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Date |
Ascent Time |
Descent Time |
| 1st Time |
20 Sep 98 |
2:40 |
1:16 |
20 Sep 98 - Mt. Wilcox is a great mountain to climb, but it's a long way
from Calgary. To get there, drive up the Icefields Parkway to the Icefields Information
Centre (200 miles from Calgary (3 hrs)). The drive up there is very scenic, especially if you're
driving as the sun comes up. The climb up Mt. Wilcox is non-technical and offers tremendous views
of Athabasca Glacier, Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, and the Snow Dome. Anyway, park in the parking lot at the Information Centre (which
is on the north side of the building). Walk around to the southeast side of the building and
look for a trailhead leading up the rocky slope leading toward a ridge.
The book
speaks of hiking Wilcox Pass Trailhead, but I think this is totally unnecessary. Hiking up the
ridge which lies behind the Information Centre is not a big deal.
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20 Sep 98 - From the Information Centre, walk over to where the buses
park. Walk up the hill (about twenty yards) and you will see some water tanks. I think
these are actually waste tanks, but that's another story. Walk around the tanks
counter-clockwise and as you pass them, look for a very small trail leading through the bushes.
This trail is only about a foot wide. This trail will eliminate bushwacking your way through
the trees, but if you can't find the trail, don't worry about it. The bushwacking isn't that
bad and it only lasts about fifteen minutes or so. Make your way toward the ridge. The further
south you go along the ridge, the easier the climb, but the further you will have to do in total
distance. Once you make it to the top of the ridge, you will need to turn left and head toward
Mt. Wilcox. For your information, once you clear the first ridge, you are now in Wilcox Pass.
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20 Sep 98 - After gaining Wilcox Pass, you will see Mt. Wilcox on your left and
Nigel Peak in front of you. Turn left and walk toward Mt. Wilcox. This is an easy peaceful walk.
You will eventually get to the mountain where you just follow the ridge to the summit. There are
very few places where you would actually need to use your hands, but when you need to, the
handholds are very solid.
Given the snow and slippery conditions, after reaching the summit,
I looked for an alternative way down. All along the ridge of Mt. Wilcox, you will see gullys branching
off into Wilcox Pass. Most of these provide a good way down. Plenty of scree skiing to be had
(or glissading if there is snow). I found this to be much faster then traversing back across the
southeast ridge. From the base of Mt. Wilcox, just head across Wilcox Pass to the first ridge you
came up. Look for cairns on your way down.
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20 Sep 98 - The best view from Mt. Wilcox is that of Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda,
and Athabasca Glacier. This is all shown here from left to right. I'll be climbing Mt. Athabasca in
October of this year with Yamnuska Mountaineering School.
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20 Sep 98 - Along the way to the summit, I came across this bird, which was
really neat. It didn't appear to be scared of me. I was able to stand within four feet of it
for about ten minutes, and it never seemed scared. I've been told that it's a ptarmigan. Pretty cool, eh?
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