MT DAVIE 2392m 7848’
Davie, clearly visible from many Nelson Range peaks and the Kootenay Lake ferry, is 5 km. east of Kootenay Lake’s main arm and south of Gray Creek. This is a very easy hike, most suitable for spring and fall; the summit offers good views of Kootenay Lake, and the peaks of Akokli, Haystack, Sherman, and Snowcrest.
Difficulty: C2
Elevation gain: 2350’
Key elevations: Park 5500’ Summit 7848’
Distance:
Time: 1.5 hours up, 1 hour down
Access: 4WD at the bottom of the road
Season: May through October
Map: 82F/7 Boswell
Drive: Go south from the Kootenay Bay ferry 35.2km and turn east. Zero odometer.
0.0 Akokli Creek Road. 4WD HC because of water bars in the lower section.
2km Turn left onto an unnamed spur
3km Keep right and follow this road right to its end at km.
15.1km Park. 5500’ high above Akokli Creek and due south of Mt. Davie. 1 hr. 30 min. drive from the ferry to the car park.
Route: For the ascent (on foot hopefully, not skis), follow a creek bed north to semi-open slopes that lead to an alpine ridge SE of the summit. Then an easy plod to the cairned high point on the east end of the summit ridge.
MOUNT DAVIE June 11, 2014 by Terry Turner
My first and only other visit to Mount Davie was almost 10 years ago (June 16, 2004) with my dog Loki.
I left Riondel at about 10 am and took the Akokli Creek Road just south of Destiny Bay Store at Boswell. At Km2 I turned left on a spur road to Km 15.1, (GPS 49d 27.62, 116d 42.23, 6,256 ft.) There were several shallow water bars on the lower section and two deep water bars on the upper narrow section. Other hazards included sharp broken rock and a few dead trees across the road. No shortage of gophers. There was one full-grown black bear and lots of visual evidence.
The first 400 feet vertically to the north is fairly steep with lots of deadfall, becoming grassy, and wider open with large snow patches higher up. The upper 500 feet vertical was 80% soft snow cover.
There is a small western cairn at 7,791 ft. and a main cairn at 7,831 ft (GPS 49d 28.264, 116d 41.931). Placed a canister and notebook in the cairn. Of geological interest are the exceptional exposures of Proterozoic (> 600my) argillites and pebble conglomerates. There are amazing views of Kootenay Lake, Pilot Peninsula, and many identifiable peaks in the Selkirks and Purcells. Visibility was extraordinary with Hall Peak (9,975ft.) observed 35 miles to the north.
Hiking travel time was about 2.5 hours up and 1.5 hours down. Back to Riondel by 6 pm. Note: High clearance, 4×4 vehicle required. Remember chainsaw or axe, shovel, pick and bear spray.
Terry Turner