northover ridge explor8ion

Summit Elevation (m): 3048 Trip Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2006 Elevation Gain (m): 650 Total Trip Distance (km): 10 Quick ‘n Dirty Rating: Class 4/5 – you fall, you are dead Difficulty Notes: If you go off route you quickly get into mid 5th class terrain. The crack led up to safer terrain and to the main summit where we both gulped in the fresh air – very relieved to be done the ridge and alive to talk about it. Mount Northover. I’m thinking of hiking it soon and doing some camping. We even butt-scooted right past a freshly placed bolt! The suggestion has come up that the descent of Northover is so horrible that a person would be better off to descend the ascent route – even without a rope. I am in the process of drafting a letter of complaint to Parks Canada about the poor state of their lakes. Snow can often be found on the upper slopes, which makes for a very enjoyable boot ski down at least part of the ridge. I remember when I did Mount Smuts, which is just as exposed or worse, I just scampered right up the ridge without a second thought – no problems, but I wasn’t nearly as tired on that one. We were parked at the northern carpark at Upper Kananaskis Lake. Body bag & UFO. The summit is just visible here - already threatening us! And there were cupcakes, and stashed food of all sorts. This worked extremely well and for some reason the descent was easy and stress-free. Answer 1 of 9: I have done a few backpacking trips in the Rockies and have my mind set on Northover Ridge this year. Mount Northover is one of the most serious scrambles mentioned in the Kane book and I knew that doing it with only 2 or 3 granola bars and a bit of breakfast in our stomachs and 6 hours of fairly strenuous scrambling already under our belts was maybe pushing things a bit. in a month of so. From the west shoulder, it was an easy plod back to the campsite at Aster Lake. But your mileage may vary, everyone is different, and it depends what you’re comfortable with. We met a couple of groups on their way down from the Aster Lake campground, but by and large had the trail to ourselves, as we continued to climb up to Aster Lake. There was even a glacier! Apparently, since the two Northover Lakes are outside of Alberta and the park, random camping is allowed near them. All day Jon and I had been glancing nervously (and somewhat excitedly) at Mount Northover looming ominously to the north and west. Thanks for this post! Hiking Northover Ridge (narrow section) in less than ideal conditions. Last month when we attempted Northover Ridge we ran into heavy snowpack and had to turn back. The ridge itself begins wide, and a snow field and Northover Glacier sit to your right just below the crest of the ridge. Jon leans into our third peak of the day up the lower section of Northover's south ridge. An almost three-km long tightrope of scree poised between the neve of Northover Glacier, and scree slopes plunging over 1200 m, or nearly 5,000 ft. into Joffre Creek Note: Combine it with routes #69 and 71 (and even routes #72 and 73) to experience the best backpacking trip, not just in K Country, but in the whole of the Canadian Rockies. Wish me luck :), Let me know how it goes, hope you have an awesome time :). Once we got back to the gravel flats it was decision time. Anyway, again, great writing and beautiful photos. Going up was not an option but going back down was quite simply the hairiest down climbing I’ve ever done! It took us 36 minutes to go from the summit of Mount Northover to the Northover col – and that was taking our time, going down most of the route on our butts and hands due to the looseness of the terrain. Welcome to Explor8ion! Vern Dewit Photography Trip Photos Looking for all the information I can before heading out! explor8ion. June 13, 2013 2461m Banff, AB With a rainy forecast (with possible thunderstorms) I didn't expect too much from this day. Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. This is the closest I’ve come (as far as I know) to dying in the mountains – I really believe that. Here, I wished I had brought my tripod and panorama gear. This video is about Northover Ridge 2019. Mount Sarrail rises beyond Aster Lake as we hike back to the camp ground in fading light. It was high in my to do list, but now even higher in my to do list. Jon muttered something about “I’m going to kill you when we get down” but kept following me so I figured that was a good sign! Highwood Range . The trickiest sections below the crux were a very narrow but solid ledge that we tackled on hands and feet and a very narrow and exposed ridge that we kind of butt-shuffled over and side-smeared across. The summit lies a fair distance from the highway, and an ascent of this peak is a full day. I use the word ‘exhilarating’ on purpose here. Natalko Peak. The plan had always been to do it in a day, and finally we had chosen the day. We wouldn’t be at the half-way point of the day until we were well and truly along the ridge, so I struggled with my internal monologue, trying to find sensible justifications for continuing on no matter what the weather was doing. Once we got onto the south ridge proper, the scrambling was good fun. I realize this comment is a few years late but I’m doing this hike (with the big packs!) How did I get here anyway?!!”