Mountain height:
2998 m
Elevation gain: 1325
m
Ascent time:
4:35
Descent time:
3:05
Scrambling with Jodi.
Mark and I failed to reach the
summit of this popular peak 3 years ago. Winter conditions rendered the terrain
too dangerous and we backed down 200 vertical metres from the summit. Of course,
those winter conditions also made for some outstanding scenery that one is not
afforded in the summer. With more favourable travel conditions (but less
favourable scenery conditions), I returned to the mountain with Jodi. Three days
earlier Jodi and I enjoyed (?) a somewhat hair-raising attempt on
The hike to the Cascade Amphitheatre was about all the “sedate” I could handle for the day – 6.6 km of hiking up endless switchbacks while being molested by mosquitoes. Thankfully, the pests disappeared as we gained elevation. The trip dramatically improved upon gaining the ridge and the scenery was very pleasant – not the letdown I was half expecting. The only challenge of the day was getting around the false summit. Remaining snow did render it a tad exposed and since we had a rope with us, we decided to set up a belay. The traverse looked worse than it really was and quickly we were on the final rubble slog to the summit.
The view from the top was
excellent, especially towards vast
Jodi gains the ridge; the summit is to the left
Mount Louis in the centre
The upper part of the route
A similar vantage point from our first attempt in April of 2004
A well worn trail takes you all the way there
Getting around the false summit
Remaining snow
The view to the summit from halfway around the false summit
Jodi comes around the trickiest part of the trip
Preparing for the final slog
Looking back at the false summit
Jodi takes the last few steps to the summit
Lake Minnewanka
Back at the traverse around the left side of the false summit
The easy hike back