| Ref: Eric
Coulthart in the Canadian Rockies |
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The key is finding
the way to the upper draw. |
| Scramble:
RT 9.5; 4.25 up. This trip is a must, we enjoyed it from start to end!
The view from the top is magnificent and the scrambling is
straightforward. The key is to find the right drainage and path through
some rockbands in order the gain the upper draw. After parking at a
crescent (slightly past the campground overflow), we walked up
the highway (north) for about 300 meters to the proper drainage,
287394. Fab built
a cairn and there is a culvert. We followed the creek on the left side.
As we climbed, we progressively got higher above the creek but we
remained near the canyon's edge. Upon reaching the rockbands, we
decided
to skirt them to an easier option to the left. We found a weakness in
the
beige rockband and proceeded to ascend the following gray bluffs going
climber's right. Back on gentler terrain, we veered back towards the
proper drainage's edge. We liked the hiking to
treeline and it only gets better nearing the draw. A lovely
meadow makes way to the rocky basin and spanning headwall. The way
around the headwall is obvious, climber's left up a scree
slope
and across the mountainside towards the summit ridge (a distinctively
huge boulder marks
the traverse). From there, the summit block is very close. We ascended
on snow towards the crux gully, with crampons going was good. The gully
was easy with snow and we quickly reached the summit. We were amazed at
both the view and the weather. Once again we were blessed with an
awesome summit stay. But, all good things come to an end... We left the
top to
face the eventual drive back home. Returning was fast, glissading the
whole upper mountain. Even the scree slope down to the basin was sweet
but much too short. We couldn't resist another break at the meadow and
a side trip to the base of a waterfall. This was a fine day in the
mountains. |
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A small cairn and a
culvert indicate the ascent drainage. |
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We skirted the
rockbands to the left and found a weakness to easily ascend. |
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Ascending the beige
rockband right of the outcrop. |
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Making our way
through the following gray bluffs. |
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Along the way, a
superb waterfall comes into view. |
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Looking back at
Mistaya Lake. |
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The upper draw. |
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Nearing the basin
and headwall. |
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Mount Noyes above
the headwall, the scree slope is to the left. |
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The scree slope. |
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Near the top of the
scree slope, we head for the distinctively huge boulder. |
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The distinctive
boulder. |
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Welcome to the upper
mountain. |
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Travel on snow is
good. |
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Close to the summit
block. |
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At the crux gully. |
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Climbing the gully. |
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Looking
back again, Barbette and Breaker Mountains to the south-west. |
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A couple of minutes
away from the top. |
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I bust a move on
Noyes! |
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Mount Weed and Peyto
Lake to the right. |
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Unfamiliar mountains
towards the David Thompson Highway. |
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Heading down the
gully. |
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Stepping away from
loose moving snow.
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Traversing back to
the huge boulder. |
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At the top of a fine
scree run to the basin below. |
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Lovely meadow with
an exceptional view of Howse, White Pyramid and Chephren. |
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This waterfall is
worth a little detour. |
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Above the weakness
in the beige rockband. |
| Back
to home page |
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