Crowsnest Mountain II
July 9, 2020
Mountain height: 2785 m
Total elevation gain: 1100 m
Ascent time: 2:20
Descent time: 1:20
Solo scramble.
5 days after a wonderful day on Sentry Mountain and Ostracized Peak, I was back in the area for another scramble. This time it would up iconic Crowsnest Mountain. Mark and I first scrambled up Crowsnest in 2004 and this return trip was long overdue. However, in retrospect I
should have waited for a perfectly cloud-free day.
The ascent was generally easy, up a well-worn trail,
thoroughly beaten into the scree and rubble. It was also replete with cool rock
scenery and therefore I should have been in my element. Unfortunately, as per
usual, the slightly hazy skies dampened any enthusiasm I had. The chain section
was pleasantly nostalgic and the hike to the summit not as laborious as I remembered.
Strangely, my lacklustre reaction to the whole
ascent lasted from top to bottom. I think I was hoping for a similar experience
to a failed attempt at Darrah S2, where the contrast of blue skies, green
vegetation, and grey rock was simply captivating. That was not going to happen
and so after a very short summit stay, I headed down.
Back at the chain, I was reminded of why this
mountain is best left to non-busy weekdays. The tight gully the chain descends
is a shooting gallery of loose rock. I wouldn’t want to be coming up it when others
are going down; nor would I go anywhere near this terrain without a helmet.
Not the triumphant return I was hoping for, but still a good day out. If
there’s ever a Crowsnest Mountain III, it WILL be on a perfect weather day!
One of the seven peaks of The Seven Sisters. This mountain is highly featured on any ascent of Crowsnest Mountain.
The impressive northwest side of Crowsnest
More of the Seven
Close-up
The mountain looks unassailable as a scramble from many vantage points
As much as I love Sun halos, they are caused by cirrus clouds and I generally prefer completely clear skies
The sheltered northwest side of the peak holds snow well into the summer
Closer to those impressive walls of rock, some with huge black
water streaks (left), caused by minerals in the water that runs down
Dirty snow
Black streak and part of the Sun halo
Many of the Seven
Lichen and the black streak
Hard to go the wrong way with route indicators like this one!
Beautiful green slopes and forest below The Seven Sisters
A very nostalgic detour over to a rock outcrop. We ran into a very
friendly, professional photographer there in 2004, who managed to get a
shot of us on the cover of the Travel Alberta magazine.
View from the outcrop
The key to the ascent is this gully, just right of centre
The obsession with The Sisters continues
The crux of the ascent. The chain can be seen at the lower right. This gully is much steeper than it looks.
The Sisters from above the crux
Easier terrain to the summit, but it's tedious at times
Good thing the Sisters are there to distract from the tedium
Deadman Peak in the distant centre
Turtle and Hillcrest mountains near the left
Minutes away from the top
Summit views:
The north end of the Flathead Range that features Ptolemy, Andy Good, Coulthard, Chinook, Parrish and many others
The Seven Sisters, of course!
Mount Tecumseh marks the south end of the High Rock Range
Closer look at Deadman Peak (left)
Racehorse Peak near the right and the north end of Mount Ward near the left
North of Racehorse Peak lie of string of unnamed summits
Distant, but massive Tornando Mountain in the centre
Closer look at Coulthard and company
Nice to see some colour at the top, even if it's not natural
A fellow scrambler ascends the chains section
Same as above. Rockfall in this section is a serious concern.
Enjoying the vertical walls prevalent on the mountain
Back to that outcrop
More vertical walls and interesting clouds
Cool rock
Dirty snow - Round 2
Clearer skies at the end of the day
Parting glance at The Seven Sister (left), with Crowsnest Mountain hiding behind a tree
The End
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