Dist: 10.5km Elev: 1370m Summit: 10,237' Time: 6h Difficulty: 5/5
Mount Sparrowhawk is one of the few 10,000+ ft peaks in the Kananaskis Range, and Byron and I wanted to try to bag it before the season was officially closed. Despite waist-deep powder at times, we still managed to accomplish our goal. Unfortunately, a cloud also decided to join us on the summit and views were virtually nonexistant. A good excuse to return another time!
Trail Description:
Park in the Sparrowhawk day-use area, 22 km beyond the Canmore Nordic Centre on Smith-Dorrien / Spray Trail (Hwy 742). The trail begins on the east side of the highway, moderately ascending into the trees. After about an hour of aggressive climbing on a clear yet rocky and rooty trail, we reached a ridge that revealed views of Reed's Tower on the right and Mount Sparrowhawk in the distant left. Sparrowhawk required dropping down from this ridge and following the base of Reed's Tower before climbing the steep scree slopes that continue all the way to the summit. Great views of Sparrowhawk's impressive peak offered motivation during the taxing ascent heading towards the right (south) side of the summit block. The final push to the summit was challenging, requiring frequent hands-on scrambling in very deep snow. The panorama from Sparrowhawk's summit is (supposedly) one of the best in Kananaskis, so I was a but disappointed about not getting to enjoy the visual rewards for our hard work. Nonetheless, Byron and I once again bonded over physical exertion in less-than-ideal weather conditions, and I will remember this trip very fondly.
Park in the Sparrowhawk day-use area, 22 km beyond the Canmore Nordic Centre on Smith-Dorrien / Spray Trail (Hwy 742). The trail begins on the east side of the highway, moderately ascending into the trees. After about an hour of aggressive climbing on a clear yet rocky and rooty trail, we reached a ridge that revealed views of Reed's Tower on the right and Mount Sparrowhawk in the distant left. Sparrowhawk required dropping down from this ridge and following the base of Reed's Tower before climbing the steep scree slopes that continue all the way to the summit. Great views of Sparrowhawk's impressive peak offered motivation during the taxing ascent heading towards the right (south) side of the summit block. The final push to the summit was challenging, requiring frequent hands-on scrambling in very deep snow. The panorama from Sparrowhawk's summit is (supposedly) one of the best in Kananaskis, so I was a but disappointed about not getting to enjoy the visual rewards for our hard work. Nonetheless, Byron and I once again bonded over physical exertion in less-than-ideal weather conditions, and I will remember this trip very fondly.
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| The trail starts by climbing relentlessly for the first hour or so, finally offering this view of Reed's Tower |
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| For Reed's Tower, continue on this ridge all the way to the summit. For Sparrowhawk, depart the ridge at any suitable point. |
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| Below Reed's Tower. The shadow on the ridge behind shows roughly where to depart the ridge for Mt Sparrowhawk. |
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| Massive scree slopes beneath Mount Sparrowhawk |
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| Steep incline, especially in the deepening snow |
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| Heading towards the final scramble to Sparrowhawk's summit, around the right (south) side of the summit block |
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| Our hard-earned summit panorama. Byron described it as being "inside a ping-pong ball." |
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| Descending back towards Reed's Tower. Spray Lake below. |
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| Winter has come to the Rockies |
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| East face of Reed's Tower |
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| Golden larches indicate a closing hiking season |
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| Great day with a great friend! |
Can't wait for MacBeth Icefields with you this next summer ;)
ReplyDeleteIt'll be something similiar to this in distance and elevatiom gain.
Would love that bro! I'll try to keep up with you ;)
ReplyDelete