Route: The Niblet and The Nublet
Area: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia
Date of walk: 15th August 2024
Walkers: James and Anna
Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km)
Ascent: 1,500 feet (444m)
Weather: Sunny morning, with short downpour in evening
After two days with heavy backpacks, it was a relief to wake up on our third day with sunny conditions and knowing that we didn’t have to pack up and move on to another campsite. We refilled water from a nearby stream and enjoyed our slow start to the day with some strong coffee, which always tastes nicer in the mountains
The route today took us past Sunburst Lake providing reflections of Sunburst Peak above it, and up on to the ascending ridge joining The Niblet to The Nublet, with both giving magazine-worthy views of Mount Assiniboine. For those with more energy than us, the ridge continues to Nub Peak and requires a bit of scrambling. We took a circular route enjoying more spectacular views of Mount Assiniboine above Magog Lake, from the benches and shoreline in front of Assiniboine Lodge.
The lodge was built in 1928 as the first backcountry ski lodge in North America. Guests once arrived by horseback and served as the base for mountaineering or cross-country skiing. Nowadays the lodge provides a cozier experience with comfy beds and gourmet meals, and can be accessed on alternate days by helicopter. On days in between helicopter flights the lodge puts on afternoon tea for nearby campers. We queued up with about 20 fellow campers to take advantage of the afternoon tea (and $10 beers), before returning via Lake Magog for a quick dip. There was a short downpour in the evening resulting in a very vivid rainbow, which produced a dramatic backdrop for a couple getting married on the shoreline of Sunburst Lake.
The fourth day was a short, one-mile journey and therefore included here for simplicity. We packed up our tent, threw on our heavy packs one last time, and returned to the lodge. Here we took the cheaters way out and returned via a scenic helicopter ride back to our starting location, sealing our adventure as the trip of the summer and one of the trips of our lifetimes.
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I was easily distracted when heading to do the morning chores of refilling water bottles
A relief to be carrying much smaller backpacks for the day
Heading north from our campsite towards Sunburst Lake
Sunburst Peak
Looking across Cerulean Lake
Mount Assiniboine
A quick trip to The Niblet before doubling back on ourselves to head up to The Nublet
Panoramic view from The Niblet
Anna soaking in the view
A sharp and rocky climb up along the ridge to the Nublet
We decided to stop at the summit of The Nublet, marked by a cairn. Nub Peak can be seen in the distance
Returning back down the same ridge
We arrived on the ridge from the right of this shot. Our journey continued straight this time, towards Assiniboine Lodge
Descending from The Niblet into more wildflower meadows...
Following the easy flowing paths back to the lodge
Facing towards Assiniboine Lodge, where we later came for afternoon tea (beer)
...and facing away from Assiniboine Lodge. A nice view to have from your doorstep
A nearby bench to rest and enjoy the view
Another Naiset Hut
A brief storm in the evening produces a brilliant rainbow
A double rainbow as we arrive back at our tent for the night
We woke up on our final morning to a visitor to the campground - thankfully friend not foe
It was just one mile back to the lodge. Helicopters provide a lazier option than hiking in (or out) 30 kilometers
Some fresh-faced guests arriving at the lodge. We would take their seats for the return journey.
After being dropped off at Mount Shark helipad, the helicopter returns to the skies
Thankfully only a few hundred metres from the helipad back to the car. Time to put our feet up...
