Mt Fullerton scrambl'n

Today the world is white, our first big dump of snow for the year. But yesterday it was a different story...

Fantastic day on the rocks. More on Zenfolio

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Memorial Lakes

October 03, 2009 | Memorial Lakes (Kananaskis, AB) 2212m | 16 km | 750m gain

This hike has been on my mind for probably close to ten years. Last year looking down on it from Mt. Sparrowhawk just threw a little more coal on the fire. Bogart tower is center with the second & third lakes visible in this shot from that scramble. Owing to poor visiblity I plan to go back one day & hopefully scramble Bogart Tower. It was still a stellar day with the fresh snow soaking us to the gills.
A lovely day for a hike!


The first lake with Bogart Tower in the background. I actually took this shot on the way back because we paused for a break & I was able to dig out my wide angle lens.
Bogart Tower from more or less the high point between the second & third lake. When I proposed this hike the plan was to scramble the tower but too slick today.
The gang looking down on the second lake. Already discussing various food items & good things to put Bailey's in. Mmmmm!

The third was basically dry so we did not descend to the memorial cairn.
An excellent day out. I rate it as a scramble due to the slippery footing. The pitch to the third lake was challenging.

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Mt Tyrwhitt & Pocaterra Ridge

Sept 27, 2009 | Mt. Tyrwhitt 2874m | Pocaterra Ridge (first bump) 2670m (Kananaskis AB)| 13.0km | 1335m gain.

A solo outing with three things in mind. 1)Larchy-goodness 2)Sustained maximum sustainable exertion (aka exercise) 3)The elusive Mt. Tyrwhitt.

First view of Mt. Tyrwhitt from Pocaterra Cirque. Almost out of the trees... getting tired of yelling YO BEAR. (first up the trail on the day)
A zoom of natural arch. One of the intriguing things about this mountain. & when I say 'elusive' it's only because I've planned to do this in larch season for a few years now & seen it on several occasions thru this summers neighboring scrambles.
Pocaterra ridge (right), the second objective for the day. While Tyrwhitt was scrambling loose scree & hands on rock with crappy handholds (physically challenging & technically tedious) Pocaterra ridge was the cardo on the day... plow on.
At the arch, pretty cool eh? I just about went right over top of it before realizing I was there already (following the ridge rather than the scree treadmill option)
One member of a group coming up behind me posing on top.
The brown bump middle left is Pocaterra Ridge, the high point on the right is Mt. Rae, about a third of the way from the left is Tombstone South.
Upper & Lower Kananaskis Lakes.
Looking back from the cirque.
Tyrwhitt from Pocaterra Ridge.
My favorite Larchy-goodness shot of the day.

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Pyramid Lake & Peak

Sept 20, 2009 | Pyramid Lake, Pyramid Peak (Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho Selkirks) 2242m | +-12km | +-600m gain

Jumping the border into Idaho for this hike was a great idea. My sister joined me & she kept up pretty good despite her short legs ;-) When I say 'joined me' I was pretty much at her mercy with no map, only a description of the hike to the lake & a general idea of how to summit Pyramid Peak. Straightforward enough though as these things go.
Huckleberries!!!

There was also a ton of beargrass ... I'd love to come back here in June/July.
We attained the ridge circling south of the lake then circled around the ridge up & down until eventually reaching Pyramid Peak (center right). Supposedly this peak is visible from Creston.

Pyramid peak far right.
A wind blasted pine I thought was worthy of the 'Hardrocker' preset.
I found a trip report online after the trip which names some of the peaks. This one is supposedly 'Chimney Rock'.
& this one refered to as 'Lions Head'.
On the summit. 360 degree views.
Some wee boulders on the descent.
Bushwhack back to the main trail.

It was 2:30 am before I got home... had to have a nap part way. A Peanut Buster Parfait & Mountain Dew will only get you so far it seems...

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Helen Lake, Cirque Peak

Sept 17, 2009 | Helen Lake 2372m, Cirque Peak (Banff NP) 2993m | 18.5km | 1050m gain.

Cirque Peak reflected in Helen Lake. NE of Bow Lake on the Icefields parkway (Hwy 93). One of my premier hikes/scrambles of 2009. One of the hardest to narrow down the photos from at any rate.
If you open this shot full size you'll see two figures. They became my improptu hiking partners for a short while after I spotted a grizzly bear digging in the cirque just short of Helen Lake. Besides a large group of Japanese tourists they were the only other hikers I saw that day.

Once up a little higher from the cirque I was able to watch the mother grizzly with her two cubs running circles around her playing. A rare treat & thankfully it was thru my binoculars.
Dolomite Peak
Cirque Peak kept cycling in & out of the clouds. I decided to attempt regardless & was glad I did. I got chased off prematurely by a thunderstorm but had good views while I was there & it didn't begin to rain until I was almost back down to Helen Lake.
Part way up Cirque Peak I met the second half of the Japanese group. The first had better english & warning of the bear seemed to go ok. With this group I had to finally pull my bearspray & show them the picture of the bear on it & point to the cirque. THEN they got excited.

They were quite concerned for my welfare. Pointing at the peak they said "Very cold, very cold." then looked pointedly at my legs. Must have though I was nuts to be wearing shorts. We parted ways each amused in our own way from the encounter.

I love days like this for shoot'n. The clouds add so much to the drama of the scene.

Dolomite Peak again. Cool looking mountain.

I recall thinking "I should be at my desk right now" & then laughing manically.

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Castle Mountain

Sept 5, 2009. Castle Mountain (Banff NP). 2766m. 26.2km. 1400m gain.

This first shot is of Eiesenhower Peak reflected in Tower Lake.

I didn't take the classic photo from hwy 1 so you can click here for more info as it is an easily recognizable peak from the highway. We summited from the cirque behind the peak.
Rockbound Lake from summit.
Spot the ptarmigan (there are two).
A rather unique experience was hearing music from the summit and later once further down in the bowl it turned out to be a man from France playing an Alpenhorn at the lake. Great location for it as the notes were echoing off the vertical rock walls around the lake. Made for a very cool effect.
A great (albiet long) day in the mountains.

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Tombstone Mountain South

Aug 23, 2009. Tombstone Mountain South. 3035m. 17.6km. 1020m gain.

A moderate scramble with Eric with some fine views of the portion of Kananaskis country accessed up the valley from Elbow Lake off Hwy 40.

Eric with Mount Rae and the Rae glacier in the background.
Eric on some friction slabs.
Approaching the false summit.
View across to true summit.


Looking down on Tombstone Lakes.
Eric downclimbing from the summit.

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