Bison Falls and Transparent Fool

A steep, heavily treed approach trail under serious avalanche terrain

An overview of the Bison Falls and Transparent Fool on the Balfour Wall.

Bison Falls and Transparent Fool

Bison Falls 80 m WI3

Transparent Fool 45 m WI5

Approach: ATES 3 (Complex)

Routes: ATES 0 (Non-avalanche terrain)

Bison Falls and Transparent Fool are both popular ice climbs located 1.6 km up Bison Creek, located north of Lake Louise on Highway 93 North. The approach trail in the creek is seriously threatened by avalanche terrain overhead, but once you reach the climbs, there are no longer any avalanche slopes above. Balfour Wall is our first Ice Climbing Atlas entry with a ATES Class 0 rating.

Bison Falls is an 80 m high, grade 3 curtain of ice and Transparent Fool is a 45 m steep pillar known for the visibility of running water inside the pillar.

Park at a pullout on the east side of the Highway 93 North, found 24.5 km north of Bow Summit. Walk 1.9 km up Bison Creek, or walk 400 m south on the highway and then up the drainage directly.

A steep, heavily treed appproach trail under serious avalanche terrain