| Ref: Drew
and Mark in the Canadian Rockies. |
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Above bluffs on
Wasootch Trail, at some point we veered off the trail towards the
drainage and
followed the creekbed. |
| Scramble: RT
6.5; 3.25 up. When Fab and I left Golden
for K-Country, we intended to go visit Mount Kidd South for another
possible glissade. Upon reaching the parking lot, we got a
surprise; a seasonal closure sign for the Galatea Trail is in effect.
We realize we should have checked... Usually, we don't have a plan B,
but I happened to be aware of some scrambles we had not done in the
near vicinity. Mary Barclay came to mind; the only problem
was, we didn't have our bikes and that meant fording the Kananaskis
River that is raging at the moment. We drove and parked at a pullover
next to the river. We geared up and took our sandals and tape just in
case we decided to cross. We walked along the wide river, the water was
deep and fast flowing... no way man... After about 45 minutes, we gave
up on the idea. I don't think we've ever had a plan C, until now! I
suggested Kananaskis Peak to Fab in a last ditch effort. The problem
was, I wasn't sure how to get there. I remembered tracing the route on
the topo map a while ago. We checked the map and sure enough, there it
was, a line up a drainage to a peak I labeled. We drove off to our
third trailhead. We decided to follow the trail for Wasootch Peak (G8
Summit) for a
while before veering towards the ascent drainage. We missed a trail
that beelines to the creekbed lower down but still managed an easy
traverse avoiding bluffs. We found a faint trail on the north side of
the creek and we continued up the draw to the far gully. In the gully,
avalanche
debris provided pleasant climbing and quick height gain. On the way
up, we weren't sure where the summit was; left, along a difficult ridge
or beyond the visible highpoint on the right. We reached the
saddle and proceeded to go up the highpoint climber's right. We
noticed someone standing at the top. In short time, we met the fellow
who had come up a different way; we conversed a
little and aimed our attention on the true summit (more distinguishable
from here). Fab pointed out a trail in the scree leading to the narrow
ridge and cairn. Although the top is just a short distance from the
saddle, the scrambling is exciting; I crouched down on a narrow section
of the ridge. At the top, familiar views
over the Foothills unfold. The weather was still fine; we enjoyed a
good summit stay with Al, a 70- year old mountain goat. I was glad it
wasn't raining yet, thick clouds to the west seemed to be coming down
though. On descent, I focused on my footing and made it down the crux
surprisingly well, we paused again at the saddle while Al continued on
his way. Well rested after a nice break sheltered from the wind, we
resumed our quick descent back to the creekbed. Of course, we glissaded
on the snow, that's always a hoot!!! We picked up the faint trail
and followed it to
where it meets with the main trail. Travelling
along the
creekbed wasn't bad and we came across bedrock and a nice waterfall.
I'm quite amazed with today's outcome; I must admit that earlier,
things weren't lookin' up! |
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The back of the draw. |
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Awesome conditions
for a quick ascent up the
gully (left). |
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Higher up, using
rock strata.
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Almost at the saddle. |
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At the saddle with
Wasootch Peak (G8 Summit) on the
left. |
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Maybe that's the
summit? |
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Maybe the summit is
beyond this hightpoint? |
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At the hightpoint,
we get a fine view towards Nakiska. |
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A fellow is at the
top, he came up a different way. |
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From here, the
summit cairn is distinguishable on the
other side. |
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Making our way to
the true summit. |
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On the ridge crest,
the cairn is just ahead. |
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Going over an
exposed section. |
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At the top, Al is
pointing out a bunch of summits and ridge walks. |
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Fabrice and I. |
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I'm scooting down
the airy bit. |
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A fine scree run to
the snow gully. |
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Glissading the rest
of the way down. |
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Back in the creekbed. |
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We came upon this
lovely waterfall. |
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Getting back on the
main trail. |
| Back
to home page |
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