I have three characters who can cast the portals. My Priest
has her portal set at the T'rang-a-porter, my Ranger has
his set in Ascension Peak, and my Mage is the "floater".
When I first entered the Mountain Wilderness, I visited
Bela, the went into the Peak just to set the portal.
My question is, do I need the portal in the Peak? The reason
is ask is, I'm getting near to Ferro, and I want to set a
portal next to him. But I've read about an avalanche which
blocks entrance to the Peak. So how does one get into the
Peak? What event(s) trigger this avalanche?

The route via Bela gets blocked once you have all three artifacts.

There is a teleporter from Rapax Castel to Ascension Peak. You need to become Templar to reach it, but thats not a problem. So, set your portal at Ferro.

Thanks, Wereboar. I do have all the baubles, but they are safely
stored away in Antone's chest.

The event is triggered when you have all of them with you.

If you get them from your chest one at a time and use them, the route will never get blocked.

good info. thanks again.