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Buller North Ridge
Kananaskis, Alberta
October 18, 2005
Distance: 6.0 km (3.7 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 565 m (1854 ft)
Only after I ascended the north ridge of Mount Buller in the fall, did I realize it would make an excellent and safe snowshoe ascent in the winter. Later, this trip found its way into Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies.
When I climbed the north ridge, I was looking for an interesting ascent, and I wasn't disappointed. The full moon, clear skies and fresh snow worked together to provide fantastic scenery. I knew I would be stopped somewhere on the increasingly-steep grade – I didn't expect to reach a summit – but I wanted to get above the treeline to get some nice views. And I did. I picked a starting point based on a hiking route, but starting farther north on Spray Lakes Road would probably provide a gentler if longer climb on snowshoes. After reaching the ridge, I started ascending the ridge. Eventually, I turned around when it became too steep and snowy to continue, but not before taking in a grand view of Spray Lake and the surrounding snow-covered peaks.
Moon over The Fist
A sunlit Mount Smuts, The Fist and the moon
Commonwealth Peak
Ascending the ridge
Mount Bogart
View of Mount Buller from the top of 192407
I ascended a short way up the shoulder
Some interesting rocks in the basin north of Mount Buller
Mount Fortune (I think) on the left
Looking down the shoulder to GR192407
Mount Sparrowhawk (mouse over) and Read's Ridge
Windtower
Mount Buller
The north ridge seen from the road
82 J/14 Spray Lakes Reservoir