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Date |
Ascent Time |
Descent Time |
| 1st Time |
25 Jul 98 |
2:55 |
1:03 |
25 Jul 98 - Observation Peak is a wonderful climb. Technically,
the entire mountain is easy. The view is amazing and the summit can only be descibed as
spectacular. If it's a hot summer day, I highly recommend going to the icefields. To get
to this mountain, drive to Bow Summit along highway 93. Bow summit is just past Bow Lake.
You'll see a sign for Bow Summit and Peyto Lake. Right at the crest in the hill, you'll see
a dirt road on the right. Park on that road. With your back to Highway 93, you'll see
Observation Peak right in front of you. This mountain has two major drainage gullys.
Ascend this mountain along the right side of the left gully. There is no trail from where
you parked your car to get to the gully. You need to just wonder through the thick forest
for about 30 minutes. Eventually, you'll break free of the trees. Ths summit seen here is
actually a false summit. When you get to the top, you'll see the real summit about 15
minutes away (no real effort though). The arrow points to the approximate position of the
true summit.
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25 Jul 98 - About half way up the mountain, you'll come to a rockband.
If you do this correctly, you won't have to do any climbing. Of course if you want to "play"
there is plenty climbing around.
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25 Jul 98 - From the false summit, keep going the same direction.
Make you way down a short hill then up a very gentle hill. This isn't the summit either.
The real summit is to your left.
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25 Jul 98 - Here is the view from the summit, showing the last little
part of the trail. In the background, you can see Mt. Hector (H), Mt. Andromache (A),
Dolomite Peak (D), and Cirque Peak (C).
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25 Jul 98 - Here we see the eastern slope (the side you come up). In the
background, you can see Bow Lake with part of the Wapta Icefields above it.
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25 Jul 98 - When you're ready to go back down, make your way to the false
summit. From there, you have a decision. You can go back the way you came up, or you can
take the easier way down. As you face your car, the gully on the left is full of screen.
This is great for scree skiing. From the summit, you will see trails leading down through
the scree. Follow those trails, and you'll find yourself going down the left gully. I highly
recommend this route down. Of course, with all the scree, it would be a nightmare coming up
(worse than the side you came up).
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25 Jul 98 - Around the summit, you'll find lots of snow, but be careful
with this snow. A good bit of it doesn't have ground below it.
Click here for a larger version
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25 Jul 98 - As with most mountains, when you get to the top, you have to
sign the log book.
