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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1198 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 5:26 PM
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2012-04-21
I think the official name of Exshaw Mountain applies to the small bump near Exshaw, so I figured I would call this the Exshaw Mountain extension. I tried this trip around the same time last year and there was so much snow that I didn't get very far. This time I took a different approach and followed Exshaw Creek until I saw a dry way up.
It took me a while to get up the ridge, but mainly because I've been out of shape all winter. There was very little bushwhacking and very little snow on the route I took up. Where I topped out on the ridge, there was a lot of snow. It was up to my hips in places. I was wishing I brought my snowshoes and didn't think my traverse would be too successful. Fortunately further north along the ridge was fairly snow free. I followed the ridge for a while and it was quite enjoyable. I wanted to go further, but a time commitment had me turning around before I reached the highest point.
On the way back I decided to drop back down to Exshaw Creek and follow it back out. I'm not sure that this was the best idea, because there was still a lot of snow down there. It was quite wet and unsupportive. Often I would fall through right into the creek. My feet were completely soaked by the time I got back to the car.
There were no technical difficulties encountered. This was mainly an easy scramble/difficult hike.
Unfortunately I forgot my memory card and just took photos with my iphone. It certainly didn't do it any justice.
Approximate Stats
Distance: 19km roundtrip
Elevation gain: 900m
Time: 7 hours
Photos
         
More photos here:
http://markostavric.fotki.com/2012/20120421/
GPS Track
[Download]
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Edited by - Marko on 04/23/2012 5:29 PM
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 11:34 AM
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This part is officially Exshaw Ridge.
Looks pretty nice despite the phone photos. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1198 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 1:24 PM
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I thought about referring to it as Exshaw Ridge, but I think it's funny for a "ridge" to be higher than the "mountain." It's kind of like Buchanan Ridge and Buchanan Peak. One would naturally think the latter would be higher.
How do you tell if a name is official? I usually check http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca and didn't see it in there. I think Gillean uses "Exshaw Ridge" in her guidebook, though it's pretty apparent that she doesn't use official names for everything. I was pretty disappointed to see her reference the name "Half-Past Midnight Peak." That name is pretty silly. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 5:40 PM
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I thought it was on the maps. I might have assimilated the name without proper verification. I do tend to take popular assent as official regardless of government records. When multiple names compete they don't seem official to me.
Personally, I favour 'Exshaw Ridge' for the ridge, and 'Exshaw Hill' for the bump. Calling that thing a mountain is a huge stretch even without the much higher ridge behind it. It's not like there aren't any mountains around Exshaw so it's bereft of reasonable comparisons. Let's just call a hill a hill.
'Midnight Peak' seems a lot more appropriate than 'Half-Past Midnight Peak', but then we do have peaks like Cegnfs and the official 'Mount Fifi'... |
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737 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 11:17 AM
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Speaking of un/official names...I notice that there's an "Old Fort Peak" on your GPS map... I have to say that I've never heard of that nor seen it on any map before.
Glad to see you're getting out there, Marko.
Here's one you may consider: Prairie Mtn, down the northwest ridge, up SW ridge of Moose Mountain to summit, doubling back but taking the SE ridge back to Prairie where you can either go back up Prairie or follow the road out back to 66. Usually not much snow up top. I did this a few months ago at the end of December and quite liked it. Even saw a small herd of mountain goats.
Regards,
Granticulus |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1198 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 11:38 AM
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Grant, I noticed that too. There was a discussion about this on clubtread sometime ago:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35448
I don't know where Bivouc gets these names. I think people just come up with whatever.
I did manage to get a picture of it though.
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1198 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 1:09 PM
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| Looks like this also may be known as "Hassle Castle" according to Gillean Daffern's book |
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206 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 2:09 PM
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Old Fort Creek is just to the north / north east of it and is on maps.
Cheers,
Dan |
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737 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 2:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Marko
Grant, I noticed that too. There was a discussion about this on clubtread sometime ago:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35448
I don't know where Bivouc gets these names. I think people just come up with whatever.
I did manage to get a picture of it though.
Ahh! I just responded to your Morrowmount post and totally knew the mountain by the name that Gillean gives it! Odd how I forgot about my comment on this post here! Yeah, definitely Hassel Castle (for the reasons that I stated on your Morrowmount post).
Your photo above makes it look very climbable from the south...I didn't get that impression when I was on the summit. I summitted Hassel Castle from the north ridge after I gained the col between it and Morrowmount from the CMC Valley.
Regards,
G |
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Exshaw Mountain Extension
