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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Mount Olive
- Location: Banff National Park (Icefields Parkway)
- Activity: Mountaineering
- Height: 3,130 m (10,270 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 710 m (2,330 ft)
- Distance: 4.7 km / One Way (2.9 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 8.6°
- Estimated Time: 3.5-5 hrs
- Technicality: Expert.I
- Fitness Level: Moderate
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After dumping stuff at Bow Hut, we switched gear for day pack and headed out for St. Nicholas Peak and Mount Olive. We brought our rope but condition seemed still good and we never used it.
To Nic/Olive col:
Nothing much... We started to go up little too early to the col we ended up scrambling on frozen scree on sleep terrain (page 6), but there is a easier slope to go up. We were little impatient.
The col to Mount Olive:
Generally speaking the ridge was pretty easy. There were few spots of tiny narrowness and chance of sliding down slope. Really the one part between the 2nd highest point and the summit, there were interesting rock blocks on the ridge that required hand use (page 17). I'm pretty sure with more snow this part will be more difficult but we didn't have too much problem.
The col to St. Nic:
From the col there isn't much distance or elevation gain at all. Most of the way up is rather easier and wider than how it appears from distance and that is true near the summit as well. However right before the summit defiantly we needed to use hands to scramble up the rocks (page 22). If that part is dry like the condition we had, it's only easy/moderate scrambling, but knowing the kind of slope below you, if you slide there... Dpending on snow condition it would make this ascent much more difficult.
If you are lucky enough to survive you can crazy carpet all the way back to the hut in no time from St. Nic. Show me the pride of cow town!! Let's go for the ride!!
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Going up to the icefield from Bow Hut.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Stopping to take picture with St. Nicholas.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Going around west side of St. Nic.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Scree was frozen. I was hugging rocks.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
St. Nic from Nic/Olive col.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Mt. Olive. Have to go over the first high point to get to the summit behind.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Approaching the first high point.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Looking back St. Nicholas.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Wapta Icefield and Mount Gordon.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Which high point is actually Gordon's summit?
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
St. Nicholas Peak
- Location: Banff National Park (Icefields Parkway)
- Activity: Mountaineering
- Height: 2,970 m (9,745 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 520 m (1,706 ft)
- Distance: 4.0 km / One Way (2.5 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 7.4°
- Estimated Time: 3-4 hrs
- Technicality: Expert.I
- Fitness Level: Moderate
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This is coolest Continental Divide Peak I have been.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Didn't take too much from the col.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Dan preparing for the final stretch.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
It's not that scary isn't it?
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Dan scrambling up the crux right before the summit.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Looking back Mount Olive.
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Mt. Olive to St. Nicholas | 2012-05-19
Dan told me to go boil some water. I didn't know what he meant because I didn't have stove with me. Next thing I know he kicked my pretty butt and I was rolling down the scary slope. While I was fighting for life, I realized he wanted me to go back to the hut real quick to boil some water so that when he comes back to the hut, hot water is ready for him.
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