Mount St. Piran II
June 19,
2018
Mountain
height: 2649 m
Elevation
gain: 900 m
Ascent
time: 2:30
Descent
time: not long
Solo scramble.
This is one of many mountains I’ve always
wanted to repeat, but in the opposite season we initially completed it. Having
done a winter ascent of Piran in 2001 with Mark, a summer trip was in order. To
briefly sum up the highlights and lowlights of the trip:
Highlights:
1. Everything
Lowlights:
1. Nothing
The weather was perfect, the lake and mountain
scenery stunning throughout, and the alternate descent route via the
Piran/Niblock col an unexpected treat.
Not
wanting to waste a single minute of the
glorious weather, I then drove up to Peyto Lake to check out the
viewpoints
above the lake and then descend to the lakeshore. Again, this was
something I’ve
always wanted to do in summer and more delightful it could not have
been - even the 200 vertical metre grind back up to the viewpoint was
pleasant. Peyto
Lake is truly magnificent from both the birdseye and the lakeshore
vantage
points.
A perfect day!
The classic lakeshore view of Lake Louise
Left to right: Fairview, Victoria, Whyte, Niblock, St. Piran
Like Bow Lake, it is impossible to walk around Lake Louise without snapping a gajillion photos!
Two views of The Big Beehive. The left from Mirror Lake and the right the Lake Agnes trail
Speaking of photogenic lakes - Lake Agnes, with the Teahouse at the right
Mount Whyte and Devil's Thumb (left) are wicked backdrops for the lake
Pretty decent scenery on the way to Little Beehive
Maybe "pretty decent" is a little understated
The
spectacular quartet of Haddo, Aberdeen, Lefroy, and Victoria in the
background, with Big Beehive and Devil's Thumb in the foreground
Trigger happy yet again - good thing it's with a camera!
The route up St. Piran looks fairly straightforward from its base
Though small, in comparison to what surrounds it, The Mitre is an extremely attractive peak
Haddo and Aberdeen
It's straightforward alright - thanks to the awesome switchbacking trail
At a small col before the final push to the summit
Mount Daly - very high on my Kane scramble hit-list
The summit is a big plateau. Some wandering around is required to experience all the views
Nice view of Lefroy and Whyte
Losing a little elevation on the south side of Piran grants you a view
of all three lakes you visited en route (not to mention all the
seriously cool mountains)
Narao (an old favourite that took 3 grueling winter-like ascents to complete)
The very aesthetic form of Lefroy
Have never tried the famous SE ridge of Mount Victoria, but it looks so cool!
Canoes on Lake Louise
View to the northwest
Heading down to the Piran/Niblock col
Exquisite rock on the way
The scenic and steep part of the alternate descent route
Less steep but equally scenic
This valley is stunning.....
...and leads to the west end of Lake Agnes
Lake Louise is still photogenic!
Peyto Lake - another of the Canadian Rockies most photogenic and breath-taking lakes - how blessed we are!
The upper viewpoint grants an amazing view of the lake and reprieve from the hordes of people at the lower viewpoint
Almost down to the lakeshore
The lake is as colourful from the shore as it is from above. Looking north to Mount Weed and Silverhorn Mountain.
Looking southwest to the Wapta Icefield. Peyto Peak at the right.
Mounts Rhondda (left) and Habel
I was not the only one with this terrific destination on the brain
Heading back. Caldron Peak towers above the lake.
The lower viewpoint
The End
