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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1189 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 11:07 AM
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2012-04-28
Distance: 22 km
Elevation gain: 1268 m
Time: 9 hours
Morrowmount is an unofficial name for this peak. The first time I saw it was while looking at the maps at the back of Gillean Daffern's Kananaskis Country Trail Guide (Third Edition, Volume 1). The name made me think this could be some place in a J.R.R. Tolkein novel. I found it fascinating and thought about exploring the area. Sometime after that, I saw Bob Spirko's trip report. He dispelled the fantasy. No dragons on the summit. :(
A number of people have gone up this summit since and reported a not so exciting slog. I decided this weekend I needed a long day in the mountains. To my surprise, a couple of people wanted to join me; Brittany and Neil.
We parked at the spot for Door Jamb and Loder and followed a path to Jura Creek. It was a bit chilly, so we warmed up with a scramble through the first canyon. There wasn't too much water in there, but some strategically placed logs helped us make our way through it.
Not long after, we encountered the second canyon. This time I followed the path above while Brittany and Neil tried to get through the canyon. The did fairly well, but were forced to climb out of it after getting to a tricky section near the end.
All three of us agreed that these canyons made this trip pretty fun and this approach a little more bearable.
Once past the second canyon, the trail disappeared and we followed the creek bed. Some parts had deep snow on the creek bank, and we were thankful that the water level was not higher. It allowed us to boulder hop through the creek until we got to the base of Morrowmount.
Orange coloured shale marked our way up. I struggled to keep up with my companions and took a couple of breaks along the way. We followed this orange shale until we were on top of it and looking at the grey coloured rock that marked the way to the summit.
The grey rock was loose, but presented no difficulties. Just below the summit there was a band of slab and though it was a bit steep, it was quite grippy. We walked up it with no problems.
Once on the summit, we took in the view. So many peaks could be seen from the top! Morrowmount seemed to tower over Yamnuska and Wendell. We had a snack, a quick break then continued on to the slightly higher north summit. The views were not too different here, but traversing the somewhat exposed ridge was kind of fun and offered some interesting photos.
We followed the same way down, until we reached the orange coloured shale. Here we searched for some good scree and found it. We made really good time getting down to the base. Following the creek back out felt much longer on the way back.
Photos:
                 
GPS Track:
[Download]
More photos here:
http://markostavric.fotki.com/2012/20120428/ |
Edited by - Marko on 04/29/2012 11:09 AM
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Van, BC
Canada
2786 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 11:08 AM
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Sweet looking canyons and ridgewalk :)
-Ryan
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155 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 2:57 PM
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Nice work, Marko! Morrowmount is one of the highest peaks in the area; definately worth the effort. Your trip brought back some funny memories from my Morrowmount ascent back in 2009. I bagged it by accident. My intention was to climb Mt. Wendell via the CMC valley, but made the wrong turn and ended up climbing the west ridge of Morrowmount. I didn`t realize it until I was high up on the ridge, which was more difficult than I anticipated. I fell over from laughing after I realized my mistake...
Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/peakhunter2009/MORROWMOUNT2540M |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1189 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 3:56 PM
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Raff, that's pretty funny. I was trying to guess the route you took, marking it red in the map below. I was looking at the ridge connecting from the north summit, thinking that it might be a difficult scramble, maybe a climb? (purple in the map below).
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 9:39 PM
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| That's it! I'm moving. If not for the great peaks - for the weather. Thanks for the pics. |
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155 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 10:55 PM
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| I believe the red line marks my route. The "Old Fort Peak", marked on your map, is it the cool looking tower in picture #7? Is the tower also known as Hassle Castle? I gained the col between this tower and Morrowmount and then followed the ridge to the summit. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1189 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 06:18 AM
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noman, I would think you'd get warmer temperatures over there?
Raff, Yeah I think that is Hassel Castle. I think Google Maps got the name "Old Fort Peak" from from the bivouac website. |
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737 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 2:38 PM
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Marko and Mtn Ninja, very cool area!
