Summit Elevation (m): 2400
Trip Date: October 11 2013
Elevation Gain (m): 650
Round Trip Time (hr): 3
Total Trip Distance (km): 6
Quick ‘n Dirty Rating: Class 2/3 – you fall, you sprain something
Difficulty Notes: Easy scrambling up steep grassy / forested slopes. Some brief and minor exposure on the summit block.
Technical Rating: SC5; YDS (Hiking)
GPS Track: Gaia
Map: Google Maps
Wietse and I decided to take advantage of a nice day on Friday, October 11 just before the long weekend with an easy scramble up Roberta Peak near the Highwood Pass area in Kananaskis Country. The day started off exciting when we saw 4 grizzlies digging for breakfast along highway 40! Thank goodness they weren’t anywhere near our trailhead or we may have switched objectives.
The ascent of Roberta itself was made more interesting when we cut off the approach road too early and bushwhacked an extra 1km for no reason. You should park at the gate along highway 40, just before the parking lot to Elbow Lake / Gap Mountain on the west (right) side of the highway.
Roberta is right across from Gap Mountain. Follow the road over Pocaterra Creek for about 5-10 minutes and you’ll hit a junction (we turned into the bush already before we got to that junction!!). Turn left at the junction and follow the road until you can just spot a large, clear gully to the col on Roberta (about 1km).
Bushwhack for 10-15 minutes to this gully and ascend it on steep grassy slopes on climber’s left to the col. The peak is about 70 meters to climber’s left of the col.
We had some snow which made things a bit interesting but this is a very short, easy outing with great views over the Kananaskis Lakes area. Views of Fox, Putnik, Sarrail, Warspite, Indefatigable and many other familiar peaks were stunning with the fresh snow and swirling clouds. Our round trip time of just over 3 hours includes the summit stay and an extra 1km of bushwhacking on ascent – this is NOT a full day outing.
