Avion Ridge exploration
(Goat Lake Peak attempt)
   


 
 
September 9, 2022
 
Highpoint:                2390 m
Total elevation gain: approximately 1000 m
Round-trip time:       5:50
 
Solo scramble.
 
Hazy skies from forest fire smoke usually dictates an experimental trip, where far-reaching views are not the focus. As such, I decided to bike/hike to Goat Lake and check out a potential route to a minor peak above the lake (I'll unofficially call it "Goat Lake Peak"). I had noticed a distinctive gully between rock buttresses that I thought might grant access to the ridge and peak above.
 
 
An easy bike and easy hike preceded my almost comical reaction upon seeing the gully - not sure how my brain had decided this route might go as a scramble, but unless I was conveniently bitten by a radioactive spider, no way was I going up this way! Instead, I chose to try a route just north of the gully. It had potential but also appeared to be quite steep near the top and would require a potentially exposed traverse to reach the ridge.
 
The route started well, however, as expected increased in severity higher up. I was soon ascending terrain that could be problematic on descent. Eventually, I reached a point where a long traverse across dangerously steep slopes above cliffbands would have been required. Already concerned about getting down, I bailed here and took a slightly different route towards the valley bottom. This line required some very careful and exposed downclimbing but was easier than the route I ascended.
 
What next? I wasn’t done with Avion yet. Even with the hazy skies, I had already been treated to plenty of colourful autumn scenery. Returning to the parking lot seemed premature. How about another route to get to that ridge?
 
Once onto easier terrain, I side-sloped the east face of the ridge until I could get above the cliffbands. Eventually I was able to side-slope back in the opposite direction above all the dangerous cliffs to reach the ridge I had originally set out to gain. Looking at my GPS track was as comical I as the earlier gully experience – looking like a really bad EKG!
 
Getting to the summit of the peak above the lake had long been written off. My crazy, circuitous route to the ridge had wiped me out both physically and mentally. I settled for a brief rest, before ascending to the highpoint of the ridge between Newman Peak and the true summit of Avion Ridge and then the long but easy hike back to the lake and out. Again, the fall colours were impressive and provided plenty of motivation for a return trip on a non-hazy day.
 
Overall, an exhilarating and exhausting day in a stunning area of Waterton. More than likely, I will return some day to further explore this ridge and peak.

The classic shot of Anderson Peak towering over the Red Rock Canyon parking lot



Last look at the moon before it disappears behind Anderson



Hiking the enjoyable Goat Lake trail. Goat Lake Peak is dead ahead.



The north side of Anderson



Goat again



The far southeast end of Newman Peak (and Newman Senior). There's an interesting and challenging scramble route to Newman up this way, but the route has never gained popularity.



A tree blocks some of the view of Anderson



Unofficial Kootenai Brown Peak and official Mount Bauerman to the right of Anderson



Goat Peak looks quite prominent on approach, but not so much once you are looking down on it from Avion Ridge



The significant highpoint between Newman Peak and the true summit of Avion Ridge - stunning and always worth a visit



Anderson gets framed by Newman and Goat



All of the above



Goat and the Avion outlier



Goat Lake and the objective (left)



There's the gully I initially intended to ascend - talk about wishful thinking!



The gully does look more manageable from a different angle. That's possibly the angle I was looking at on the previous trip.



Looking for other routes up to the ridge



Hiking around Goat Lake is always a treat



Lake reflection



Heading up. The intended route is up to the right to gain a bunch of elevation, then follow the trees going to the left.



The top rock layers of the ridge are magnificent and get lots of photo attention



...as do the colours of autumn



Goat Lake is soon to get alot smaller



Making good progress towards of upper rock bands



The goal is to get to the col near the left



It's getting more colourful but also steeper



Looking over to Newman Peak



This view was cause for concern, as I need to be near the upper right to continue the route



Super cool, but obviously not going that way



Newman Senior near the right



End of the line. The thought of traversing this slope made me shudder in ways humans should not shudder!



Trying to find an easier route down than the one I came up



Onto easier terrain. I probably should have descended all the way to the valley bottom, but decided to side-slope here.



Sometime later in a drainage far away



Looking over to where I will eventually be



Following the drainage until I find a place to start traversing left



The end of this valley is filled with amazing rock



The goal here is to get to the base of the upper rock band and traverse below it



Again, lots of great rock to keep me entertained











The upper rock band



There were a few gullies that could have been used to gain the ridge, but after the failed route, I was intent on not gaining elevation unnecessarily



A long side-sloping traverse ahead



Newman Peak keeps me company



Another section where I could have gained the ridge



Goat Lake returns to the view



Seconds away from reaching the ridge



Arrived. The ridge to the true summit of Avion at the right, King Edward and Starvation peaks at the left.



The summit of Avion Ridge



Hazy view into Montana. Kinnerly Peak to the left and Long Knife Peak to the right.



There's Goat Lake Peak



The aforementioned unpopular route up Newman looks insanely steep from this angle (but it's not)



All the red argillite helps to alleviate my exhaustion, at this point!



Descended to this point to get a good look at Goat Lake Peak, but had no delusions about making it to the summit



Sage Senior peaks over Avion Ridge at the right







View to the north from where I stopped



Clearly defined layer of smoke over Scarpe Mountain (just left of centre) and Jake Smith Peak (just right of centre)



Font Mountain can be done as a day trip from Waterton (but it's not a short one!)



Kenow and Miskwasini always get a look when in northwest Waterton



Pano from my endpoint, featuring Avion Ridge



The highpoint of Spionkop Ridge just left of centre - and speaking of forest fire smoke!



Even though I was very tired, it was impossible to resist an ascent of the highpoint between Avion and Newman. The view from the highpoint is fantastic, perhaps better than the view from the true summit.



View to the west



A better view of Kenow and Miskwasini



Castle Peak, Windsor Mountain, and Victoria Ridge to the north



Mount Matkin in the foreground



Sage Mountain in the foreground



Newman Senior and Mount Glendowan - yes, you can traverse from one to the other



Heading down



What a wonderful view this would be on a clear, haze-free day



Some green/grey argillite to go with your red



View down the Goat Lake valley



The trail from the col going down into the valley is obvious...



...but going directly down from the col is more scenic



Same as above



And again



Looking over to part of my ascent route



Easy hike down the valley



Back at Goat Lake, looking somewhat drab compared to the morning view



Same for the north side of Anderson - a combination of the smoke and the position of the Sun



The chaotic GPS track I recorded. I started recording about halfway up the slope (the red dot), northwest of Goat Lake. The track at the lower left was recorded three weeks later on another failed, but unbelievably scenic attempt.

The End

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