Mt JARDINE 2442m. 8000′
Follow a historic mining trail to a high alpine ridge and summit. Views are of the Valley of Ghosts. This has been a rare climb for the Kootenay Mountaineering Club – last mentioned as a winter ski in 1992.
Called Empire, in the winter, this area is the prime snowmobiling location around Kaslo. They mostly go on the Blue Ridge FSR that parallels the highway for several kilometres and can be accessed from either end – at Buchanan Lookout Road or at Ten Mile Creek Road. Ten Mile has a large highway pull-off area that forms a great staging area for the snowmobilers and their trucks and trailers.
Rating: ♦♦♦♦◊
Location: West of Kaslo north of Highway 31A in the Goat Range.
Difficulty: D2 strenuous
Elevation Gain: +1245m
Key Elevations: Trailhead: 1197 m, Summit Mt Jardine 2442m
Distance: 6.6 km one way
Time: 6-7 hours return
Season: July to early October
Access: 4WD high clearance for water bars in the last .5 km.
Map: 82K/3
Drive. From Kaslo, take Highway 31A towards New Denver and the Rossiter FSR.
0.0 km. Ascend for 1.0km passing the Wagon Road and switchback left.
2.4 km. Junction. The left goes to the Lyle Lakes/Mt Brennan trailhead. Right goes to Mt Jardine.
2.5 km. Fork right and cross deep water bars requiring 4WD high clearance.
3.0 km. Park at a wide pullout on the right. Further is a washout
Route/Trail. Walk up the road through a large washout.
0.8km. The signed Beaver Mine Trail is on the left. The Beaver Mine was staked in 1891. Ascend on switchbacks through an old clearcut into the forest and switchback steadily up to the ridge.
3 km. Views are far below and to the ridge from Mt Jardine.
4.7 km. The trail ends after 2 hours. An old route that heads straight north is blocked off by logs. Take the new route right (east) on a hiker-made trail gradually climbing to the basin below Mount Jardine. Flagging tape marks the way.
Pass old diggings and tailing piles of the Beaver Claim but there is no mine. Reach the ridge and cross NE across the basin under Mt Jardine to the low point on the west ridge of the mountain. Walk up the long grassy slope to the steep final ascent. Sign the register.
Texas and Reco are to the south with Kokanee Glacier far away. Mount Brennan is NW with Whitewater Mountain beyond. Blue Ridge and Mt Buchanan are to the east.
Return the same way – 2.5 hours.
References:
https://westkootenayhiking.ca/mt-jardine/