Trip Details
Date: March 2, 2019
Summit Elevation: 3,050 m
Total Elevation Gain: 1340 m (1.9 Ha Lings)
Total Distance: 19.6 km
Round Trip Time: 7:59
Difficulty Notes:
Crevasse and avalanche hazard.
I listened to “Through Heaven’s Eye” in the week preceding this trip, and Crowfoot Mountain made for a great object lesson. I don’t know if it was the cold or a general lack of fitness, but it was bit of a rough day. By the time we roped up for the glacier, several of us were pretty pooped, and we hadn’t even gotten a sight of the summit yet. I was pretty discouraged going up the glacier with no end in sight before me. Then I looked behind me and saw the Wapta Icefield in all its glory. It is easy to get tunnel visioned and miss out on the beauty all around you.
With my thesis defense date set, a lot of my effort is going to be focused on wrapping that up, and skiing is going to have to take a backseat for a couple months. But through Crowfoot Mountain and other means, God has been reminding me that there is a bigger picture that I mustn’t neglect, even as I make this big final push on the thesis.
As for the Crowfoot Mountain itself…I got a great look at it from atop the Wapta Icefield earlier in February, so I was excited to summit it with Nathan, Jordan and Cindy. The pattern of extreme cold with clear skies and solid stability continued—a bargain I am more than happy to take. After a chilly start across Bow Lake and through the canyon we started to warm up in the sun and make the long slog along the backside of the mountain. It’s a long way, but there a stunning views of the Wapta Icefield throughout (if you take the time to look around). I especially enjoyed seeing Mt. Balfour again and the broken glacier beneath it: it brought back fond memories of the Wapta Traverse last year. The ski down was nice and long and gave us even more time to take in the view.
Setting off across Bow Lake. Crowfoot Mountain. The summit is just to the right of the glacier in the distance. It was a nippy morning. Some of our skins were so cold they refused to stick. Coming up to the end of the canyon and into the sun. Bow Hut with St. Nicholas behind it. Here we broke off from the trail to Bow Hut. Chic Scott recommends the left side of the drainage. People have successfully gotten up both sides. I don’t really know what the difference is. Nathan brings up the rear. We went up the right side of the drainage because there was a skin track there. It looks like it might be exposed to some steeper slopes? Still a long way to go. Approaching the small glacier on the back side of Crowfoot. This glacier seemed to stretch on forever. A big scoop of some sort. Nearly to the top of the glacier. The peak is somewhere over there. Mt. Balfour comes into sight. That was a big treat. Looking back at Little Crowfoot and another big scoop. Crowfoot Mountain has a epic ridgeline. We dropped our skis here just before the false summit. I was waaay to hopeful. The true summit finally comes into sight! Jordan and Cindy passing the false summit. Admiring the cornice on the summit. Priorities: food before posing for epic summit photos. The summit panorama is amazing though! Jordan and Cindy in front of Balfour. Note the beard ornaments. Heading back along the ridge. Skiing down with an amazing view of the Wapta Icefield. Coming around the scoop. Mt. Thompson dead center. This is what I got to enjoy in my moment of despair coming up the glacier. The ski down was decent 😛 I came down further to the looker’s right. There were some big sharks! These guys had the right idea. A snowshoer we met on the summit. To our shame he got down before us. We obviously had more fun though. Back to treeline after a long and beautiful day. A few more turns at the bottom. The sun begins to set on Crowfoot Mountain as we return to Bow Lake.
In addition to being a beautiful bluebird day in which to suffer, this was also my 50th summit! A big thank you to Ryan, Scott, Nathan, Jordan and Cindy, and everyone else that I’ve been able to enjoy the Rockies with! You’ve been a great blessing and joy.