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Shunga-la-she
Kananaskis, Alberta
November 3, 2001
The name alone, Shunga-la-she, was enough to attract my interest. I hadn't any information on climbing it, but I had studied the peak a week early from the east ridge of Mount Burns. As I expected, Shunga-la-she is a straightforward scramble with enough changing scenery to make it an interesting and worthwhile trip late in the season.
From the Bluerock parking lot, Gert, Vic, Dinah and I headed west on an old road. After about 30 minutes (2 km), we dropped down on the left side and crossed the Sheep River where a river bend comes close to the road (581074). After climbing up a gully, we followed the ridge on the right side and made our way up to some huge but inaccessible caves. Above the caves, we headed right, up a treed slope until we popped out of the trees.
After several minutes of climbing, we emerged onto a scree slope. When we reached a cliff band, we skirted left to a weakness and scrambled up to the ridge. Once on the ridge, the way became clear, mostly a hike to the top.
If we hadn't run out of daylight, we would have continued on to the higher unnamed peak at 569043.
Postscript: After the bridge over Sheep River was repaired in 2013, most parties start the ascent there before connecting with our route. See Sonny's route for details.
Our approximate route
Shunga-la-she from the road. The caves are at the bottom.
Dinah fords the Sheep River
Making our way up the gully
Climbing to the caves, Dinah, Vic and Gert exaggerate their fear of the exposure
Dinah stands above one of the caves
On the scree above the treeline
Across Sheep River is the east ridge of Mount Burns (mouse over for a close-up)
Skirting a cliff band. Gibraltar Mountain behind us.
On the ridge
The false summit is in the centre. A sheep trail heads toward an unnamed peak (569043).
Vic jumps for joy on the summit
82 J/10 Mount Rae
