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Warrior Mountain

Home » Mountains » Kananaskis
Published by vdewit on April 28th, 2009
Trip Details
Trip Activity: 
Scramble
Attained Summit?: 
Yes
Location: 
Kananaskis Country
Trip Date: 
September 6, 2006
Summit Elevation: 
2,973m
Summit Elevation (ft): 
9,754ft
Related Content
Interesting Facts: 
(info from peakfinder.com) Named in 1917. HMS Warrior was a cruiser which fought in the Battle of Jutland during WW I. After being damaged, it was taken in tow by HMS Engadine but later fires on board reached its magazine and it blew up and sank. Official name. First ascended in 1930 by Katie Gardiner, guided by Walter Feuz. Journal reference CAJ 19-67.
Related Trips: 
Cordonnier, Mount
Northover, Mount

Trip Report

We were soon done the interesting trail around Aster Lake and heading across the gravel flats towards Warrior Mountain. Jon led the way up the lower slopes of Warrior and soon we were standing at the glacier. The glacier is small and there was no snow on it so we cramponed up and headed across. Technically we should have at least short-roped but oh well...

Once off the glacier we headed up onto the ridge connecting Warrior and Cordonnier and took off the crampons. A short while later we were on top of Warrior Mountain, our first summit for the day. Our views were once again ruined by smoke so we didn't linger too long before heading down the ridge for Mount Cordonnier.

The connecting ridge from Warrior to Cordonnier was more fun than I expected. I don't think Kane's rating of 'easy' is justified for this ridge. I understand that he is rating it for mountaineers though, because he assumes that in order to get up Warrior you crossed the glacier and therefore are used to airy traverses. Well, it was quite airy and on one section it was also very loose. A fall off the left side would not have been fatal (probably) but sure would have hurt! A fall off the right side of the ridge wouldn't have hurt because it would have been fatal.

After that bit of excitement we plodded further up the ridge and onto the final section to Cordonnier's summit. Again, there were short traverses here that were quite exposed and fun. An hour after leaving the summit of Warrior, we were standing on the summit of Cordonnier trying to spot the New Zealand couple on Joffre.

After a short break we started back down the alternate descent from Cordonnier. Rod and I got a bit off track but there was no major problems and we arrived back at the gravel flats. Jon and I would head over to Mount Northover next.


Jon and Rod hike towards the gravel flats early in the day on Wednesday.

Rod and Jon on the lower part of Warrior Mountain.

Jon on Warrior's lower slopes.

The only crevasse on the small glacier. (Jon Pic)

The glacier posed no problems for us.

Vern on the final slopes of Warrior Mountain. (Jon Pic)

Rod on the slope above the glacier.

Summit of Warrior Mountain.

Rod walks nonchanantly along a vast drop off on the connecting ridge to Mount Cordonnier.

Rod on the narrow, exposed part of the traverse to Mount Cordonnier.

Mount Mangin.

Mount Joffre in black and white.

Summit photo on Mount Cordonnier.

Rod and Jon descending the upper part of Mount Cordonnier.

Rod and Vern descending. (Jon Pic)