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Tag : SC7

Elk Peak (“V7”, Elk Pass, Lake)

As you can probably tell from my tone throughout this report, I enjoyed the living heck out of my day on this relatively obscure, unofficial Banff peak. Did it have the most scenic and engaging approach? Nope, definitely nope. Was the boring approach worth it for the experience of Elk Lake and the subsequent ascent of V7? Yup. Definitely yup.

Owl Mountain

Owl Mountain sits between Mount Byng and Morrison and is an unofficial summit. Despite the stats, it is remarkably accessible thanks to one of the best animal trails I’ve ever taken, leading up from Owl Lake to treeline. The north ridge to the summit should not be underestimated, this is definitely SC7 terrain with many route choices and complexities.

Avens, Mount

My heart rate increased a little. Could it? Would it? Damn son! Almost vibrating with excitement about the possibilities, I climbed a bit higher to check it out. I could 100% sneak through the hole as long as I took my camera and pack off first. The only question now was what the terrain would be like once I popped out of it. I hurriedly took off my gear and shoved it through the tiny gap before following through it myself on good holds. And like a I was birthed from the cliffs below, I found myself invigorated with new energy and life when I took in the scene that opened up around me. Somehow I’d ended up on pretty darn easy looking terrain, leading to what I hoped (and expected at this point) to be massive scree slopes all the way to the summit. I could not believe it! What a route! This was a top tier moment for me in the Rockies. Wild stuff, this business of remote peakbagging in the Banff backcountry. Some days are worse and then somehow better than others.

Ex Coelis, (Rhine, Elbe) – “Kadoona”

As I hiked the boardwalk and bridge back to the parking lot I meditated on my Ex Coelis adventures. I was stoked to have completed the two most difficult summits in the group and even more stoked that I found a reasonable route to combine them into one trip instead of two. I was happy that apparently I can still manage difficult scrambles while enjoying myself (for the most part). As I get older I’m not always in the mood to navigate risky terrain but I do enjoy sneaky routes that challenge my mountain skills. When an interesting route combines with a scenic approach like these two did, it makes me smile for a few days afterwards and lets me know that there are still a few years of scrambling left in my future.

Parrish, Mount (+ Promised Land, Gargantua)

My thoughts swirled as I started the long drive home. I was very satisfied with how I dealt with and felt on the difficult SW face of Mount Parrish. I was even more satisfied that I didn’t “perish” on “Parrish”. 😉 I proved to myself that even though I’m old AF now, I still enjoy complex and difficult scrambles as much as I ever have. I highly recommend this whole route, including The Promised Land traverse and exit for experienced scramblers who want to test their skills against a short, but fierce bit of Flathead Range rock. Just don’t underestimate the serious consequences of failing this test. 

Purgatory Peak

Do I recommend Purgatory? Yep! I certainly do. It’s harder than either Perdition or Shoulder Peak were but engaging and fun in similar ways. Do I recommend the approach to Purgatory? Nope. I can’t in good conscience recommend that crappy trail for anyone, but unfortunately unless you own a jet pack, it’s your only way in to a few great, highly recommended scrambles. What you do with this conflicting advice is entirely up to you.

Janelea Mountain (Little Tombstone)

Despite the upper route complexities and subsequent challenges, I find myself rather fond of Janelea Mountain. I like that it has a proper name with no explanation whatsoever of it’s meaning. I like that it’s certainly not a pushover (come to think on it, neither was the mountain called Pushover). I loved the bike approach and the ascent drainage. The scenery is spectacular in that little corner of the Rockies too. All in all a delightful day in the hills and exactly what I was asking July 3rd 2025 to be. Highly recommended for almost nobody except the few folks who already had it on their respective lists.

Mercer, Mount

I loved this trip and highly recommend it for experienced scramblers looking for a rarely ascended mountain with stunning views and an engaging route. It’s not often that one can nab a 3rd ascent in 30 years via a major trail network and minimal bushwhacking in a 10-hour day. It’s even less common that the route is as fun and hands-on as this one, despite looking impossible from every angle.

Marpole, Mount (+ CarMar)

Way back in 1977, the Alpine Club of Canada held a family camp in Little Yoho at the Stanley Mitchell Hut from July 30th to August 13. Little did I know (I was only 2 years old at the time), that 47 years later I would intersect with this camp at the lonely, wild summit of Mount Marpole soaring high over Emerald Pass below.

Pushover, Mount

What can I say in conclusion about this trip? It had a bit of everything. Disappointment with a cloudy start. Slowly ramping up the positive vibes as the sky cleared and the trail wound its familiar way to a lovely alpine landscape of lakes, rushing streams and acres of colorful wildflowers. Apprehension mixed with excitement as I picked my way up an unfamiliar and unknown route, experiencing all the highs and lows that comes with such adventures. One minute thinking it all looked very reasonable and the next thinking that all was lost. Walking to the summit under a brilliant blue summer sky with views to familiar peaks, lakes and valleys and knowing that once again the Rockies had provided a sneaky, but reasonable scramble route up a challenging peak. A relaxing exit through gorgeous landscapes with a feeling of success. It doesn’t get much better than this my friends, and I am grateful that I still get to experience these moments.

Bident Mountain

In 2007 I made my first attempt at Bident Mountain, looming high over Consolation Pass and Lakes in Banff National Park. Bident sits lower than its neighbor to the west, Quadra Mountain and higher than its neighbor to the east, Mount Bell. It took almost 17 years, but finally on April 13 2024 I stood on both summits of Bident, tackling them from a completely different direction by a completely different method. Instead of a rock ascent, this one would be on snow.

