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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Gusty Peak
- Location: Kananaskis Country (Highway 742)
- Activity: Scrambling
- Height: 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,225 m (4,019 ft)
- Distance: 16.0 km / Round Trip (9.9 mi)
- Avg Steepness: 8.7°
- Estimated Time: 5-8 hrs
- Technicality: Intermediate
- Fitness Level: Hard
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Signed up for Calgary Scrambling and Mountaineering Club (CSMC)’s Gusty Peak event. I wanted to go there when it was sunny day but it didn’t happen instead it was cloudy just like the day I went Galatea. I guess I don’t have much luck with that area.
Approach is quite easy. We parked at Chester Lake parking and follow the trail to Chester Lake. From there we went around the lake to northeast side into the valley between Gusty and The Fortress. Before we reaching a small lake (GR230317), we already started ascending on lovely scree. From the bottom of the slope there seemed few lines of rockbands, but these were mostly slab lines and easily scramble them (page 5). Also note that like The Tower, I found what appears to be the tallest point (left while hiking up slope) is not the peak but actual peak was on right side while on slope. Much of difficulty here was rock falls from someone ahead.
I had a plan to traverse from The Fortress to Gusty after reading a trip report from izsak02.com. As the website indicated it would be a challenge but as far as I could see from the summit of Gusty I think yes it’s doable!! However disappointingly the Gusty / Fortress col dips almost near the bottom, that it’s might be faster to take normal routes to do the two peaks in one day like Bob Spirko did.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Going up wide Chester Lake trail.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Up on valley. Very similar to Galatea approach.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
In the morning, summit was cloud covered. I rather want chocolate covered.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Once again, it's often difficult to tell the true summit from bottom. Mouseover for line.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
There were 12 people and 1 dog. I am not used to such a big party.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Again approach was similar to Galatea only Gusty's slope was less steep.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Sphere-shot on Mount Galatea side.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Sphere-shot on The Fortress side.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Little more clear sky in east.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Siva and Thomas on the summit.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Checking The Fortress/Gusty traverse route. Looks to me it's a challenging scramble. Nice! But it's not nice how deep this col dips.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Siva, Jennifer and Thomas. Team team team team…? I don't remember what they said about the team name.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
The Fortress to Mount Chester ridge. Don't think this one is doable.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
Weather got better at the end of the day not while we were up there…
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
It was the second time with CSMC and also second time with the club organizer Tom as well.
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Gusty Peak | 2010-10-09
I don't like fall. Color is dead… I want green or white!
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