Snowpatch Spire

Snowpatch Spire is a mountain peak in British Columbia, Canada. With its first ascent in 1940, it was the last of the Bugaboo Spires to be climbed.^[2] It is located southwest of the Conrad Kain hut, between Bugaboo, Vowell and Crescent Glaciers, at the south end of Bugaboo Provincial Park.^[7] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted October 29, 1962, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[3]

Snowpatch Spire
Snowpatch Spire, with Pigeon Spire in the background on the right, Hound's Tooth and Marmolata Spire on the left.
Highest point
Elevation	3,084 m (10,118 ft)[1]
Prominence	284 m (932 ft)[2]
Parent peak	Howser Spire (3,412 m)[2]
Coordinates	50°44′11″N 116°46′56″W[3]
Geography
Snowpatch Spire Location in British Columbia
Interactive map of Snowpatch Spire
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
District	Kootenay Land District
Protected area	Bugaboo Provincial Park
Parent range	Purcell Mountains The Bugaboos
Topo map	NTS 82K10 Howser Creek
Geology
Rock age	135 Million years ago[4]
Rock type	Granodiorite[4]
Climbing
First ascent	August 1940 by Raffi Bedayan and Jack Arnold[5]
Easiest route	class 5.8[6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Snowpatch Spire is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[8] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.

Routes

Climbing routes on Snowpatch Spire:^[9]

• Wildflowers - class 5.9
• Kraus-McCarthy - class 5.9
• Sunshine - class 5.11
• Surf's Up (aka Southwest Ridge) - class 5.9
• Southeast Corner (aka Snowpatch Route) - class 5.8

Gallery

• 
  Northeast aspect
• 
  Snowpatch Spire seen from Bugaboo Spire
• 
• 
• 
  Howser Spire (upper left), Snowpatch Spire (left of center), Bugaboo Spire (upper right), Eastpost Spire (lower right). Camera pointed west.
• 
• 
  Anniversary Peak (left), Hound's Tooth/Marmolata Spire (centered) in Bugaboo Glacier, and Snowpatch Spire (right). East aspect as viewed from Bugaboo Lodge.