I can verify that "Old Fort Peak" is Hassel Castle. I've climbed it...looks much worse than it is but is still a difficult/climber's scramble. My original intention was to combine it with Morrowmount but I was a little short on time, having gone up in February (although there was mostly bare rock, I was either short on light or maybe I had to be back in Calgary due to some commitment).
I find it very interesting to see photos of Hassel from both of you...Hassle from both sides of the ridge as I have the same photos (from going up Morrowmount via Jura Creek and from going up Hassel from CMC Valley).
Maybe I'll have to revisit my plan to do the Hassel-Morrowmount traverse this spring...
Any takers?
Thank you for posting, Marko!
G |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1189 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 2:55 PM
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Grant, You tackled it from the north? Did you take that same route Raff took to get to the col?The one I marked red in the map above.
It looks more than just scrambling in this photo
It looked fairly dry, though I think there's been some new snow. Maybe in a week or two it'll be dry again. |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13448 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 5:54 PM
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Beautiful looking country it is.
K |
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155 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 9:26 PM
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Granticulus, can you tell us more about the route you took up Hassle Castle? If it`s not too much hassle for you, could you draw a line where you went up? You made me curious about this peak now.
Thanks so much. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 7:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MtnNinja
If it`s not too much hassle for you...
heh :D
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737 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 9:31 PM
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Marko and MtnNinja,
First of all, I offer to guide you both for a Hassel Castle-Morrowmount traverse if you're up for it (give it a few weeks first...the snow has to be gone and I have a wedding to attend). Keep in mind Hassel alone is a 1500m elevation gain day (remember the Yam hump that has to be done 2x).
Secondly, if you want to try it out on your own, here's the info and photos. I rank Hassel as either a difficult or climber's scramble. From what I remember (it's been over 2 years since I was there) there's loose stuff on VERY steep slabs. A fall = death on this one. 'Nuff said.
1)  2)  3)  4) 
1) Marko's map...follow the thick red line.
2) Marko's photo...follow the thick red line (hug the edge...the slabs are way too steep).
3) View of Hassel Castle from the Morrowmount Jura Creek approach some years ago
4) View of Hassel Castle from the CMC valley...not so intimidating from this angle, eh?
5)  6)  7)  8)  9) 
5) Intimidating view of Hassel Castle from just before the col from the CMC Valley approach
6) View from the col
7) View north towards Morrowmount from just below the col
8) The view up to the rock bands from when it starts to get steep
9) After the rock bands there's this last step (more ball bearings on slab)
Hopefully, you can tell why there shouldn't be any snow. This was in February of 2010. More snow falls in the March-May time period than the October-February period, I'm sure!
Let me know what you think. I'm very interested in revisiting this beauty.
Regards,
Granticulus |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1189 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 07:52 AM
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Thanks Grant. I read Rick Collier's trip report for this pinnacle. He refers to it as Old Fort Peak. Here's what he had to say:
quote:
http://bivouac.com//TripPg.asp?TripId=207
After a hike up Jura Creek and a long ascent to the ridge to the E, we made what might be the first ascent of Old Fort Peak. This is the obvious pinnacle on the ridge N of the Goat Traverse (near Yamnuska) at the head of the S branch of Old Fort Creek (82 O/3 GR: 288650). We hiked six kilometres up Jura Creek and then scrambled 550m to the base of the NW ridge of this pinnacle. From here we followed the ridge to a wall, which was turned on the right (W); then scrambling up slabs and gullies to the summit. There are two technical and very loose pitches on this route.
I think the Jura Creek approach makes more sense. However, it sounds like you might have taken an easier route up the pinnacle. Or the same route, but found it easier. :) With the warm week in the forecast, I wouldn't be surprised if this would be in condition by the weekend. However, I'm not sure I'll be up for it so soon after the Morrowmount slog. I'm thinking Association Peak.
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155 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 10:06 PM
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Thanks so much for the detailed info on HassleCastle, Granticulus! If I climb it this year, it will most likely be in the fall.
Cheers! |
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359 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 10:32 PM
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| Hassel Castle looks crazy / sweet in some of those pictures. A place I'd like to see in person. |
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Morrowmount
