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Rundle, Mount

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: 
July 2, 2005
Summit Elevation: 
2,846m
Summit Elevation (ft): 
9,338ft
Related Content
Interesting Facts: 
(info from peakfinder.com) Named by John Palliser in 1858. Rundle, Reverend Robert (Rev. Rundle was a missionary who visited the Banff area during the 1840's.) Official name. Other names Terrace Mountain; Waskahigan Watchi (Cree) meaning "House Mountain."  

Trip Report

On Canada's birthday I decided to celebrate by doing a scramble. Originally I had planned Isabelle Peak with Dave Stephens but when that fell through I decided to salvage the day with an easier but just as long outing.

I have to say that this is a very unexciting scramble. A large portion of your time is spent in the trees and when you finally do reach treeline you still have over 600 meters of elevation gain to go! I'm surprised more tourists don't slip down the slab section and do involuntary BASE jumps down the side but I guess most people must manage it.

Speaking of tourists, I met quite a few people on Rundle compared to most of my scrambles but it did make for some interesting conversation. I spent most of the way up with a fellow named 'Jeff' from Calgary. Around the treeline he started to fall behind and since I had company coming into town and needed to go quickly to get back to Calgary we parted ways and I summitted and came down on my own.

When I was at the top of the mountain the clouds were thick and dark. I don't like the threat of rain / lightening when I'm on a mountain - I've heard too many horror stories of axes buzzing and people getting shocks so I didn't stay up there any longer than I had to. Round trip time was around 5h 40 minutes.

Morning mist over the river by Bow Falls.
Morning mist over the river by Bow Falls.
You will see waaayyyy too many of these on the way up Rundle!
You will see waaayyyy too many of these on the way up Rundle!
Jeff climbing through the slab section.
Jeff climbing through the slab section.
Two climbers negotiate the slab section on the way up.
Two climbers negotiate the slab section on the way up.
The clouds make a dramatic view as I gain the treeline.
The clouds make a dramatic view as I gain the treeline.
Vern on the summit of Rundle Mountain.
Vern on the summit of Rundle Mountain.
A panorama to the west from part way down Rundle.
A panorama to the west from part way down Rundle.