01
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-01
Mount Morrison
- Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 2,765 m (9,072 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 440 m (1,444 ft)
- Distance: 2.8 km / Loop (From bivy) (1.7 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 17.5°
- Estimated Time: 2.5-4 hrs
- Technicality: Advanced
- Fitness Level: Easy
|
|
Another 2-peak trip weekend. This time Mount Morrison and GR055343 which is nicknamed "Owl Peak". Start from Shark parking in Kananaskis but the peaks are in Banff.
Approach: I used bike until just passed Watridge Lake where it became all downhill. I hid my one million dollar bike, and moved forward. Eventually the trail separates to White Man Pass Trail and Palliser Pass Trail, so take White Man for 600m then went off trail for light bushwhacking to get to the drainage which leads to Morrison. However finding the drainage might be the crux, since you cannot see anything because of tall trees. I had to relay on GPS to find one.
Morrison: Direct line from the pretty alpine lake can be done as I did for decent but I don't recommend since this mountain is quite slabby (pic 10). Easier way is take slightly right (south) slope to get to ridge which is just scree, then move towards the summit. However closer to the summit, scree runs out and becomes slab slope (pic 16, 17, 26). At this point you really have to use ledges and cracks to find the way. The difficulty of this slab slope reminded me of The Tower in Kane's book.
03
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-01
You cannot visually find the drainage.
05
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-01
A lot of this while going up the drainage.
06
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-01
Finally little easier terrain to walk.
08
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-01
GR055343, nicknamed "Owl Peak".
09
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-01
These dudes know place to hangout.
10
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Morrison seen from directly below. Very slabby. Use the scree slope on the right.
11
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Not sure if this is Mount Byng or the unnamed peak in front of Byng.
12
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
I don't know if this peak is part of Mount Soderholm or not, but I am scared just looking at it.
14
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Spray Lakes, and Watridge Lake.
15
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Getting closer to the end of scree.
16
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Route finding, route finding.
20
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Quite a while since some human being came up here.
23
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Owl Peak
- Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 2,762 m (9,062 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 490 m (1,608 ft)
- Distance: 5.9 km / Loop (From bivy) (3.7 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 9.4°
- Estimated Time: 2-4 hrs
- Technicality: Intermediate
- Fitness Level: Easy
|
|
Unlike Morrison, Owl is safe ridge walk.
26
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Morrison's slab seen from Owl.
29
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Magnificent peaks of Mount Ass Provincial Park.
30
Mount Morrison & Owl Peak | 2015-08-02
Back to the lake, and Sir Douglas says hello.
SUBSCRIBE