Battle of Alberta climb 
 
July 27, 2022
 
Climbing with Dan.
 
Perhaps the easiest trip report I’ll probably ever compile – I took a grand total of 10 photos throughout the trip!
 
Dan and I were keen to check out this new two-pitch 5.7 sport climbing route near the west end of Mount Yamnuska. We set off at the unusually late time of 6:45 pm due to other commitments that day.

 Hiking the new trail that bypasses the famous scree runs on the south side of Yamnuska (now more infamous because they have become closer to ankle-jarring rubble runs than smooth, easy scree runs), was easy, somewhat interesting, and did provide the occasional view. Finding the start of the climb, not so easy.
 
Once found, we geared up and off Dan went. He led both pitches, the first of which we both found to be a little stiff for the grade. The second was more interesting, but someone had removed the hangers at the top. Since we had left all our gear at the bottom of the climb, instead of rappelling the route, we were forced to find a downclimbable way back to our packs. We did find a rubbly route down, but descending it wearing rock shoes was decidedly uncomfortable and awkward! I thought it to be the crux of the day.
 
Or was it? Now around 9 pm, getting back to the parking lot before dark became pressing. We had headlamps, but both were on battery life support! I resorted to using my phone to light way and we basically jogged down the entire trail, doing most it in the dark.
 
In retrospect, in order of difficulty: 1. The first pitch of the climb: 2. Descending the climbing route; 3. Descending the trail.
 
We will simply characterize this as an "interesting" day out!  

On the trail with Yamnuska ahead



Goat Mountain - two wickedly different ascents of that one: I, II



Pleasant views to the southwest



Dan hikes the trail at a brisk pace. We were racing the setting Sun throughout this trip



Looking up the first pitch



Representative of the angle of the first pitch



The sun is setting on the glorious west end of Mount Yamnuska and the last photo I took


The End

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