Rowe East Minor II
November 3, 2025
Mountain height: 2230 m
Elevation gain: 615 m
Ascent time: 2:05
Descent time: 2:00
Solo scramble.
Unlike the
previous day, where clear skies were forecast but never materialized, this day
was forecast to be miserable and it was – almost!
After driving
the length of the Akamina Parkway (up to the road closure), I decided on an
experimental route up the southeast side of Mount Rowe. 
I wanted to try to get
to a point on the east ridge, east of Rowe East Minor.
Starting from
the road I went straight up, trying to stay to the right as much as possible.
Once some elevation was gained, the colourful rock that is a feature of every
peak in Waterton, started to appear. Of course, the dreary weather put a damper
on things, but that was the expectation. Higher up, staying right became increasingly
difficult, a rock band of significant steepness preventing progress. Checking
my location, I seemed to be heading for Rowe East Minor, though by a very
different route than my first ascent.
Eventually I
did top out on the ridge. The terrain looked very familiar – I was in fact near
the summit of Minor. I did extend the day by heading east as far as
possible, but vertical terrain soon stopped me. Heading back to the summit, the
weather did start to improve slightly. This was a pleasant surprise and I went
back to the eastern edge to capture some pretty cool views of yellow lichen on red rock.
For descent, I
planned to go down the avalanche gully I had used on the previous trip. However, I
should have checked my location more thoroughly, as I ended up on a very
similar but different slope. This one was steeper and covered in icy sections. Eventually
I was forced back to a route near my ascent track – not really a bad thing.
A fun day of
exploration on a peak that offers lots of opportunities to explore with tons of cool rock.
Near the start of the route and there is already some red argillite
Birds in the trees - a foreshadowing of an event later in the day
The route ahead doesn't look like much from here, but it's full of excitement!
Another random red boulder
I would have liked to be on that slopes to the east, but getting over there would have been very challenging
The first of many colourful rock bands
From a different angle
The second
Cameron Lake and Mount Custer
Looking down the valley. The west ridge route up Mount Crandell is visible.
Increasing amounts of snow and ice
Cameron, Custer, and a tree
More rock that I'd like to see on a clear day
Colourful rock and the road
This ripple rock got lots of attention
Same as above
Hopes of getting over to that ridge are quickly fading
The ripple rock, the three Buchanans, and Mount Carthew
Close-up of some of the descent route from The Senator IV
Tree time
Ditto
Round 2 of striking oxidized rock
No way am I crossing that snow slope. The east ridge will have to wait.
Going around the left side instead
Icicles start to appear
Experiencing deja vu on the east ridge on Rowe East Minor
Rowe East to the west
Mount Blakiston to the north
Descending the east ridge
The clouds are now consuming Mount Custer
Seeing The Peak of Despair (just right of centre) always makes me laugh
Yellow lichen on red rock - a perennial favourite!
Buchanan Ridge (left) and Mount Carthew
The yellow lichen might have been the scenic highlight of the trip were it not for the cloudy skies
This overhang of rock at the left was pretty cool too
View to the east from my turn-around point
View to the west
Close up of Rowe East
Impressive rock band on the ridge
Clouds creeping over Forum Peak
Some orange lichen to compliment the yellow
Heading back
Mount Lineham at the left looking a little less impressive than on this late spring day
Returning to the yellow sighting, with slightly improving weather
Best view of it
Bigger view of it
The two summits of Ruby Ridge, just right of centre and far right
All of the above
The Rowe Lakes valley below
Heading back again
It's a scenic traverse, especially when snowy
Lineham under clearer skies
Bluer skies means the search for colourful rock will go into overdrive
The red of Ruby's fantastic east peak is starting to show
The Sun's rays hit the top of a lone, yellow larch
Looking back along the east ridge
Might as well traverse west as far as possible
Again, it's a scenic and interesting traverse...
...but will likely end at that rock band
Some easy scramble moves at the right
Buchanan NE and The Senator and some red argillite, finally lit up by the Sun
Impressive view of Rowe East
Getting cloudier over Cameron Lake
End of the line going west
No matter - it looks like I will be distracted by some neat rock for the time being, as I start to descend
Colourful and geometrically pleasing
Umpteen photos of colourful, awesome rock
Looking over to my ascent route
Back to awesome distractions
Looking up to Rowe East and wondering if a full traverse is possible
A surprisingly snowy section
The descent route that is not going to work. The slopes below are steep and covered in ice.
They may look like human footprints but they are in fact bear pawprints
Encountering that icy terrain
Same as above
Descending alongside this rock band looked tempting but it too was very icy
This kind of icy
But of course it's beautiful to look at
Moving away from the rock band and noticing a small bird
Look like I'm heading left, back towards my ascent route. Two more
small birds at the top. At this point a huge flock of birds took
flight, whizzing by me at incredible speeds.
Birds at the left
One in front of the cloud
One in front of the tree
Back to admiring the rock and ice scenery
The end of the ice, but the slope still has lots of rock to check out
And some tree stumps
Looking back up
Close-up of that icy gully that was too tricky to descend
Another random block of argillite
Besides the birds, the only other wildlife I saw all day. Glad I didn't see the bear!
Not the only fallen trees though. They will be many more to fall in the near future as a result of the 2017 Kenow fire.
The pleasant cascade scenery near the parking area
Parting look at the general route. I got to the highpoint just right of centre. Rowe East is just left of centre.
The End
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