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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Mount Willingdon
- Location: Banff National Park (Icefields Parkway)
- Activity: Mountaineering
- Height: 3,373 m (11,067 ft)
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What a shameful attempt... That's right. FULL of shame! Anyway, Heather, Andrea, and I went to Mount Willingdon on the Aug long weekend, but the weather forecast was pretty much crap. So our plan was hike in and climb Willingdon on Sat which had the best weather forecast, then hike out on Sun.
To Quartz Col:
Followed Mosquito Creek trail for 4 km. There was no cairn or anything and it can be missed, but there is another trail which goes to the col (waypoint "Left (Off-trail)"). This trail faded out after it took NW turn. Then where it made sense we crossed a creek roughly directly south of the col. From there we find another better trail and followed it little bit until we needed to start gaining elevation to the col.
Descending Quartz Col:
There was still good size snow patches which we had to downclimb and glissade. Ice axe and crampons recommended (See page 9 & 10). Roughly you will lose 300 m elevation for going down the col and additional 75 m traversing alpine meadow near Siffleur River.
Ascent of Willingdon:
From Devon Lakes, we took west route described in the 11,000er book which has a crown-like feature at the high point where the ridge makes 90 degree turn toward summit. Now I run out of energy and stopped and took nap while I waited for Heather, the crazy creature, to finish up the peak. So I can't give much more description but I do have a picture of the crux near the summit on page 16.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Moving on Mosquito Creek trail.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Very pretty valley. Quartz col is visible.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
On the way up we went left of high point in the center of the picture which is not Quartz col. It is right of the high point.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Looking back the valley from the col.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
What a view from the col.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
If I weren't with the ladies, I would have naked glissading. The advantage of men doing naked glissading is that we don't have to use ice axe. The mother nature gave us one.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Andrea hopping rocks. She is actually my neighbor, lives right around corner.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Mount Willingdon does not look tall at all in relation to other peaks around here.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Mount Willingdon from Devon Lakes. Still it doesn't look tall.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
Dumping camping gear and now got day pack which supposed to feel light, but I felt heavy. Very heavy. Too heavy…
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
The crux. Mouse over for another picture.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-03
This is where I stopped. My body didn't have any energy left. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is not human. Heather is a crazy creature.
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-04
Next day, it was supposed to be rain all day according to the forecast. When we waked up, it was cloudy and the summit was covered. Andrea and I still decided to give it a try to Willingdon, so we started eating. Then it started raining. We changed our mind and packed up everything to go back to the car. Then the weather improved and improved and improved...
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Mount Willingdon | 2013-08-04
The valley was so pretty. Prettier than Sunshine meadow.
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