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@xxxxxxxxxxxx
boivin lake.JPG
Description: JPEG image
victoria ridge looking north from drop in to Bovin lake.JPG
Description: JPEG image
newman peak Waterton Park boundary.JPG
Description: JPEG image
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