Morrowmount

Morrowmount
Kananaskis, Alberta
April 10, 2004
Distance: 21.5 km (13.4 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1250 m (4101 ft)

When Dinah and I climbed Exshaw Ridge two weeks earlier, I saw this gold and silver mountain which impressed me to no end. Naturally I wanted to climb it. We would have fared better had we waited until later in the season, when we didn't have to posthole up a snow-covered creekbed, and when we didn't have to contend with the icy slabs below the summit that nearly stopped us.

The trip started at Jura Creek, up a popular trail. It leads to a false fault and canyon. Beyond that there was no trail, just a long stretch of valley. As we hiked, we focused on Morrowmount ahead; its lower orange slopes and upper gray ridge are easily recognized.

After hiking 9 km up Jura Creek, nearly to the end of the creek, we headed straight up the ridge from the junction of a gully and Jura Creek. Before reaching the ridgetop, we detoured right and around some cliffs. Once on the ridge, we continued hiking up. The grade was easy and the scree under our feet changed from orange to gray. Just before the top, we hit steep slabs. Although not a problem in dry conditions, much of the slabs were under snow, and we had to search for a dry section to climb up. Minutes later, we arrived on the summit where we were rewarded with far-ranging mountain views.

KML and GPX Tracks

Our approximate ascent route