01

Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Cirque Peak Outlier
  • Location: Banff National Park (Icefields Parkway)
  • Activity: Snowshoeing
  • Height: 2,835 m (9,302 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 850 m (2,789 ft)
  • Distance: 7.4 km / Round Trip (4.6 mi)
  • Avg Steepness: 12.9°
  • Estimated Time: 3-5 hrs
  • Technicality: Intermediate
  • Fitness Level: Moderate

Having perfect weather FORECASTs this week, I had no doubt in my mind that I will see beautiful sunset. This time I picked Cirque Peak outlier or north end of Crystal Ridge whichever make sense to you. It’s a high point at GR394278.

There is no parking lot so you have to park on side of the highway. A good spot would be about 1.4 km after Num-Ti-Jah Lodge’s turn off.

Approach:
Despite this route is covered in Ridgewalks by Mike Potter or Alpine Ski Tours by Chic Scott, I don’t think there is a trail, so you have to bushwhack from the road. However it is not dense, bushwhacking shouldn’t be a problem. There isn’t much to say here beside go up. The route is self-explanatory.

02

Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

At where I parked.

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

From left Observation, Observation sub, and Cirque outlier.

04

Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

I could see the trace of avalanche reported few days ago from MCR.

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Darth Vader was coming… That's not what forecast said!

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Taking pictures while I had view.

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Route to the summit. Such a reminder of how much effort require to walk through snow. Once at the treeline, I was 3 times faster.

08

Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Looking at Observation Sub Peak.

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Nearing the summit. Well so much for sunset… I came up here little too early but it didn't matter because Darth Vader ate sun…

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Cirque Peak and valley. I have to say it would be closer to take this route to Cirque Peak than the normal scramble route.

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Cirque Peak Outlier | 2011-12-04

Little bit of cornices forming.

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