Cross & South Ghost Peak

I returned to the empty parking lot 11 hours after leaving it – just as the sun continued setting to the west. I really enjoyed this trip. It had just the right amount of distance, route finding and varied terrain to be interesting without being “too interesting”. It was the perfect way to possibly end my 2023 scrambling season before snowfall renders anything other than easy bumps done for the year. I agree with Cornelius that it feels like a long way out there when you’re standing all by yourself on the summit of South Ghost Peak but on this particular day that was exactly what I was looking for. I highly recommend this trip for experienced and fit parties – just remember your headlamp if you’re planning it for late season like I did.

Allenby, Mount (True & False)

Mount Allenby is a trip I won’t soon be forgetting. I can’t recommend the south ridge as a scramble due to its disturbingly loose and exposed nature. I’ve noticed a trend on Social Media where folks with limited technical climbing experience are confidently giving 5th class ratings to their scramble routes. I won’t do that, but I’ve been up enough mountains to know what’s safe and what isn’t. Mount Allenby’s south ridge is not a safe place to be, no matter what technical rating you might attach to it. When holds are falling into the abyss underneath you and moves are made downwards to avoid pulling critical holds off the mountain as you ascend it, this is cannot be called safe terrain. I certainly used some of my luck coins on this trip. The hike up Bryant Creek and into the upper Mercer Creek valley with its larch forest was beautiful and exactly what I needed out of one of my last trips of the year before snow starts falling in the Rockies.

In the Footsteps of Sergeant Kowalski (Laughing Bears Creek)

Laughing Bears Creek will always stand out in my mind as a quintessential Rockies backcountry adventure. I’ve been planning and dreaming of it for so many years, it had the potential to disappoint but instead it exceeded even my best ideas of what it might be. It will stand out as one of my favorite trips of all time and certainly a highlight of 2023.

Zeke’s & Whistling Rock Peak (Schiesser’s Apex)

Doug Lutz recently scrambled the entire north ridge of Whistling Rock Peak and reported back a straightforward descent down west slabs to valley bottom. I knew I had to give that route a try since there was no way I was going to follow him all the way along that north ridge. Since Zeke’s Peak is right there it made sense to combine them. Devan Peterson put up a track for Zeke’s on Strava and confirmed it was F 3rd but quite exposed. I was intrigued and excited to try them sooner than later. I strongly recommend this trip for confident scramblers with a good head for heights and exposure and sure footing. Try to pick a warm, windless day and enjoy the fun routes and great views.

Cuthead Peak

Cuthead Peak was a very good outing for many reasons. The campout with a cheery fire and good company, getting out on another obscure peak with Phil and fun, challenging scrambling on the summit block. There are very few reasons why any hardcore Rockies scrambler / backpacker shouldn’t have this one on their list.

Poltergeist Peak

What a day! Thanks to Jay and Sara for putting up with a “less-than-100-percent” me and thanks to Jay for toughing it out of a nasty little situation in the river. Many folks would have called it a day at that point, but that’s not the way JW is wired. This was a great suggestion for a dry(ish) winter ascent and I’m glad that I was part of it.

Barrier to Gable Mountain Traverse

What a day! I can’t think of a more appropriate or better way to end the main 2022 summer season. This trip has it all and requires the exact set of circumstances that we used to complete it. A very highly recommended trip for parties that can move quickly through typical Rockies terrain with a light pack. Just make sure you’re well-hydrated before leaving that valley floor towards Barrier Mountain!

Nasswald Peak (Citadel Pass)

I’ve been dreaming of scrambling Nasswald Peak for many years now. It felt great to find a beautiful and straightforward route to the south face from the Valley of the Rocks Trail. Despite an easy ramble up the south face the final hundred meters of SE ridge to the summit was very loose and exposed terrain. A perfect fall day for a long sought summit!

Cheshire & Dormouse Peak

A rare ascent of a little known, very remote peak named for the Alice in Wonderland theme of the area – Cheshire Peak. A gorgeous approach, sneaky difficult step and hiking at over 3000 meters with views of the most remote and hard to access east faces in Banff National Park make this a highlight day in the mountains in 2022 for me. Dormouse Peak felt like a pretty simple add-on after all that.

Crypt Circuit (Boswell, Crypt, Vimy)

As someone who’s done most of the peaks in Waterton I can confidently say that you’ll be hard pressed to top this traverse. As a 6-peak circuit it’ll pad your summit stats very nicely but it’s the views, the terrain and the ease of access that makes this trip really stand out for me. On the one hand I’m sad that for the most part scrambling in Waterton is now done for me, but on the other hand I can’t think of a better way to finish.

Solstice Peak

Solstice Peak far exceeded my expectations both on the approach with almost no bushwhacking and on the peak with interesting routefinding and some difficult scrambling to the summit. I’ve said this on a few scrambles so far this year, but Solstice had just enough of everything I look for in a scramble and not too much that I don’t look for.

Oliver, Mount

Obviously dry conditions and knowing there’s a trail and roughly where to find it is key to keeping Mount Oliver to a reasonable day trip. I really enjoyed this front range scramble (apparently the highest front range peak in Banff) and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get off the beaten path and onto a much more rudimentary one. The highlights of the trip for me weren’t even the mountain but rather the upper stretches of North Burnt Timber Creek, the sidewalk east ridge and the remote and very quiet nature of the area.

Gould Dome

I had more fun on the route and scrambling on Gould Dome than I thought I would. For anyone looking for a nice short, challenging day out this is a good choice.

Revenant Mountain (Steacie)

I highly recommend Revenant Mountain for competent scramblers. The mountain itself is almost easy after the somewhat involved approach to the Spectral Lakes. The east face is complex but the route opens up once you’re on it, guiding you forward and up to the south ridge. The scrambling is engaging enough to keep you distracted from all the work you’ve done to get there. A favorite for me and a very nice feather in my scrambling cap – one I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time.