Mount Rowe

Mount Rowe – July 30, 2006

Mountain height:
Rowe: 2469 m
GR136374: 2512 m

Total Elevation gain: 880 m

Ascent time: 2:30
Roundtrip time to GR136374: 1:15
Descent time: 2:00

Scrambling with Mark.

After a 14+ hour day on Vimy Peak and Ridge, 10 hours earlier, we needed something short and direct. Careful scrutiny of the Waterton map, revealed that a direct assault of Mount Rowe from the Akamina Parkway was one of the shortest trips and involved only 800 metres of elevation gain.

Driving alongside the mountain, Mark spotted a dried-up drainage, just after the winter gates, and we choose this is an ascent route. Good choice, Mark – it was short, entertaining, colourful, and direct. From the main drainage, we skipped into another one, which went directly to the summit. The moderate scrambling up the drainage was enjoyable, if not terribly challenging. It was quite overcast at the top and so we both tried to take a nap, given a restless night of sleep.

After a 45 minute rest, we continued west along the ridge to the next highpoint at GR136374, on the sound advice of Linda Breton. This was a fantastic extension of the trip, as it gave the skies a chance to clear a little, revealing wonderfully colourful views of Hawkins, Blakiston, Lineham and its western outlier, and Mount Festubert to the northwest. The Upper Rowe Lakes completed a magnificent panorama.

On descent, we took an alternate route down the very enjoyable east ridge, and to a col. The ridge then ascended to another highpoint – one that I simply could not pass on. I ran up, took a few pictures and ran back down (13 minutes roundtrip!). It really wasn’t that good of an extension, but I’m glad I went to find out for myself. The remainder of the descent was very easy and Mark commented how nice it was to return to the car and not feel like you had just given birth to quadruplets! A terrific little trip with tons of room to extend the day.