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Mount Richardson
Skoki, Banff National Park, Alberta
August 3, 2003
Distance: 23.2 km (14.4 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1300 m (4265 ft)
Mount Richardson is largely a hike, but It's nearly 9 km to hike to Hidden Lake. There is no trail from Hidden Lake to the col, but Dinah and I headed for an obvious horn-shaped rock on the col where a good trail begins. The ascent was straightforward from there and follows the south ridge to the summit.
Postscript: The following year, an inexperienced woman fell to her death on Mount Richardson.
On the trail to Hidden Lake
Mt. Richardson before reaching Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake
The col is left, just out of sight
Fireweed brightened the slopes
Slabs on the lower slope
Higher up, the slope gives way to talus
Looking back at Hidden Lake
After reaching the col, we started up the ridge (mouse over to look back)
The trail follows the ridge
Looking back along the ridge
Slogging up scree to the false summit
We finally reached the rocks above the scree slope
Pika Peak above the col
Pika Peak lies east (mouse over for a close-up)
First cairn (far left) marks the false summit. The true summit is some distance away.
The summit ridge is nearly flat
On the summit
Mount Redoubt above Hidden Lake
Coming back down the trail in the scree
Standing on the rock where the trail begins
82 N/8 Lake Louise
