Mount Stevens and Teepee Mountain

View from Teepee Mountain

Mount Stevens and Teepee Mountain
Cranbrook, B.C.
July 31, 2010
Distance: 14.0 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1650 m

Mount Stevens and Teepee Mountain are a straightforward, and I should add, straight-up hikes. Save for a dip near the beginning, it's an unrelenting steep ascent to reach Mount Stevens followed by a relaxed traverse of the col and a steep climb to the higher Teepee Mountain.

On Sonny's invitation, Dinah and I joined him for a weekend in B.C. On our first day, we climbed Stevens and Teepee, northeast of Cranbrook and about a 1.5 hour drive from Fernie.

A good trail climbs the wooded slopes, so easy we gained nearly 500 m in the first hour, although with trees blocking our views there was no reason to tarry. After gaining another 500 m, trees began to fall away, and we got glimpses of distant scenery. And then the summit ridge of Stevens came into view.

The ridge rose above the treeline like a rocky spine, yet it was an easy hike up the trail to the summit. Three hours after starting, we were on the summit. Teepee Mountain was close, but first we stopped for lunch.

There was little to see from Stevens. It was cloudy, and views west across the Kootenay River Valley were hazy. Northeast, we noted dark clouds where a distant storm rumbled.

After lunch we dropped 60 m down to the col and ascended 200 m to Teepee's summit. The added exertion was worth it. From it's summit, Stevens looked like an insignificant bump. After a long stay, we headed back.

Two and a half hours later, we were back at the car. Dinah and Sonny were left with sore feet after pounding back down the trail, but we were all pleased with our efforts.

KML and GPX Tracks
Sonny's Trip Report

Mount Stevens trailhead