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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Mount Crandell
- Location: Waterton Lakes National Park
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 2,378 m (7,802 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,080 m (3,543 ft)
- Distance: 11.1 km / Loop (6.9 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 11.0°
- Estimated Time: 5-8 hrs
- Technicality: Expert.2a
- Fitness Level: Moderate
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I had a good day at Waterton because it wasn't windy! My objective was Mount Crandell via Bear's Hump route (difficult scramble route).
To Bear's Hump:
Well just follow the trail from the parking lot.
The Crux:
Looking ahead from Bear's Hump, it didn't look easy but most of scary walls I saw were actually avoidable except there was one wall I had to scramble up near GR867383 (waypoint "Cairn 1" not shown in screenshot) which was the crux of the day. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the crux but on page 5, you can see a part of it.
The Rest of the Ridge:
It looked quite demanding and committing for many sections, but they are all avoidable by staying below left (west) of the ridge. Thanks to someone's footprints on snow, if I didn't see them I would have had scary times.
Descent:
I took the southeast slopes described in Kane's book (I might took a wrong gully). The book says most frequently used, but I didn't see a trail and it wasn't too pleasant bushwhacking once I got to the creek, but it was a short distance.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Bear's Hump from the Info centre parking lot.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Looking ahead from Bear's Hump.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Waterton town site view. Mouseover for peak pointers.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
From here on I stayed on left to avoid peeing pants situation.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
This picture somehow looks somewhat I am going to go to a difficult terrain, but it's not.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Great view of Waterton Lakes.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
More peeing pants situation. I went down left again.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
I know some people stayed on this ridge. They must have been wearing adult diapers to go through this airy cockscomb.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Bigger clouds moved in over my head in afternoon.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
Another view of the lakes from descent route.
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Mount Crandell | 2013-05-20
I really didn't want to bushwhack… It's tick season!