hiking the rockies

Hiking the Rockies

The Yamnuska Traverse

Mount Yamnuska’s climbing face

the scree descent

The summit

The “traverse” climbs right to (B), rounds the back to the summit, descendsat left (C) then the scree and ends at (A). Many scale this vertical face.

CB

A

Climbing eastward toward B

Glen Booth at first lookout

Starting up back side about 4 km upwardsAbout 1 m snow on trail

About 3 km to go – several crossed the avalanche area then up the centre. SomeSlid as they crossed. We stayed left and crossed above the snow.

Traversing “the notch”

View south of “the notch”

Hook by which some reach “the notch”

Next stage after “the notch” straight ahead and up.

Next viewing station – facing Calgary.

Above the treeline now – only 2 km to go to summit

A climber suddenly emerges from a hole in the face called “the chimney”

The rope and carabiners that brought them through “the chimney”

The summit is in sight about 2 km ahead.

But first, you have to round theledge clinging to “the cable”.

It’s the cable, or this..

Some like greater challenges.. Holding the cable while carrying the dog along the ledge.

The view down from “the cable ledge”

The next step after the “ledge”

View just after cable & 1.5 km from the summit.

Ledge & “the cable”

The view northward at this point. Not bad!

The final climb to the summit. May 23, 2011Ian, at 65, it’s a cinch!

View towards Calgary near summit.

View southeastward from summit and the way “down” the traverse. The sun hasmelted the snow on this side.

Life “at the summit”.. Climbers and hikers meet.

The peaks in the distance southward are about the same or higher.

Smiles of satisfaction, awe and reverence.. deep reverence for the mysteries of life.

Some choose to reach the summit this way, hanging by a hook and ropes…

But, the mountain is constantlybreaking off and falling.

In any case, we have to descend nowAnd have to cross the forest far below until the fork in the road where thecar is parked.. about 4.5 km downward.

Beginning the descent on the southwest slope.

Magnificent geology..

Crossing this is not as easy as it might appear.. When you slip, you slide andonly a tree or solid rock can stop you.

This is the famous “reverse fault” ofYamnuska.. The rock on top is older than the rock below it.

We have to cross the scree justbelow this reverse fault to get back.

The folds in the rock face above tell of a tortured twisting & folding as continentalPlates collided and subducted far below the seashore that formed these layers.

The climbing face above, scree below and Calgary off to the right ahead.

The only way down from hereIs to “run the scree!”