Wonder Peak
Trip Report
Rod and I set off from the Jones Naiset Cabin around 16:00 on Thursday, September 4th under a mostly cloudy sky. There was very little wind and quite a bit of snow on the surrounding peaks but we were confident we could either scramble up Wonder Peak or The Towers and return before dark. The trail up to Wonder Pass went by quickly and was an easy 200 meters of height gain out of the way.
At the pass we made the decision to go up Wonder Peak because we could spot an obvious trail snaking up it's lower slopes and The Towers would require a bit more route-finding (basically a side hill bash) before grinding on scree to the top. I would also love to combine Naiset Point with The Towers if I'm going up there anyway and we didn't have time to do both. Wonder Peak is not rocket science to ascend. Simply go climbers left at the pass, descend slightly to the north before skirting some small cliffs and getting onto the mountain proper. Once on the mountain, simply follow trails to the summit mass, or stick to the ridge and go around any obstacles on climber's right. Every time it looks like things are going to be tricky they aren't. I love this about mountains - usually there's a way around the difficulties and that's half the fun of climbing them! The only moderate bit of scrambling is after you contour around the summit block (on the right) and have to get up the last 15 or 20 meters. I actually missed the first opportunity to go up a small gully and ended up coming back to the peak on a small ridge. There was a cool window in this little section, which was fun to discover. When I got to the last 10 vertical meters of the summit block there was only a small, narrow crack to work my way up. It was great fun with pretty solid holds and didn't feel as exposed as it actually was.
Rod joined me after only a slight hesitation! The summit view was great but without clouds it would have been mind-blowing. You could see all the way to the big K-Country peaks like Sir Douglas and Joffre and Eon, Aye and Assiniboine were right in our faces. Marvel Lake and Lake Gloria were glittering far beneath and all around us was a plethora of peaks just begging to be summited! I think this area will keep me busy for a while... After clicking a bunch of pics we turned back and descended the crack carefully before plunge-stepping easily down the snowy ridge to the foot of the mountain. Once off of Wonder Peak we came on some very fresh and rather large grizzly tracks in the snow. We cautiously yelled and yodeled our way all the way back to the hut.
A ranger came by a bit later and confirmed that there were two grizzlies up in the Wonder Pass area, a young, unafraid male and a very large but cautious sow. If you're in the Assiniboine area, Wonder Peak is truly wonderful and only took us just over 3 hours round-trip from the Naiset huts. If you have more energy you can do Wonder Peak, Cascade and Gibralter Rocks and Mount Cautley in one loop of moderate scrambling. You can bet I'll be back to give that a shot sometime soon!
Rod starts out the hike from the Naiset Cabins to Wonder Pass. The Towers rise above him, Wonder Peak is out of sight to the left.
The larches are so close to turning! The trail to Wonder Pass is excellent.
Rod at Wonder Pass with Wonder Peak to the left.
Wonder Peak's ascent slopes as seen from just off the pass (east).
From left to right we have Eon, Aye and The Towers. Scramble The Towers by traversing scree slopes from Wonder Pass before heading up the skyline southeast ridge all the way to the summit. Naiset Point can also be bagged from there.
Incredible lighting to the north of the ascent ridge on Wonder Peak. I know where it got it's name from!
Looking over the shoulder of Wonder Peak as we get a bit higher you can see the approach valley for Assiniboine Pass from the Mount Shark parking area.
Looking back at Assiniboine, Aye, Eon and Lake Gloria.
The ascent trail is obvious, even with the snow.
The Royal Group as seen from the ascent slopes of Wonder Peak.
Rod comes up behind me as we start to contour around the south side of the summit block.
A window on the ridge just before the summit.
Rod is hidden at the bottom of the crux! Just a wee bit of exposure there... :-)
Rod pops onto the small summit of Wonder Peak.
Eon, Aye and Lake Gloria. Was this lake renamed? Because in the original archives I thought it was named "Wonder Lake"?
Looking north from the summit.
Rod gets his party on! This was in the summit cairn.
Rod and Vern on the summit of Wonder Peak. Really hate that low cloud ceiling today!! :-(
Looking over Marvel Lake at our approach / exit valley. Doesn't look so bad from up here! (Ok, it does look a little long...)
Summit panorama looking west, south and east off the summit of Wonder Peak (click to view full size).
Mount Joffre.
Mount Sir Douglas.
Heading back down.
Looking back at the summit block (traverse around to climber's right and then up the ridge on the opposite side).
Can't get enough of these two giants. I know that Eon is a relatively easy scramble from the other side. I'm interested!
Wonder Peak looks ominous from this angle.
Panorama from the descent of Wonder Peak looking west, north and east.
Awesome views north of the Assiniboine Meadows. This is Nasswald Peak and Golden Mountain (tall one).
One last shot of Eon with fresh grizzy diggings in the foreground. We yelled all the way back to the cabins.
