01

Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Storm Mountain (Banff)
  • Location: Banff National Park
  • Activity: Scrambling
  • Height: 3,161 m (10,371 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 1,525 m (5,004 ft)
  • Distance: 11.6 km / Round Trip (7.2 mi)
  • Avg Steepness: 14.7°
  • Estimated Time: 6-9 hrs
  • Technicality: Intermediate
  • Fitness Level: Hard

Another solo scrambling and another late start. Left home at 9:00 for a long day. I knew Vern has done Storm Mountain in 6 hours but with snow, my estimate was 8 hours. Turned out to be it took me 9 hours but late start and early sunset made this trip into evening.

By the way I argue why people refer this summit as Storm Banff? I think it should be Storm Kootenay. Only time you will be on Banff side is at the parking and at the summit. Rest of the day is in Kootenay…

Approach:
What a chaotic approach this was… First of all, I had no hope of finding trail under 20 cm of snow, so I didn’t bother look around. Second of all, dead falls dead falls dead falls, of course… I didn’t use the drainage but stayed higher up. By doing so I might have reduced dealing with dead falls for 3%. However it was true by staying off the drainage I didn’t have to walk on snow covered rocks. Walking on snow covered soil is so much easier for sure.

Ascent:
Slog up. That’s it. Slog up the west slope!! I took slightly different route than Kane’s route however. He’s route seems to take the second gully from left to get an open rubble flatter slope below summit in his picture. I took the most left which also was marked with cairns. My way didn’t require any scrambling. Coming up, my way looked more of straight line toward the ridge top (page 6). Then I traversed to the summit after getting top of the ridge.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Talk about dead falls in this area…

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Here comes the cardio.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

It took a long way to get out of shadow. Finally I was high enough to get sun light.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Goodsirs.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

I have to admit it is getting harder to scramble… Snow season is almost here.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

I wonder if the ridge route on left is possible. I have to say it would be far better and enjoyable route if so. More time with views, no hassle with rubbles and boulders. As far as I could tell once on the top of the ridge, it is hiking all the way to the summit.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Finally the summit in sight. Getting orange.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

The summit view was awesome and time and weather played a good role on that.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

East, the highway 1 side.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Very thin clouds around Rockwalls made it pretty.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Time to go.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Sunset, the end of a beautiful day.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

While I was descending, suddenly I realized something was lighting snow from behind. I looked back and there it was almost full moon. In the picture it looks full moon but it wasn't.

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Storm Mountain (Banff) | 2011-11-06

Sauron moon version. Mr. FRODO!!

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