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Ptarmigan Peak
Skoki, Banff National Park, Alberta
October 8, 2006

Distance: 21.4 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1370 m

Dinah and I didn't stay overnight at Hidden Lake like the Scrambles guidebook suggests but bagged Ptarmigan Peak as a one-day trip. And instead of ascending from Hidden Lake, we gained the lower slopes more directly.

We walked up Temple Road and continued up the trail that leads to the turnoff to Hidden Lake. We started up Hidden Lake trail and looked for a side trail or a break in the trees. But after hiking a few hundred metres, we didn't spot anything. So we backtracked almost to the campground where Dinah had noticed an odd break in the trees, 5-10 minutes from the Hidden Lake junction.

It looked like a cutline, yet it wasn't straight. There was no trail, but we passed easily through the trees up the steep slope. When the terrain levelled off, the cutline ended abruptly. However, the trees were thinner here, and the grade leading to the lower slopes of Ptarmigan Peak gentle. In a short time, we were next to the drainage that leads to the ascent route.

From here we plodded up the slope. When we hit scree, we kept well left of the drainage and stumbled upon a trail, likely the trail from Hidden Lake. The trail leads to the ridge and then turns right and goes up an unexpectedly steep slope.

We continued climbing until we gained the ridge. We were soon looking down at the exposed ridge just before the summit. Although there is a terrific drop on the left side, the wide, short section of the ridge is a walk. Beyond that, the ridge narrows and drops off so it's necessary to descend the right side. If it weren't for the snow, we would have dropped down a short, steep slope, but instead we took a couple more steps along the ridge and scrambled down a three-metre crack. We continued along the ridge to the slope leading to the summit five minutes away.

Well, if we had brought crampons it would have been five minutes. Here the slope was steep and the snow too hard to kick in. Using my ice axe, I hacked steps into the crusty snow until the grade eased so we could hike up the last few dozen metres.

Judging by the forecast, I had expected to summit in cloud, but we were greeted with a blue sky. The air was crystal clear so we could pick out distant peaks easily. There was no wind, but it was cold, below freezing as it had been all day.

We spent half an hour on the summit taking in the gorgeous views before heading down. Retracing our steps, we quickly made our way back to the lower slopes. When we came to the drainage, however, we decided to leave it and take a break at some massive boulders that appeared out of place in the otherwise featureless landscape.

After a short break, we made our way to the cutline and were back on the trail. Just before reaching Temple Road, the temperature rose above freezing for the first time for us.

Except for a couple of minutes of scrambling just before the summit, Ptarmigan Peak is a hike. And if we had summited in clouds, I'm sure I would have little good to say about this trip. But after arriving on the top, we forgot about the long approach and the scree slog as we took in the stunning views of Skoki Valley under blue skies.

MOVIE
KML and GPX Tracks


On the drive to the trailhead, we caught the sunrise


Ptarmigan Peak ahead


The turnoff to Hidden Lake is a couple minutes away from here


Ptarmigan Peak seen from the campground. The cutline is about 200 m up the trail.


The cutline (centre) seen from the trail


Ptarmigan Peak came into view soon after leaving the cutline


This drainage that leads to the lower slopes


The cutline got us through most of the trees


Looking back towards the valley where we came from. Mount Temple is in the centre.


We headed for the dip in the ridge. In the scree above us we came across a trail.


The summit is in the centre


Endless plod to get to the ridge


Hidden Lake


The grade steepened after we reached the ridge


On the ridge looking Looking west at Mount Richardson (far left) and Pika Peak (centre)


Just before the summit, there's an impressive drop on the left


Big drop on the north side. Zigadenus and Myosotis Lakes were named after scientific names of two common flowers: Zigadenus refers to white camas and Myosotis is forget-me-not.


Looking for a way down the crux where the ridge narrows. We ended up downclimbing on my left.


Looking back at the crux


The snow is too hard to kick in so I hacked in steps for some places


Taking in the scenery before heading to the summit


The summit is in the centre, still a few hundred metres away


On the summit


Molar Mountain seen from the summit


Skoki Mountain


Fossil Mountain


Mount Anthozoan, Heather Ridge, Mount Redoubt, Ptarmigan Lake and Redoubt Lake


Heading back to the the crux


Dinah scrambles up the three-metre crack to regain the ridge


Mount Redoubt fills our view ahead


Descending the steep slope. Hidden Lake below.


Taking a break at the boulders


Heather Ridge bracketed by two boulders


Mount Redoubt appears imposing from here


Looking back at Ptarmigan


Larch needles created a gold carpet on the trail back


82 N/8 Lake Louise

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