| Ref: Andrew Nugara's More Scrambles in the Canadian
Rockies 2nd edition |
|
 |
|
|
Ascending Yamnuska Shoulder on
the well-used trail. |
| Scramble:
RT 9.5; 5.0 up. It's been a mild and dry winter, the Front Ranges were
quite dry until a storm brought 20 cm of snow to the Eastern Rockies.
We had planned to attempt the East Peak of Wendell on sunday but
decided to
wait a day for better road conditions and a much warmer day. The roads
were almost dry and the sun was shinning on Yamnuska monday morning. We
hiked on
frozen ground and snow as the temperature rose steadily. The delightful
trail led us to the shoulder of Yamnuska in a little over an hour. Once
on
the crest, at an opening, a subtle wooden sign points towards CMC
Valley. We didn't find the horse trail that heads down into CMC Valley
right away; like on our previous trip, we stumbled upon it. The
beginning of this trail is difficult to find with snow coverage as it
angles to the left (west) and traverses before heading down. In the
valley, we travelled on the southern aspect and
eventually picked up a
good trail that traverses below the impressive rockwalls. Shortly after
passing
some rock pinnacles, we rounded the corner and started climbing towards
the weakness in the rockwall. The short scramble leading to the slab
traverse was tricky as it was wet and icy; the rest of the scramble
to the summit ridge was straightforward. We enjoyed the trek on the
ridge, it was warm. We sat at the top for a good long break before
returning the same way. Instead of backtracking the initial icy bit, we
chose a scree line (see picture). The frozen scree had loosened and
granted a reasonable descent. Finding the trail back up Yamnuska was
really easy,
we just followed our track. We
carried on to the truck on a slushy trail, feeling happy about today. |
|
 |
|
Going down to CMC Valley on a
trail that is difficult to find.
|
|
 |
|
Crossing the creek to an old road
on the other side. |
|
 |
|
|
Leaving the old road to sidehill
on the sunny side. |
|
|
 |
|
|
On a good trail heading to some
pinnacles. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Continuing around the corner on
the trail. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Starting the ascent following a
trail up a scree slope. |
|
|
 |
|
|
We aimed for the weakness in the
rockband, in between the two large boulders (center).
|
|
|
 |
|
|
A bit tricky with wet, icy
sections. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Looking back at the crux. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Dry slab facilitates the traverse. |
|
|
 |
|
|
We continued towards the towering
upper wall. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Traversing below the wall. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Very pleasant summit ridge. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Reaching the top. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Wendell Mountain. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Fabrice and the southern view. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Heading back down. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Below the upper wall. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Descending in the scree. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Bypassing the initial scrambly
bit, notice the faint trail ahead. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Ascent in red and descent in
green. |
|
|
 |
|
|
The scree has loosened enough for
a good descent. |
|
|
 |
|
|
The snow is melting fast. |
|
|
 |
|
|
The pinnacles. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Backtracking in full sunshine. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Crossing the creek. |
| Back
to home page |
|
|