01

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Wendell Mountain
  • Location: Canmore
  • Activity: Scrambling
  • Height: 2,386 m (7,828 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 1,640 m (5,381 ft)
  • Distance: 20.5 km / Round Trip (12.7 mi)
  • Avg Steepness: 9.1°
  • Estimated Time: 6.5-9 hrs
  • Technicality: Intermediate
  • Fitness Level: Athlete

Above stats is an estimate for as if doing only the true peak. For the stats for the east peak please see page 9. For your curiosity, if you do both peaks in the same day like I did, it will be total of 24.1 km and 2250 m elevation gain... lol. That's more than Warspite-Invincible traverse which reached 26 km / 2030 m ele gain.

Since I miserably failed the last time due to stupid navigation errors, I had to redeem myself at Wendell Mountain. So this time, I decided to do not only the true peak but also the east peak as well. It is very easy to describe this trip was like. A lot of distance, a lot of bushwhacking, a lot of elevation gain and loss, a lot of scree, and none of bikini girls... (Come on it was 12ºC. Should be warm enough for Canadian girls. CMC valley is very quiet and has a nice dirty pond to bath.)

Anyway, I parked at Yamnuska parking lot and used Yam trail for approach. It really hard to tell where to go off-trail as I didn't see any sign. Best way to describe is it is about 950 m after the arrow rock U-turn point. After the arrow trail flattens for a while, then slope gets steeper. Keep going for another 100 m more or so then go off trail. There should be a grassy hill (page 2). Look for a most visible trail you can find while on the grassy hill. If you pick good one, the trail may keep continue into bush at bottom and you can minimize bushwhacking. Once at CMC valley, follow the creek. Eventually the creek leads to bush then dried out drainage (page 4) then scree to ascent (page 5). I took slab route to ascent and scree to descent. Obviously slab route but also scree route eventually becomes slabby near ridge top, so dry condition preferred. Scree was fine like Yamnuska's so enjoy scree run!! After slabby part of ridge is over, it becomes gentle hill walk all the way to the summit.

The route of east peak is clearly visible from bottom. Just follow the trail (page 9). Near ridge top, you have choice to go left to do some scramble on easy rock band or keep going straight (page 10). If you go straight, you will see a big cairn at ridge top. Once on the ridge simply follow the ridge. It is not as gentle as true peak's ridge, but still easy and there is no exposer.

02

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Grassy downhill I was talking about. Finding a right trail really makes difference how much bushwhacking you may face once at bottom. Trust me, I did so much more bushwhacking on the way back.

03

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Going down the grassy hill. At this point, I had high hope that I will see bikini girls…

04

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

It was my second time here, but still I was little disoriented which drainage was the correct one.

05

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

I personally prefer slab route not just because it easier to go up but also it cuts down distance and bypasses all the pinnacles on the ridge. (Mouseover to see routes)

06

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Lougheed 4 peaks and Windtower. Lougheed 3 peak traverse was another big scramble I have done. My favorite actually.

07

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Ridge was pretty much cake walk. Wendell reminds me of Middle Sister… Long approach, drainage walk, scree, and no bikini girls.

08

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

270º view from the summit. Every once in a while I heard shouts from Yam. I assumed that was when somebody fell off from Yam's cliff.

09

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Wendell East Peak
  • Location: Canmore
  • Activity: Scrambling
  • Height: 2,287 m (7,504 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 1,440 m (4,725 ft)
  • Distance: 16.0 km / Round Trip (9.9 mi)
  • Avg Steepness: 10.2°
  • Estimated Time: 5-8 hrs
  • Technicality: Intermediate
  • Fitness Level: Hard

Above stats is an estimate for as if doing only the east peak.

The east peak was pretty much straight forward. Follow the trail, get on the ridge and keep going on the ridge. Mouseover to see route.

10

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

This is where you can go left to play with this easy rock band or go straight up. If you go straight, you will see a cairn at the end.

11

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Two peaks in one picture!!

12

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Looks like Tower of Babel at Moraine Lake. I had to take a zoomed picture to make sure if some crazy person have made to that summit. I don't see any cairn (mouseover).

13

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Ridge was longer than true summit's ridge which actually made it more enjoyable.

14

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Wendell Mountain, true summit.

15

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Only few more steps to the glory of two-peaks in the same day.

16

Wendell True & East Peak | 2010-04-18

Usual panorama from the east peak. Again, this trip took me 9.5 hours... 0.5 hour too short to call this "Nugara Trip"…

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