skiing down to rainy lake

i have heard that one can ski down to rainy lake from up above in the lyall glacier. it looks rather cliffy in summer though!

has anyone done it ? if so, at what time of the year ? and roughly how ?

thanks!

It is rather cliffy, I have been above that cliff in a helicopter in February and it is possible, with some good route finding. How is another question. Good luck!

I've done it once in May, twenty years ago. From lake level you'll see exposed ramps that diagonal up and right through the cliffs. At least one of these ramps connects. I wouldn't recommend trying to find it "blind" from above. Better to scope it out from below. My journal says that we booted up the ramp (we climbed Frisco Peak) but doesn't record how much we skied on the way down. I was with my wife and older brother on that trip. You'll want very stable conditions for this route.

On a more recent trip we traversed over and back from the divide between Rainy Lake and Lake Ann to avoid the exposed ramp.

joedabaker and lowell, thanks!

lowell, on your more recent trip, do you mean you've come out thru lake anne and the summer trail to it ?

the rainy lake way goes, ema, but the run down form the divide lowell mentioned is easier and a much nicer ski. yes, i believe you do wind up skiing out the summer hiking trail.

david

Ema, here is a photo showing the said angling ramps and it looks like the trees on the right are pretty tame if you were to traverse the bench from the Lyall. There are also some beautiful cutthroat trout in the lake in summer! (Just had to add that.)