Forum Peak to Akamina Ridge
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Just as I was looking for a long awesome winter scramble before we lose winter sense, Nugara posted his latest trip to Forum Peak on his website, and it grabbed me instantly. It was perfect because I could also visit my Canadian family in Crowsnest as well. I haven't seen them since last Christmas and it was time to get heck from mom... I thought I got rid of one from Japan... I guess I still have to deal with Canadian one... And yes my effort to visit them every weekend (since when?), my little niece finally recognized me.
I parked at Little Prairie parking as road was closed for winter. If you do this in summer you can park right at the Akamina Pass trailhead. The trail was well used and pounded that despite of fresh snow from night before, I didn't have to hustle to break trail. At wayponit "Turn Left" I got off from the trail and started bushwhacking. There should be a cut line to indicate AB/BC boundary but I didn't see it while I was on Akamina Pass Trail (page 3). But trees weren't dense and soon I came across the cut line. Once on cut line all you have to do is to stay on the cut line. It will lead to a steep hill which Nugara describes as "the big hill". After the hill, trees thin out and ridge becomes narrower and eventually ridge hits the crux, rock band (page 5 and 6). If you are not confident to scramble the crux, you can still take Forum Lake Trail which I marked as "Alternate Route". I have never taken this trail but according to map, this trail goes to the col between Akamina Ridge and Forum Peak.
There is nothing technical or navigation required once on the top of Forum Peak. The ridge is wide and hiking all the way to the other side of Akamina Ridge. Simply enjoy the view. Akamina Ridge has 3 notable peaks, center one being the highest, where I marked as "Akamina Ridge". Having said that, from Forum to waypoint "Peak 2" (page 15), it was icy and using crampons are recommended. At the end of the ridge, you will see a cairn (waypoint "Cairn 3") where descent begins. Descent route is avalanche terrain and I sew knocked down trees from the past as well as avalanche debris from this winter. (after waypoint "Cairn 3") Checking condition before your trip is highly recommended.
Once on the bottom, stay on trail and hike back to the parking lot. I am guessing in summer condition, you should not have problem finding Wall Lake Trail. Enjoy Akamina's cliff wall and Wall Lake on the way back.
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Forum Peak and connecting ridge to Akamina Ridge from road. Actually the peak which appears as the highest point in this picture (right) is the second highest point of Akamina.
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Cut line to indicate AB/BC boundary. Once get off from Akamina Pass Trail, stay on this cut line which will lead you to Forum's ridge.
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Cameron Lake below and Mount Custer in USA.
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The ridge became narrower as it got closer to the crux, the rock band.
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There is disagreement between Kane and Nugara about this rock band. Kane rates this route as moderate while Nugara describes this crux as "some 5th class moves". (See Nugara's website) Both Nugara and I did this in winter condition and that made this scramble more difficult but still I don't think this rock band should be rated moderate. I spent probably 30 minutes trying to find a weakness and possible way up. I tried from center and failed. I went to the right and tried few times and finally I succeeded but if you see from previous page, right side is exposed and fall can be fatal. It was the time I wished I were a cartoon character. And I was dumb enough I didn't read whole thing from Nugara's website beforehand, the rock band was quite surprise for me. (￣_￣ i)
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Lucky me. The first time since last fall, I brought my summer globes. The green monster, Hulk gloves!! Without them, I probably could not scramble up the crux.
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After the crux there were more rocks but I went to the right and there was a nice easy crack which lead me to the summit.
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Some serious cliff.
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View from the summit of Forum Peak was superb.
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Hairy zombie snowmen.
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Interesting texture.
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Akamina Ridge. Three peaks (from left) were the peaks I hiked staying on the official trail. Like Forum Peak, top of the ridge was easy but down below there was some serious cliff business going on.
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To the first major peak of Akamina Ridge.
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I was looking for a "winter" scramble and yes I got that, but I was only talking about snow and scenery wise, not -10° temperature and constant wild winds. Reminded me of hikes in last October and November… Well it's Waterton…
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The long cornices hanging over east face of Akamina Ridge.
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View from waypoint "Peak 2". After this ridge, there wasn't much snow. These bloody strong winds… Mouseover to see names.
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From the highest point of Akamina Ridge. Looking down outlier and snow pit.
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I don't know which mountain this is but this one really does stands out. Somewhere in BC far from Waterton. (I used x19 zoom)
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North side of Akamina.
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Going towards Wall Lake. I can't believe this didn't go over 10 hours and score Nugara trip. (I call anything longer than 10 hours as "Nugara trip") It took me 9.5 hours.