| Scrambling and Backpacking Photos from Mount Saskatchewan Junior | August 6, 2009 |
Mount Saskatchewan Junior is an easy scramble that can be done in a day starting from the Big Bend in the Icefields Parkway. You hike up to the valley below the North Face of Mount Saskatchewan first, then up scree to a ridge leading to these 2 summits with incredible views. This trip is actually the exit day of a 4 day scramble camp into the Terrace Creek Valley that I did with Randy Fagan of Ontario. The other trip reports from this outing can be seen using these 2 links: Terrace Creek Approach, Terrace Mountain.
This day Randy and I woke up to great weather. This was a welcome change from the fog we woke up to the previous 2 mornings. Unfortunately this was our last day, which meant I would not be ascending Mount Saskatchewan this trip. We headed out via the col between the North Towers of Mount Saskatchewan and an unnamed mountain at the top of the Terrace Creek Valley. Once at the top of the col we went around the edge of an icefield to a ridge leading to Sask Junior. We carried our large packs up the hill and enjoyed some of the best views ever. I ditched my pack to hike up to the next peak, Sask Juniors Brother. According to the map this peak was slightly higher. Mount Andromeda and Mount Athabasca's South faces were both awesome. We hung around for at least 2 hours admiring the views before heading down. If Sask Junior wasn't already named I would call it "Mount Totally Awesome View". A reference to Mount Fairview by Lake Louise. The view from Sask Junior is way better than Mount Fairview. Not that Mount Fairview doesn't have an awesome view as well. There are other unnamed peaks in the area so maybe if I go up one of those I can apply that name to it instead.
On our way down we followed a ridge East of Sask Junior and then descended into the valley below Mount Saskatchewan's North Face. From there we contoured around to the slopes of Big Bend Peak and then followed the ridge of Big Bend Peak down till we reached open slopes leading to the Saskatchewan Glacier Valley and an old road back to the parking lot. Definitely an awesome trip that I will have to repeat in order to finish off all the peaks in the area including Mount Saskatchewan. I am very thankful to Randy Fagan who accompanied me on this great adventure. I hope to do more adventures with him in future summers
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A panorama of the Terrace Creek Valley from our campsite. The Castelets are on the left. Then South Terrace Mountain, Terrace Mountain and North Terrace Peak. Mount Totally Awesome View is on the fr right. The col to the right of it is our destination.
A panorama of the Terrace ...
Looking back up to the col that we came in through. The route from left to right through a scree band then down the scree on the right.
Looking back up to the col ...
Looking back to the Terrace Creek Valley. The Castelets on the left and South Terrace Mountain on the right.
Looking back to the Terrace ...
Mount Totally Awesome View on the West side of the col.
Mount Totally Awesome View on ...
Zoomed in looking South to South Terrace Mountain. Mount Alexandra rises behind it.
Zoomed in looking South to ...
Hiking up to the col.
Hiking up to the col.
Looking back to Mount Saskatchewan on the right.
Looking back to Mount ...
Hiking up to the ridge we traversed on the way out.
Hiking up to the ridge we ...
Looking over the icefield to Mount Athabasca.
Looking over the icefield to ...
A last look at the Terrace Creek Valley. The Castelets on the left with Mount Lyell rising behind them. Then South Terrace Mountain is the center mountain with the glacier on it. Mount Alexandra rises behind it. Terrace Mountain is on the far right.
A last look at the Terrace ...
The Castelets.
The Castelets.
Mount Saskatchewan and the col that we came in on.
Mount Saskatchewan and the ...
Hiking out to the ridge. Mount Saskatchewan Junior on the left.
Hiking out to the ridge. ...
Looking across the icefield to Mount Saskatchewan Junior and its twin.
Looking across the icefield ...
Looking back to Mount Totally Awesome View.
Looking back to Mount Totally ...
Mount Andromeda and Mount Athabasca to the North West.
Mount Andromeda and Mount ...
Looking back along the ridge to the North Towers of Mount Saskatchewan.
Looking back along the ridge ...
Mount Columbia to the West.
Mount Columbia to the West.
The North Towers of Mount Saskatchewan.
The North Towers of Mount ...
Big Bend Peak nearby. We didn't ascend it as there is a lot of loss and regain.
Big Bend Peak nearby. We ...
Looking East to Cirrus Mountain.
Looking East to Cirrus ...
Zoomed in looking North to Nigel Peak.
Zoomed in looking North to ...
A summit panorama from Mount Saskatchewan Junior.
A summit panorama from Mount ...
Mount Bryce to the South West.
Mount Bryce to the South West.
A panorama of the peaks to the North West. Mount Columbia, unnamed peak, Mount Andromeda, Mount Athabasca.
A panorama of the peaks to ...
Castleguard Mountain to the West.
Castleguard Mountain to the ...
Looking back to Mount Saskatchewan Junior from its twin peak.
Looking back to Mount ...
Big Bend Peak nearby.
Big Bend Peak nearby.
Looking back to Mount Saskatchewan in the center.
Looking back to Mount ...
Mount Saskatchewan.
Mount Saskatchewan.
A panorama of the cool icefield nearby. The Saskatchewan Glacier is on the right.
A panorama of the cool ...
The summit panorama from Mount Saskatchewan Juniors Twin.
The summit panorama from ...
Mount Lyell rises behind the Castelets to the South.
Mount Lyell rises behind the ...
Mount Andromeda and its South Glacier.
Mount Andromeda and its South ...
Randy on Mount Saskatchewan Junior.
Randy on Mount Saskatchewan ...
Me on Mount Saskatchewan Junior.
Me on Mount Saskatchewan ...
Zoomed in to the South East. Unnamed Needle on the left. Mount Amery on the right.
Zoomed in to the South East. ...
Looking down our descent ridge. Big Bend Peak on the left.
Looking down our descent ...
A cool lone pinnacle.
A cool lone pinnacle.
Looking back to Mount Saskatchewan Junior.
Looking back to Mount ...
A panorama of the valley below the North Face of Mount Saskatchewan. Mount Saskatchewan on the left. Then the North Towers of Mount Saskatchewan, Mount Totally Awesome View and Mount Saskatchewan Junior on the right.
A panorama of the valley ...
A little lake on the edge of the nearby glacier.
A little lake on the edge of ...
Big Bend Peak nearby.
Big Bend Peak nearby.
Looking back to Mount Saskatchewan.
Looking back to Mount ...
Hiking down some nice snow.
Hiking down some nice snow.
Looking back up to the ridge we came down on the left. Big Bend Peak on the right.
Looking back up to the ridge ...
Mount Christian Hasler on the left looking East across the parkway. The right peak is unnamed.
Mount Christian Hasler on the ...
Hiking along meadows to the shoulder beside Big Bend Peak.
Hiking along meadows to the ...
Looking East to another meadow across the valley.
Looking East to another ...
Hiking down from Big Bend Peak. The Big Bend in the road is below.
Hiking down from Big Bend ...
Nice scree leads us out of horrible bushwhacking.
Nice scree leads us out of ...
Looking back up to cliffs that have to be avoided on the way down.
Looking back up to cliffs ...
Hiking across the flats to our cars.
Hiking across the flats to ...
Looking back to the waterfall that we started this adventure beside 3 days before.
Looking back to the waterfall ...
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