“Corona Extra”
July 12, 2022
Mountain height: 2810 m
Elevation gain: 1150
m
Round-trip
time: 10:05
Solo scramble.
Move over Spreading
Ridge and make room for Corona Extra!
A recent ascent
of Spreading Ridge reignited my interest in the stunning area of the Canadian
Rockies around Mount Murchison. Although South Totem Peak and Spreading Peak
would be the next logical objective, I wanted to save those for a day when Mark
was available to join me. However, I did recall seeing some photos by Calvin Damen
from a nearby unnamed peak at the head of Totem Creek. 
I would find out,
several days after the trip, that Doug Lutz had also ascended this peak and
unofficially named it “Corona Extra”, given that the peak is connected to
Corona Ridge. And that's the name I’m going with.
Back to Calvin. I
did two trips with Calvin way back in 2008 and I cannot rave enough
about the character of the man – humble, soft-spoken, and a class act in every
way (much like Doug). Calvin is also known for his super adventurous treks,
often picking unknown and obscure objectives in favour of the more traditional
ones. I check his webpage regularly to see what he’s been up to.
Onto the trip.
Firstly, this peak is not for the faint of heart! It starts with a good trail,
paralleling Totem Creek on its north side, but when that trail ends so does any
semblance of good footing for the remainder of the trip. The trail is well
marked with flagging and generally quite easy to follow. Admittedly, I was a
little uncomfortable hiking it solo. The trail is sometimes very close to the
raging and noisy creek. I yelled as loud as I could throughout to warn any
bears in the area but knew my screaming would be drowned out by the creek.
I was quite
relived to exit the forested area and arrive at more open slopes above the
creek. Although Graeme Pole’s hilarious statement, “Adjust your
left leg so that it is shorter than the right by about 15 cm - that's how much
side-hilling there is on this ascent,” refers to the once trail-less initial
part of the trip, it very much applies to the next section. Travel for the
several kilometres or so is never awful, but it is slow and tedious. There is
too much bush near the creek so you must stay high on the loose, rubbly slopes.
Thankfully, the awesome scenery all around helps to alleviate some of the
tedium. As soon I as saw an opportunity
to descend to the creek I did so and was rewarded with some incredible
waterfall scenery – as stated the creek was raging!
Already thoroughly impressed and satiated with
the amazing scenery, I wasn’t quite ready for what sat above. Atop the
waterfall was a colourful glacial pond that I thought was pretty darn cool – that
was until I saw lake that was feeding the glacial pond. The unnamed lake was
absolutely stunning – a turquoise oasis, surrounded by light forest, several of
the striking Murchison Towers, and Totem Tower – definitely one of the most
idyllic bodies of water I’ve ever seen. I took my first break here to take it
all in.
Although I would have loved to explore the left
side of the lake, doing so would have required several ups and downs and lots
of extra time – time I felt I didn’t have. Therefore, I forded the lake outlet
and hiked around the easy right side. More good news: the stunning lake I had
just visited was being fed by a larger lake, higher up the valley. Another
scenic jaunt, following the creek ensued and soon I was at the second lake,
often referred to as Totem Lake. Though not quite as breath-taking as the
first, Totem Lake still provided outstanding scenery.
Beyond the lake, the remainder of the ascent
went without a hitch. Views throughout were utterly engrossing. Given the relatively
flat and expansive nature of the summit, the best way to thoroughly see the surroundings was
to walk around the perimeter. The walk granted outstanding views of Corona
Ridge, the complex array of Murchison and its towers, and a host of unnamed but
impressive peaks and ridges in the immediate vicinity. It also led to a
different descent route off the peak boasting much of the same in terms of views
and also some terrific cornice scenery.
The remainder of the descent was slow at first,
as I naturally had to retake all the photos I had taken on ascent with the Sun
now in a different position in the sky! Once back on the trail, my speed and motivation
to finish increased.
I’ve said it multiple times over the years, and
I’ll inevitably say it again: “very simply, one of the best trips I’ve ever done”.
Huge shout-out to Calvin for paving the way.
The start: Totem Creek and Bison Peak
Mount Chephren is going to be the center of attention through much of the trip
The first thing you see after existing the forested section
Looking over to Spreading Ridge (right), the outlier I tried to ascend
(middle), and the bigger outlier that I doubt any human has stood upon
(left)
Remarkable rock all around
Crossing one of several creeks coming down from Bison Peak
The route ahead
A spectacular waterfall off Bison surrounding by spectacular rock
Close-up of the waterfall and a face of some type in the rock to the right - looks like an alien from Star Trek or Star Wars
Pano of the rock wall on the south side of Bison
Howse Peak joins Chephren
A big rock joins them both
Another magnificent waterfall
A steep but easy rubble gully leads to even better views of the waterfall
Lots of cool, eroded rock to keep you entertained
Looking back through the walls of the gully
More cool rock, the waterfall, and the first good look at Totem Tower
Better view of the waterfall
This wasn't bad either
Above the waterfall sits a small glacial pond
One of the more striking of the Murchison Towers
The glacial pond and Totem Tower
Same as above with a bunch of the Murchison Towers thrown in
Looking back to Chephren and Howse once again
The stream that connects the glacial pond to....
...this. Approaching the prize of the trip.
Pond at the left and the lake at the right
That striking tower again
One of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen
Same as above
Big, random chunk of snow/ice on the right side of the lake
There'll be even more looking back now!
The road ahead
Yep!
More idyllic scenery along the creek that connects the smaller lake to the bigger one that's coming up
Another outlier/tower
The terrain steepens and the creek gets more dramatic
A huge chunk of this snow must have broken off into the creek recently
Same as above with our two favourites
It's definitely long exposure photo time!
Same as above
Another small pond precedes the really big guy
The pond and another tower
White Pyramid (behind Chephren) makes a cameo appearance
Totem Lake
Still a few icebergs in the lake. That one looks like Greenland!
Saying goodbye to Totem Lake for now
Towers and the remains of mighty glaciers
The ascent route up Corona Extra is a little tedious, but otherwise benign
First good view over the other side of the Totem Tower/Corona Extra col
Totem Tower is not for the faint of heart. It's way above my pay grade!
Totem Tower and other towers
In retrospect, I should have attempted to scramble up to the ridge at
the left - it may be offered a view of both the lakes I had just
visited.
Towers, towers, towers! I should really research their individual names.
The two summits of Mount Murchison. The one in the centre (southeast summit) is the true summit.
Close-up of the Murchison summits
Unnamed ridge to the north
Corona Ridge joins in at the right
Summit view to the north. Corona Ridge (left) and Marmota Peak (right) are the dominant mountains
Unnamed and Corona
Corona Ridge
Marmota Peak
Some big cornices still hanging onto life on the north side
Same as above
Distant Mount Hector
Views while descending the north and east aspects of Extra
Same as above
And again. This was one of my favourite views of the day.
Totem Totem is still the center of attention, but the cornice at the left certainly caught my eye
That one
A splash of colour farther down the ridge
Still fixated on Corona Ridge
Nice contrast of rock colours
Last look at Corona and company
Heading back and still awed by Totem Tower
Following my footsteps in the snow back
Parting look at Totem Lake
Back to the interesting snow section
Parting look at the stream that connects the major lakes
Back at the first lake for Round 2 of "excessive photography"!
Such a cool colour
Regrettably leaving
Checking out the waterfalls again
Same as above
Same as above
The wind picked up and the spray from this waterfall was actually blowing back up
Totem Tower (left ) and South Totem Peak
Hello to Howse and Chepren again
Back at the road
The End
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