This is a remote, hard to reach valley with some prime ice. An involved approach makes this best for weekend outings. Avalanche danger is relatively minimal, depending on your choice of approach. There are two main approaches to the climbs. I favor the Sofa approach, although when there is enough snow on the ground, the Vimy approach may be the easier.

Sofa Approach: Drive as far up the Chief Mountain Highway as possible. About 4km up the road, a steep hill ends and a alpine plane beings. A devloped tourist pullout is located here. Continue along the road for another half kilometer. Here an informal pullout on the right (south) is the location of a rough game trail that leads up to the base of Sofa Mountain. At the base of the mountain stick to the right hand ridge. The ridge is usually wind blown. Some short scrambling leads to the top of the Mountain. From here an easy walk down open talus slopes leads to the base of the ice climbs. While this approach does have a fair elevation gain and loss, it is relatively easy and quick depending how far up the road you can drive. Expect 4 to 5 hours in.

Vimy Approach. As you come into the park, you will pass the turn off to Red Rock Canyon. Just past this a turn off to the left leads to the stables. Drive past here going left at a Y. This leads to the Marquis Hole. While the creek rarely freezes, it is usually possible to cross on the ice that covers the middle lake. This deposits you on an open prairie. Head straight up the open ground to find the Vimy trial. Go right on this trail until you come to a signed junction in the trees. Going straight goes to the Wishbone, the left hand fork leads up to Vimy. A constant grade leads up to the shoulder, visible in the foreground of the above picture. While the trail continues up to the peak, you must leave it in a few hundred meters to begin a long and overgrown bush whack. A very old trail used to follow the right side of the creek. A small loggin operation occured here in the early 1900's. Hack through lots of deadfall to get to an open meadow that eventually leads to the base of the routes. Expect about 5 to 6 hours.