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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Mount Galatea
- Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 3,185 m (10,450 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,280 m (4,200 ft)
- Distance: 18.8 km / Round Trip (11.7 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 7.8°
- Estimated Time: 6-9 hrs
- Technicality: Expert.1a (but avoidable then advanced)
- Fitness Level: Hard
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For the second time I joined COC scramble event, which was coordinated by Ben. We parked our cars at the humongous Chester Parking lot where you can play soccer if you wish.
My GPS gone wild!!, I didn’t get accurate reading from this trip so please use my GPS track for general directions. A good news is Chester Lake trail is very popular and it’s impossible to get lost. The access route was in my opinion the best part of this trip. Chester Lake, Elephant Rocks, and Three Lakes Valley… What a beautiful place!! I totally totally TOTALLY LOVED IT.
To me ascent of Galatea lacked of scrambling for mountain which rated difficult, however the view was worth doing this one. Most of the way up was boring and steep rubble slope. The rocks were very unstable even the big rocks, I had to step with care. There were two ways to the summit. My way was to get to the east ridge first near summit (page 18). This way there were 3 rock bands to scramble. By finding weakness of these bands, you should be able to scramble without exposure or too much challenge. The other way was stay on slope and aim the summit directly. This way you can bypass the three rock bands as they don’t exist at lower elevation. Near the summit slope becomes steeper. However, Ben came up this way even with snow covered condition, so it should be ok.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
The weather was somewhat the same from the day before. Cloudy…
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Calm morning at Chester Lake.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
The first of three lakes.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Little higher. At treeline.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Three Lake Valley. What a beautiful place.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
British Military Group under clouds behind.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Must have been mandarin orange.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
On ascent of Galatea, we separated into 2 groups. Those who prefer rubble and those who prefer snow. Ben, Andrea, and Gerry on snow.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Looking down the valley and the last lake of three lakes.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
First time to see Andrea wearing helmet. The hottest chick with helmet on (。ё_ё。 ).
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Rubble masters, Aarmaan, Dobby and me.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Huge drop on north face. I almost fell ヾ(´ε`;)ゝ.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
From east ridge looking at the way to the summit.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Gerry almost at the summit.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Aarmaan at summit. He's 69 and still does scramble. Stella do you hear me? He's 69 and still does scramble. He's 69 and still does scramble. He's 69 and still does scramble. Sorry readers, I always have to repeat 4 times in order to Stealla, my Canadian mom, to understand me.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Andrea taking pictures from the summit.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Going back. Dobby on the ridge.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
Everyone took snow, I wanted to downclimb so I went back to east ridge.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
In afternoon, weather improved.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
British Military Group. Mouseover.
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Mount Galatea | 2010-07-11
First time seeing sun in last 3 hikes.