We left the trail head around 8:30 am after driving past the aftermath of a big avalanche that would have dusted the road. We discovered later a party of two had left an hour earlier and had taken a short cut which takes off into the bush just at the Spiral tunnels viewpoint. We met them on their descent - at a rough guess they took 3 hours to the summit. As Bill noted their fast time may not all have been due to the shortcut .... youth, fitness? We got to the summit via the Chic Scott route around 2:00 pm meeting another party of two there who had left at 9:30 and taken the shortcut. The shortcut goes over a small pass west of a small buttress / hill visible from the transcanada. The young folk reported it a bit bushy and that it comes out halfway up the avalanche path. The run down gave pretty good skiing all the way to the road. Yours truly did find a steep roll by a small cliff (only one on the lower slope!) and had an inconsequential tumble. As you hit the small trees I think it is best to trend skiers left as I think we found more open areas there. Once at the road an hour or so slog along the road got us to the cars a bit before 4:30 am. Ulli and Rainer being more skillful Nordic skiers may have been a bit earlier. The good group of Bill,Damian,Ulrike,Rainer,David, and Brian made for a very enjoyable day for me John. Warm welcome to Brian on his first Ramblers trip.

A few photos from the trip. Thanks Bill and Ulli for some of these.

Lunch break ascending Mount Field - Niles and Daly peak out behind the ridge.

Final part Mount Field ascent - note two figures higher up the slope (click to enlarge).

Rainer with Wapta mountain behind

Final slopes of Mount Field are quite steep.

Damian and Bill summit Mount Field

Brian, Ulrike, David and Rainer summit Mount Field

Turns off summit Mount Field