[MCR] Southern Alberta Waterton Park and Castle Region

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

I spent most of last week in the Waterton Parks area doing some 
scrambling and hiking in Waterton Park along with a 2 day traverse of 
Victoria Ridge to Newman Peak.

On August 24th Brian Jim and I did the ascent of Blakiston Peak 
and  the Hawkins Horseshoe traverse descending into Roe Lakes. This 
excellent trip is mostly easy scrambling with a short section of 4th 
class below the summit of Blakiston Peak. (Used a 15m rope for this section).
A spectacular ridge walk under smoky skies. The trip is about 18km 
long with about 1800m of total elevation gain.

On Aug 26th-27th Brian, Elaine and I completed a 2 day traverse of 
Victoria Ridge to  to Newman Peak, descending into the Avion Ridge 
col to Waterton lakes Park. Distance is about 36km over the 2 days.

Vehicles were left at Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Park, the other 
left at the Shell compressor plant north of and west of Twin Butte. 
We followed the gravel road for 4km, then approx 6km on a good trail 
to gain the alpine.  A creek was still flowing lower on the trail, 
and this is the only water other than Bovin lake.
The rest of the trip (other than dropping to Bovin Lake) is all along 
an alpine ridge line. Though the skies were smoky, this trip is 
probably one of the most spectacular yet simple ridge walks in the mountains.

The trip is mostly hiking with a few sections of exposed scrambling. 
The descent from the ridge to drop into Bovin lake used the Northerly 
bump on the ridge descending easterly on red rock (some 3rd class) to 
gain access to easy scree that is descended into the lake. This slope 
was covered in Blueberries but no sign of bear.
An old trail marked on the map (seismic line ?) is used the following 
morning to regain the ridge south of the lake. This well used horse 
trail leads to the next bump just below Loaf Mountain.

A short section of exposed 3rd-4th class rock is ascended on the 
North ridge of Spionkop Mountain which is the crux of the trip. 
Difficulties are turned on the right, but stay close to the ridge.
The rest of the traverse is simple hiking.

If done earlier in the year, there may be some snow for water along 
the ridge. However, the drop to Bovin lake is worth while, gives a 
great place to camp and the trail gives easy access back onto the ridge.

Peter Amann
Mountain Guide










Peter Amann
www.incentre.net/pamann/
pamann at incentre.net
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: boivin lake.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 176709 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/mcr/attachments/20150829/d7ab35b6/attachment-0003.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: victoria ridge looking north from drop in to Bovin lake.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 112468 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/mcr/attachments/20150829/d7ab35b6/attachment-0004.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: newman peak Waterton Park boundary.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 110468 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/mcr/attachments/20150829/d7ab35b6/attachment-0005.jpe>