Boundary Peak | Scrambling in Jasper National Park

01 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

Boundary Peak

Location: Jasper National Park
Activity: Scrambling
Height: 2,871 m (9,420 ft)
Elevation Gain: 880 m (2,887 ft)
Distance: 8.2 km / Loop (5.1 mi)
Avg Steepness: 12.1°
Estimated Time: 4-6 hrs
Technicality: Intermediate
Fitness Level: Moderate

Download GPX: [Trail] Boundary Peak.gpx
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Conditions:
- Weather
- Avalanche Bulletin

This is a peak I had my eyes on for a while. I originally thought it is called Little Athabasca but after more research, Little A is a different peak, and this is called Boundry Peak. Little A is at GR871818 and the peak I went is at GR866831.

I used parking which was just off the highway but I saw there is a closer parking lot right at the bottom of hill where I started hiking up. So I guess you can park there but I also saw a gate though… I am not sure. At the end of the day it only makes few hundred meter difference you can take it!

Route is very straight forward. Near a bridge on shuttle bus road (also that is the same spot where the other parking lot is), I went off-road and hiked up hill. Only few hundred meters up, it got flattened. If you stay on north (highway side) the flats continued for a bit, but you can also go Athabasca side to get on a ridge top (page 4). I took flat side for ascent and took ridge top for descent. These two routes merge which is at the bottom of a slog hill. It about 200m and looks like Bow Peak from Crowfoot Pass however unlike Bow, what you see is all you need to go. No mental warfare here! I found that my ascent route (highway side) is little bit steeper than descent route.

Not that I go Columbia Icefield too often but every time I go there this peak always had dry spots which makes me think this one is in shape all year around.

02 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

Today's objective.

03 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

Athabasca and Andromeda.

04 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

Ridge at the center of the picture is which I used for descent. I stayed left of that for ascent.

05 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

Little Elf and the ridge. Athabasca between them.

06 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

I like glaciers around this time. It's still clean white but not all is covered by snow like winter.

07 Boundary Peak | 2011-04-24

Blown away by this terrific view. I will keep this peak for someone who's not experienced perhaps for visitors and if I want to take them somewhere superb. Easy enough and short enough, perfect candidate.