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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
112 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2012 : 08:43 AM
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Those who have yet to tackle the Mt. Cory scramble near Banff may benefit from our experience this past weekend. From the roadside pullout as described, a trail leads across the powerline ROW into the trees, where it branches shortly afterwards. The strong trail turns West (left) while a faint game trail snakes off to the right. It is the right-hand trail that leads to the correct rib! This we discovered some 3 hrs. later when we dead-ended on a knob that did not connect to the summit. Evidence of serious downclimbing and campfires testified to some past epics at this spot, but AFAIK it will not go. PS...don't be influenced by blue flaggaing which appears unrelated to the access trail as it continues in both directions!
We returned and finished the climb the next day and enjoyed fantastic views from the summit, which had only seen four other groups this year according to the scrap of paper in the register cannister. I'd encourage anyone interested to make a note in Kane simply because the false trail is so easily followed. Happy Trails :-)
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Calgary, Alberta
318 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2012 : 09:07 AM
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http://www.truedino.com/mtcory.htm
Getting There
Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1, continue past the town of Banff a few kilometers and take the Bow Valley Parkway turnoff also called the old 1A highway. From this turnoff travel west 1.9km or 1.6km from the sign for the Fireside Picnic area to a right side paved pull-off on the shoulder of the Parkway. This pull-off should have a small footpath leading into the trees, if not, you are not at the correct one.
Route Description
Take the footpath for about a minute and when it starts to head left leave the trail and head to the right through a brief section of trees towards the cliff face. When you reach the open hillside traverse it further to the right until you see a gully to access the ridge proper. When on the ridge proper there is a trail, faint in some spots but basically you are headed straight up the ridge right of center for 2 to 2 ½ hours. This will bring you up to a small meadow, now the more interesting stuff begins. At the meadow traverse around to the left side into a dip and begin scrambling up and down the broken ridge to the final summit slopes. From the meadow it takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours to reach the North summit which is slightly higher than the South summit.
Hope this helps! |
Edited by - mtnview on 08/12/2012 09:15 AM |
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50 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2012 : 10:16 AM
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| I have no idea why so many people get lost here. It's pretty straight forward. Rockies (calgary) scramblers are way to used to some one else blazing the way for them. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2012 : 11:42 AM
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| I think that since the scrambles book was published back before many areas had trails, the book rates certain routes as easy scrambles which should no longer be considered so, due to the excellent trails and lack of route-finding necessary. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it means that people to Yamnuska, Fairview, Heart, and Chinaman's, consider themselves a scrambler, and don't realize they haven't developed the skills needed for less-trailed routes. So many so-called scrambles *have* trails, that people don't realize that a lack of trail is a big part of scrambling, and don't know how to routefind, and struggle when they try their first peak that requires a bit of it. |
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741 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 9:21 PM
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Trail Talk, when I did Cory last summer I gained the ridge by turning right almost immediately - as in some 20-30m off the trail that leads from the parking turnout. I don't remember where I got the tip but it sure worked. It was a minimal bushwhack through sparse vegetation and the ridge was right there.
I remember being a bit concerned due to conflicting reports but I was reassured very quickly (within mere minutes of leaving the car). So that's something for anyone considering going up Cory...if you've been hiking 10 minutes and not sure if you're on the right track, you probably aren't. You should be either going up the ridge or on the ridge (and going up!) well within 5 minutes of leaving your car.
I had little time for mistakes as I was also searching for a route from Cory's summit to Mt Edith via Cory Pass that doesn't lose any unnecessary elevation (which was successful, thankfully).
Regards,
Granticulus |
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Mt. Cory access trail
