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Vancouver, BC
Canada
600 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 4:40 PM
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I believe this is 1st TR of this hike on Club Tread; I'll give a bit more info. But first the summit pano that just about sums it all up:
This half-day trip first came to my attention after I saw report on Bob Spirko site http://www.bobspirko.ca/Hiking/Kananaskis/SouthEndLawson/SouthEndLawson.html; it is also included in latest edition of K-Country Trail Guide Vol 1.
 Parking is at gated Trans-Alta road, some 2km along Smith Dorrien just after the road makes 180 bend and rises south towards Peninsula Day Use access road. First part - about 15 minutes of fast walk -- is flat along Kent Creek diversion ditch and can easily be biked, although it is probably not worth considering short distance. It was partially snow covered with frequent signs of mtn sheep presence:
 
Only possibly confusing part is at the end of this access road; correct way is to cross Kent Creek and head up immediately after marked Penstock showshoe trail splits off; there is also cairn on the other side. From there on the way is logical -- up following forested ridge crest that is steep initially but fairly soon becomes moderate with occasional views on right (east) side:
 
Soon after this I ran into snow; I didn't take snowshoes, and I regretted. For about an hour I was postholing, sometimes up to my waist. If doing this hike early in the season it pays to stay left (west) as much as possible -- it is drier. But the views back to Kananaskis Lakes at treeline were well worth the price:
There was a bit of dip after lower summit, followed by enjoyable snow-free ridgewalk:
Finally I reached summit cairn with unobstructed views in all directions. About 750 m elevation gain; with all postholing it took me almost 3 hours -- in summer ascent can likely be done in 1.5 - 2 hrs. Summit views:
   
1. Summit Cairn looking North. True summit of Mt. Lawson upper left
2. Summit Cairn looking South. Awe-inspiring panorama of K-lakes that are just starting to thaw
3. Zoom north -- several Kane scrambles are visible. Mt. Kidd right, south Kidd center left with Mt. Bogart peeking behind. Fortress ski-area in foreground
4. Zoom on Mt. Lawson. Intervening dip (not seen on photo) would not be a problem, but I could not tell if final section before the summit would pose difficulties if approached from this direction.
After about an hour of soaking it all in I returned same way; descent was about twice as fast as I was able to reduce some postholing. Final note to photographers: It pays big time to come here late in the afternoon / early evening. Sun will be just in right angle for pano views south to K-lakes area.
I can not recommend enough this hike; as mentioned in the book it is destined to become very popular. |
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 canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6768 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 9:52 PM
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Looks really good, pics always remind me of something in Alaska.
Thanks for adding this trip to the T/R's |
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505 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 10:10 PM
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Awesome looking country, great day out!
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
600 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 1:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Aqua Terra
Looks really good, pics always remind me of something in Alaska.
Thanks for adding this trip to the T/R's
Forgot to mention, this would be excellent year-round objective. It is quick enough to be done comfortably during short winter days. Higher up I even spotted someone very old showshoe tracks. Flipping Nugara "Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies" book I see it is included there as well under 'Little Lawson Peak' |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
615 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 10:00 AM
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| Looks great! Thanks for sharing. |
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South End of Lawson
