Scrambling Photos from Wilcox Peak

November 17, 2007

Wilcox Peak is located opposite the Columbia Icefields on the East side of the parkway. This is my second time climbing this peak. The first which is also on this site was in summer in much better weather. But the joy of climbing peaks in winter is that they can be entirely different and thus offer a whole new experience. That was the case on this trip.
The snow was deep by the Icefields Center. After climbing up a bit it got pretty wind swept. No one in sight the whole time. We ended up getting to the first false peak and then decided to turn around due to turn around time and the risk involved. We really would have needed ropes to continue due to the snow and exposure. The periodic whiteouts would have been a problem as well. So being as how the views were mostly blocked and that I had great pictures from the peak already I had no objections to turning around

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Heading out from the Icefields Center parking lot

Heading out from the ...

Looking South to Boundary Peak. An outlier of mount Athabasca.

Looking South to Boundary ...

The Athabasca Glacier in clouds.

The Athabasca Glacier in ...

The Icefields Center from our ascent to Wilcox Pass.

The Icefields Center from our ...

Ascending the slopes to Wilcox pass.

Ascending the slopes to ...

A visiting Raven. Came looking for food. He didn't get any.

A visiting Raven. Came ...

A bit of scrambling on the way to Wilcox Pass.

A bit of scrambling on the ...

Wilcox Peak from Wilcox Pass.

Wilcox Pass. Parker Ridge behind Wilcox Pass in the center.

Wilcox Pass. Parker Ridge ...

A short panorama of Mount Kitchener, Stutfield Peak, Mount Wooley and Diadem Peak. Wilcox Peak is on the far right. Looking West to North.

A short panorama of Mount ...

Wilcox Peak in the clouds.

Straight forward hiking so far.

Straight forward hiking so ...

Hiking across a snow slope on Wilcox Peak.

Hiking across a snow slope on ...

Looking down to the highway.

Wilcox Peak.

John hiking up behind.

A canopy of clouds hovers over the Icefields.

A canopy of clouds hovers ...

Some steeper scrambling as we approach our turn around point at the first false summit.

Some steeper scrambling as we ...

Congratulatory hugs before we descend from the first false summit.

Congratulatory hugs before we ...

Wilcox Peak from our turn around point.

Wilcox Peak from our turn ...

Looking down to the Icefields Parkway.

Looking down to the Icefields ...

Yours truly with Wilcox Peak behind.

Yours truly with Wilcox Peak ...

Some of the more interesting scrambling on Wilcox Peak.

Some of the more interesting ...

Nigel Peak finally emerged from the clouds to the East.

Nigel Peak finally emerged ...

Little Nigel. An unnamed outlier of Nigel Peak

Little Nigel. An unnamed ...

Looking South to Mount Athabasca,

Looking South to Mount ...

Snow Dome covered in clouds to the South West.

Snow Dome covered in clouds ...

Mount Athabasca and Mount Andromeda to the South.

Mount Athabasca and Mount ...

Hiking down from Wilcox Pass.

A last look at the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields.

A last look at the Athabasca ...

Please send me any comments, suggestions or mountain/flora identifications ecoulthard@gmail.com