Via Tunnel Creek Hut and Planetary Peak’s southwest ridge. A great summit with good views and good snow.
Logistics
Park at the Tunnel Creek pull-out, just past the tunnel along highway 3 south of Fernie.
Trip Report
The route begins out of the parking area up a logging road. From the parking area, cross Tunnel Creek so you are ascending up the logging road on the south side of the creek (climber’s left side). If the creek is open, use the road to cross the creek.
Follow the logging road for approximately 1.5 hours, gaining about 500m in elevation. At approximately 1423m or 49.347N 115.049W branch west off the logging road and ascend a drainage.
The drainage soon turns into a gully feature.
Reaching Tunnel Creek Hut at 49.347N 115.062W. To ascend Planetary Peak via the southwest ridge, continue past the hut towards the col below the peak. You can also reach the summit from Sunnyside. Our descent route is shown above in red.
Approaching the col on the left with our ascent and descent route shown above in red.
Skinning up Planetary Peak’s southwest ridge. Beautiful day!
Looking ahead to Planetary Peak’s summit ridge. We traversed the top of this ridge to reach the summit, before descending down.
Looking back along the summit ridge.
Getting some great turns down Planetary Peak’s southeast slopes, which leads back down to Tunnel Creek Hut. Snow quality was a bit crusty near the summit, but quickly improved as we descended through the trees.
Cruising down the logging road back to the parking lot.
Stats
Actual GPS route above. Our route is in a clockwise direction up Planetary Peak’s southwest ridge, and down the southeast slopes.
Times and distances are round-trip.
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