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Grotto Mountain (Direct Route)
Kananaskis, Alberta
March 13, 2004
Distance: 8.7 km (5.4 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1380 m (4528 ft)
Grotto Mountain provides a good workout in early season when other peaks are still snowbound. I've been up it a few times using both the ACC route and the direct route. Here Dinah and I climbed it using the direct route which stays right of the massive gully system. Unlike the ACC route, It's steeper and mostly off trail. But the routefinding and the immense cliffs make it more interesting. However, both trips begin at the Alpine Club of Canada site.
Grotto Mountain from the highway
View of the summit before we crossed over to the ridge on the right
Looking south at The Three Sisters
One of the steeper sections
Halfway up the slope we came across this memorial
Hiking along the cliffs
Looking back
Looking across the huge basin
The summit is ahead
We followed the edge of the canyon while heading toward the summit
The scree slope begins at the treeline
The last part was a slog
Almost on the ridge
Hiking along the ridge to the summit
82 O/3 Canmore
