Homathko Icefield, Ice field in Coast Mountains, British Columbia, Canada.
The Homathko Icefield is a large expanse of ice in the Coast Mountains between Chilko Lake and Homathko River in British Columbia. This formation sits on an unusually flat high plateau that contrasts sharply with the steep peaks surrounding it.
The icefield received its current name in 1976, changing from its earlier designation as Homathko Snowfield introduced in 1950. This naming shift reflected evolving standards for classifying and documenting Canada's remote mountain formations.
Several peaks here carry names of Elizabethan figures like Burghley, Howard, and Walsingham, reflecting British colonial influence in naming the landscape. These names remind visitors of how European history shaped the way Canadians labeled their mountain features.
Visiting this icefield requires specialized mountaineering gear and significant experience with high-altitude conditions. Most expeditions operate from Homathko Camp, located north of Bute Inlet, which serves as the main staging point.
Unlike most other major icefields in the Coast Mountains, this formation lacks prominent peaks and instead features an unusually flat high plateau surface. This distinctive flatness makes it unusual among similar formations in the region.
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