Mount Rowe V

Mount Rowe V

April 15, 2022

Mountain height: 2464 m
Elevation gain: 820 m
Round-trip time: 3:35

Solo snowshoe.

An unplanned and unexpected fifth ascent of Mount Rowe.

With socked-in weather conditions throughout the morning and early afternoon, I drove along the Akamina Parkway around 2:30 pm, in search of a short trip to get some exercise. Surprisingly, the weather started to improve as I set off on snowshoes towards Cameron Lake. The lake attempt was very short-lived. Given the favourable turn in the weather, I decided to start heading up the southeast side of Mount Rowe, following a ski track. I didn’t think the summit was a possibility, given a close to 3 pm start time, but gaining some elevation and a few decent views had more appeal than the mundane plod to Cameron Lake.

Again, to my surprise, the snow was in outstanding ascent condition – super firm and therefore no postholing or even minor sinking. This enabled me to head straight up the mountain, gaining elevation much faster than I expected. Suddenly, the summit of Rowe was actually a possibility. I couldn’t yet see the upper slopes and half expected them to be too steep to snowshoe, but such was not the case. There were a few steeper sections but nothing that a good pair of snowshoes couldn’t handle.

About 2.5 hours after leaving, I arrived at the summit. The view, while far from cloud-free, was nonetheless fantastic. Mid-April and it was still full-on winter in this part of Waterton. The almost effortless descent took barely an hour.

A great winter route up an old friend.

At the winter parking lot and ready to snowshoe to Cameron Lake

Bailing on Cameron Lake within two minutes. There's Mount Rowe.

Getting decent views in treed areas - results of the 2017 Kenow fire.

Looking over to the ridge on the other side of the drainage that bisects the south side of Rowe

Looking up and looking good

Still in the trees, but getting decent views across the valley

One of the steeper sections

First good view of Cameron Lake

Chapman Peak and Mount Custer sit above Cameron Lake, but are entirely in the United States

Five very cool peaks across the road: Buchanan Northeast, Buchanan, The Middle Child, Buchanan Ridge, Mount Carthew, and Carthew Minor

Close-up of Custer

Above treeline, the views are considerably better

Ruby Ridge and a chunk of Mount Lineham at the left

Looking down the route

Another steep section right before reaching the ridge

On the ridge, with the summit at the left

On the ridge, with the summit at the right

Looking north to the familiar highpoints on the connecting ridge north of Rowe

The first highpoint and "The Peak of Despair" at the right

Close-up of "The Peak of Despair". Distant Mount Festubert at the left

Summit view

The upper Rowe Lakes and Mount Lineham

Summit view to the north and northeast

Long Knife Peak

Mounts Kintla and Kinnerly, beyond Akamina Ridge

Chapman Peak

Akamina Ridge and Wall Lake

Forum Peak and Forum Lake

Mount Cleveland

Mount Carthew - did a fun ascent up the left side in 2021

Mount Crandell in the centre and Buchanan Northeast at the far right

Heading back along the ridge

At the end of the ridge, looking east to the northeast ascent ridge

Last view of Cameron Lake

Near the bottom. Our first ascent of Mount Rowe, way back in 2006 went up this drainage.

Stopping on the drive our to take in the way better than expected weather and view of Vimy Peak

A herd a deer and Mount Blakiston

The End

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