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Pika Peak

Home » Mountains » Banff National Park
Published by vdewit on April 29th, 2009
Trip Details
Trip Activity: 
Scramble
Attained Summit?: 
Yes
Location: 
Banff National Park
Trip Date: 
September 6, 2005
Summit Elevation: 
3,033m
Summit Elevation (ft): 
9,950ft
Related Content
Interesting Facts: 
(info from peakfinder.com) Named in 1928. The mountain is named after the small "rock rabbit" which lives in the alpine area. Official name. First ascended in 1911 by L.L. Delafield, L.M. Earle, guided by Rudolph Aemmer, Edward Feuz jr.. Journal reference CAJ 4-142.  
Related Trips: 
Anthozoan Mountain
Brachiopod Mountain
Ptarmigan Peak
Richardson, Mount

Trip Report

Jon and I woke up early on September 6 2005 to clear skies and started up the trail to Hidden Lake and the slopes of Pika Peak. Pika is the most difficult of the 'Kane' Skoki scrambles and we both wondered what we were in for! We were a bit stiff from scrambling Richardson and Ptarmigan the day before but after 20 minutes on the trail we were starting to warm up.

Once we got to Hidden Lake we briefly considered going partly around the lake before heading up to Pika but quickly dismissed this notion because we didn't know if there was a path through the cliff bands between Ptarmigan and Pika. Good thing we made this choice! We chose the upper side slope between Ptarmigan and Pika and actually followed a faint trail most of the way. We stayed up high, near the base of the cliffs and it always seemed to work out. The scree was frozen solid which made some of the traverses interesting.

Eventually we made it to the Richardson / Pika col and started up the 'tough stuff'. It really wasn't that bad at all - I would rate it as moderate / difficult. Near the top it was quite exposed and with some light dustings of snow we had to be very careful but again nothing you wouldn't expect on a difficult scramble. The views were absolutely stunning in every direction under the clear morning skies and we stayed at the summit for an extra few minutes just soaking it all in.

Then it was time to head back to pack up camp and move on to our Baker Lake campsite and scramble our next two objectives for the day, Anthozoan and Brachiopod mountains.

My favorite Skoki scramble, I highly recommend Pika Peak.

A picture of the slopes to Pika Peak from Hidden Lake meadows (Jon Pic).
A picture of the slopes to Pika Peak from Hidden Lake meadows (Jon Pic).
Vern contemplating the trip up the more difficult terrain on Pika. (Jon Pic)
Vern contemplating the trip up the more difficult terrain on Pika. (Jon Pic)
Vern at the summit of Pika Peak. (Jon Pic)
Vern at the summit of Pika Peak. (Jon Pic)
Jon at the summit.
Jon at the summit.
A view towards Lake Louise from the summit.
A view towards Lake Louise from the summit.
The Wall of Jericho sneaks into the bottom right of the photo.
The Wall of Jericho sneaks into the bottom right of the photo.
A panorama of the Valley of Ten Peaks and Mount Temple.
A panorama of the Valley of Ten Peaks and Mount Temple. Click to view larger.
Quadra and Bident.
Quadra and Bident.
A closer look at Mount Temple.
A closer look at Mount Temple.
The snowy descent route off of Mount Richardson - not too bad when you are under clear skies!
The snowy descent route off of Mount Richardson - not too bad when you are under clear skies!
Jon descending steep terrain down to the Pika / Richardson col.
Jon descending steep terrain down to the Pika / Richardson col.
A postcard of the Hidden Lake meadows with Mount Temple and the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the background.
A postcard of the Hidden Lake meadows with Mount Temple and the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the background.