bobspirko.ca | Home | Canada Trips | US Trips | Hiking | Snowshoeing | MAP | About
Hawk Mountain
Jasper National Park, Alberta
August 24, 2003
Distance: 16.8 km (10.4 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1670 m (5479 ft)
Hawk Mountain is a long but interesting scramble. From a pullout, Dinah and I followed the trail to the lower slopes of Hawk before turning off. Above the treeline, we found a good trail and the crux is well-marked. We ignored the chimney and scrambled easily up the right side, although it was quite exposed.
After that, it's a long ascent to the ridge crest. It's quite steep in places, and I thought a slip would send me sliding down a short way. Once on the ridge, however, it becomes a delightful ridgewalk albeit a long one interrupted by several false summits.
The route time in the book seems to be rather optimistic. Some parties have taken as much as 11.5 hours to complete the trip. We managed a 9-hour trip, less 20 minutes spent on the summit, at a steady but comfortable pace. However, the lower end of 5 hours stated in the book appears to be exceptional. Whatever the time it takes, it's a worthwhile peak with good scrambling, interesting rock and great views.
MOVIE
Hawk Mountain from the highway
Hiking up the trail
Athabasca River
Negotiating deadfall on the lower slopes
Looking back as we made our way to the crux
The crux: the chimney is left but it's easier to climb to the right although exposed
A steep climb after the crux
Switching ridges: after ascending half of the elevation gain, the summit is still far off (far right)
We started looking for a place to regain the ridge
We followed what appeared to be a sidewalk!
We're back on the ridge
The views behind unfolded as we climbed higher
Routefinding was usually easy
Terrain varies along the way, always interesting
The rest is a long but interesting ridge walk with little scrambling and lots
of false summits like the one ahead
Impressive-looking ridge section
Looking back along the ridge
One of the more interesting sections
Climbing up a chute
Looking back along the ridge
The river lies far below
Nearing the summit
The summit
Heading back down
Back at the top of the crux
Dinah carefully descends the crux
83 E/1 Snaring River
