

Routes

There are a number of attractive skiing areas on Frosty Mountain.

East Peak via North Ridge Trail

This is a good choice early or late in the season when deadfall or bushes are problematic. The trail starts from the dam at the east end of Lighning Lake, and switchbacks up to a flat ridge. The trail can be very difficult to follow in winter, as there are no regular trail markers. Markers are only nailed to trees at 1km intervals. There is a long flat section along the ridge top that can also be tricky to navigate, even if you aren't trying to follow the trail. Open, skiable terrain is reach at around 2000m where the larch trees begin.

East Peak via Windy Joe and NE Ridge

An alternate trail goes up to the East Peak from the Windy Joe shelter.

West Peak N Ridge

Ski to the far end of lightning lake and ascend the N ridge of the west peak. Navigation is easy (go up along the ridge). The forest is very tight at first, but gradully opens up higher up. There is a large avalanche path off the NW side of this ridge that provides a long descent to Flash Lake.

Frosty Creek

Long, steep runs descend into Frosty Creek from both the East Peak and West Peak areas. It's possible to descend down Frosty Creek all the way to Lightning Lake.

Hazards

1. There is serious avalanche terrain on both the east and west peaks. However the forested ridges offer generally safe travel.

Hiking

ClubTread Trail Page

The mountain can be hiked either starting at the Lightning Lakes or Windy Joe parking lots; the Lightning Lakes approach is described here. After an intense climb and series of switchbacks near the lakes the trail levels out somewhat before climbing again just below the summit. The peak has fantastic views, and the "Larch Meadows" several km before the summit are home to some of the oldest trees in BC.

Trip Details

As a return trip to/from Lightning Lake:

• Frosty Mountain elevation: 2,408 meters
• Trailhead elevation: 1,250 meters
• Trail length: 22.2 km (return)
• Time to complete: 8-9 hours
• Difficulty: moderate
• Technical difficulty: easy ~ moderate - trail is mostly nice, some loose rock near the top