Peak 466270 (northern outlier of Mount Glasgow)
October 29, 2011
Mountain
height: 2463 m
Elevation gain:
914 m
Roundtrip time: 6:30
Solo
scramble.
This
is a terrific little trip in Daffern’s new Volume 2 of the Kananaskis
Country
Trail Guide (Elbow
area).
I
actually had delusions of making a second run at Mount Cornwall, after
seeing
So’s recent trip report (where he and company did the entire 4-peak
traverse),
but dismissed the Cornwall idea before even leaving the house. A
relatively
sedentary September and October had me feeling somewhat
“couch-potatoish” and
the almost 1400 m of elevation gain was not at all appealing; how life
changes
– there were times when the number 1400 wouldn’t even make me blink! As
well, I
was far less optimistic than Environment Canada’s and The Weather
Network’s
prediction of perfect weather for Kananaskis (the big wall of cloud
zooming in
from the west depicted on the satellite photo was but a small hint!) -
front
range seemed to be the best choice on the menu.
Even
with the downgrading, I hoped to complete a pleasant loop route, as
suggested
by Daffern, taking in the two northern outliers of Mount Glasgow.
The
first outlier was quite a treat – easy route-finding and easy travel,
first
along the equestrian trail on the south side of the Little Elbow River,
followed by a scenic ascent up the east ridge. Only a nagging headache
put a
damper on the ascent – that and a vicious wind chill. I was fully
prepared for
the cold, but the headache got worse and worse as I reached the summit
at
GR466270. The highlight of the ascent cropped up in the form of three
small,
very photogenic fins of rock, about three-quarters of the way up. Also
of
interest was the fact that the ridge appeared to drop off a couple of
times but
never did – flashbacks of the Cornwall attempt!
After
a few summit photos and a long break behind a rock outcrop, to get out
of the
wind, I decided to call it a day. The traverse to the higher summit
looked so
inviting, however I was in no physical condition to make the attempt.
Reluctantly I turned around, retracing my steps down the peak. The day
ended
with some cool cloud scenery over Glasgow and the outliers.
Besides
the annoying headache, a very enjoyable trip.
Mount Glasgow (left) and its northern outliers; 466270 lies at the right
Morning clouds over Mount Remus (left) and Fisher Peak
Fisher Peak
Nihahi Ridge
A closer look at Nihahi
At the first highpoint, looking to the false summit of 466270 at the right
Glasgow peaks over the other northern outlier
Mount Remus
Approaching the rock fins
The first one
All three
Same as above
Atop the false summit looking towards the snowy true summit, just left of centre
Romulus, Remus, and Fisher
Cliffbands on the northwest side of 466270
One section where it appeared the ridge would reach a drop-off
The summit
Same as above, with the traverse to the higher outlier at the left
A closer look at the traverse and outlier
Same as above from the near the summit of 466270
The summit view to the west
The Twins and Fisher again
The east sides of several Opal Range peaks; The Blade, Blane, Brock, and Hood are visible
Looking down the ascent route
To the south lie Threepoint Mountain (left), Mount Rose (low peak in the centre), and Bluerock Mountain (right)
Nihahi Ridge as seen on the way down
The pleasant environs of the Little Elbow River
Clouds form over Glasgow and company
Same as above
