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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Yukness Mountain
- Location: Yoho National Park
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 2,847 m (9,341 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,110 m (3,642 ft)
- Distance: 13.5 km / Loop (8.4 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 9.3°
- Estimated Time: 6-9 hrs
- Technicality: Expert.2b
- Fitness Level: Hard
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Million thanks and kisses to Andrea who booked the bus to Lake O’Hara without even asking if we wanted to go. Scrambling Yukness Mountain ranked number 1 in my list. We had the perfect weather to enjoy this very special place for entire day. By the way, million punches to Shaun who forced me to drive HIS car!!
We were little worried about the time available for us because our bus was the last bus to O’Hara. We started hiking at 11:00 am and the last bus to parking was 6:30 pm, so we had about 7.5 hours to complete Yukness. (According to Kane’s book this should take 6 to 9 hours.) We hasted to Yukness. I don’t even know which trails we took, I was only following the two ladies, Andrea and Heather. Knowing their pace I knew it would be hard to keep up and it was. I think they were trying to kill me. o(TﾍTo)
From Opabin Lake, there were so many cairns to indicate trail. We followed Kane’s route going up the gully until we hit cliff. This cliff can be avoided by taking ledges near waypoint “Red Paint” which a small rock was painted red to show hikers the way up (page 25). Or you can scramble up the cliff if you are comfortable. After the cliff we traversed to the south peak, the true peak. Kane describes to stay low from the col but we ignored his description and went to the ridge top which offered us magnificent view. At the end of this ridge, there was a huge cairn (page 8, waypoint “Big Cairn”). I believe this cairn was made by people who ignored Kane’s route like us but got stuck because to go forward, now it was no longer moderate scramble, but rather exposed difficult scramble. So be careful if you can’t do difficult scramble, you really have to find and follow Kane’s route. By scrambling up steep terrain (page 10) we ended up at the top of the iconic pinnacle in Kane’s book (page 11). After the pinnacle, trail fades little so look for cairns. The way is to walk steep sidehill till the summit (page 12).
Despite Kane’s 6-9 hour estimate, we made the summit in 2.5 hours and we had a lot of extra time, so we took a nice long break then decided to go to the north summit. We went back the same way to the ridge and from there pretty much we followed a trail to the north summit. Unlike south summit there were no difficulties.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
No time to take pictures but I managed to keep up with the ladies and take panoramas. Mary Lake.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Hungabee Lake. Two lower peaks are Wiwaxy Peaks. Taller peak right of the two peaks is Mount Huber.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Opabin Glacier and Opabin Pass. Peak left is Yunkness. Peak & ridge (right) are Mount Biddle and Schäffer Ridge.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Ascent route. Quite obvious from Opabin Lake.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Again Opabin Glacier & Opabin Lake.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
At the col. Ridge to the big cairn which you can actually see in the picture. The summit is higher peak behind the cairn.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
At the big cairn. Andrea became "I'm at the summit" mode which confused me then I realized "oh… She thinks this is summit lol"
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Lake Oesa and surrounding peaks. What a view!!
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Trail from the big cairn became very advanced. Ali scrambling up steep terrain.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Without realizing we were standing on the top of this iconic pinnacle.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
After the pinnacle it became harder to see and follow trail.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
At the summit of Yukness. I have been few places but THIS is hard to beat!!
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
What a beautiful day and unbelievable views and the best part, all for us!! Just us!! After scrambling under too many questionable weather conditions in July, this was well deserved.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Mount Biddle and Schäffer Ridge.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Downclimbing difficult steps near the pinnacle. This route is defiantly not moderate.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Took us about 1 hour to traverse to the north summit from the true summit.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Second time scrambling with Heather. Mouseover for names.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Ringrose Peak (left) and Hungabee Mountain (right).
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Lake O'Hara (right) and Mary Lake (left) down below. Odaray Mountain (left).
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Warm sunny day, it seems Andrea always takes a nap at summits.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Team the Man!! From left, Ali, Heather, Andrea, Shaun, and me.
(Photo By Ali Shariat)
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
On the way back, looking back the south summit.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
This is where you find the weakness in this cliff. Look for a rock painted in red. (You will be coming from right side of this picture.)
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Going back to Opabin Lake.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
With extra time we had, we decided to go around Opabin Lake.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Lake O'Hara. It was the day to remember… I never took so many pictures in one scramble. I took over 300 pictures. About 180 pictures are used to make 53 panoramas.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
We drove around Yoho to find a campground which weren't full. Takakkaw Falls near Takakkaw Falls Campground which of course was full.
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Yukness Mountain | 2010-07-17
Finally we found a campsite with help from a park lady.
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