. For a month I had the same feeling of disappointment, call it OCD but with the snow season (in the mountains) fast approaching I didnt want to stew about it all winter. We weren’t satisfied with just a strenuous 35km and vertical mile backpack though – no, we were determined to also bag a number of Kane peaks along the way. Northover Ridge In September of 2006 I was joined by cousin Jon and brother Rod on an unforgettable backpacking trip over Northover Ridge. I think I may have forgotten to explain in detail to Jon just how difficult Mount Northover was or he might have joined Rod… As we started up the lower grass slopes of Mount Northover (which is also part of the Northover Ridge route) I began to have my doubts about the wisdom of our choice. This is a serious climber’s scramble. I think this is probably exactly what happens. Thankfully I correctly guessed that we must not be far enough to climber’s left and had enough sense to pick out a ledge traverse (exposed on smooth slabs) slightly below our position. The route is best done clockwise (as per the guide) due to scrambling sections early on the ridge to the first high point. Hiking the Ridge in August 2012. I’m only glad I resisted that powerful urge and I caution the reader to be cognizant of it. Post navigation. Aug 19, 2016 - Northover Ridge Route; Aster Lake | explor8ion We weren’t done yet! Mount King George dominates the western horizon. Are there good maps available for the trail or did you just go by written descriptions as the trail is easy enough to follow? Many folks were invited, but in the end it was just the four of us who made it. By the time we got there Jon forgot to kill me and we had supper instead. Doing the trail clockwise definitely seems like the best option. The trail stays along the ridge, so please be careful of slipping – a fall to either side may not be fatal, but would put you in a pretty serious condition. Eventually we popped over an edge and into the Aster Lake basin. Heya Babs – glad it’s helpful for you. Elevation gain: 1,610m Going to try this next weekend (hoping the infernal rain will stop, and the snow isn’t too bad). We completed the Northover Ridge Loop on July 29, 30 & 31, 2017. The trail begins on the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail. Rating: 5 of 5 Difficulty: Hard Length: ~33Km Elevation gain: ~1100m . Sadly, the lake was not wildly picturesque, but instead a dingy brown colour. September 29, 2020. It cuts into the BC backcountry and over the incredibly scenic Northover Ridge. All day Jon and I had been glancing nervously (and somewhat excitedly) at Mount Northover looming ominously to the north and west. In the evening, it cleared out little. In the photo below you can see a couple of black dots further along the trail – we were to overtake them half way up the scree slope; they were overnight hikers travelling with enormous heavy packs. After each exposed piece the terrain would level off for a bit and we would think it was basically done – only to have it revert back to exhilarating. Otherwise we each had bear spray, about 2L water, lots of high calorie foods, shell jackets, merino long-sleeved layers, hiking poles, emergency headlamps, and phones for photos! This video is unavailable. Northover boasts a 30 km loop and 1100 m of elevation gain. October 20, 2013 2320m Bow Valley / Ghost River, AB Association Peak is not a popular objective by any means, but it's a peak visible when driving into the Rockies via Highway 1. Overall, highly recommended, five stars, would run again! This would not only be more satisfying but would also mean more time the following day on the ridge and on the trek to Three Isle Lakes. Photos from the Alberta Rockies including Waterton Lakes National Park, Castle Wilderness Area, Kananaskis Country, Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park. Since this scramble in 2006, I’ve climbed many hundreds of mountains and many routes that were more exposed and difficult than Northover (i.e. A video of the 'thrilling' bits of Northover Ridge we did over the Canada Day Long Weekend 2017. Mount Cordonnier, 3021 m (left) and Warrior Mountain, 2973 m (right). Hike. I think it was some sort of post traumatic stress or something – I’ve never had that before. 13 Mount Joffre Attempt | 2011-09-17. There had only been a couple of narrow points, nothing that was too tricky, although I’d probably not take anyone up there who wasn’t happy with heights and exposure. I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment for the next two days. We stopped to eat our last granola bar before continuing higher. Or something – I ’ ve ever done Hard stuff with Warrior at left but in the of... My first backcountry trip and I set out to attempt Northover again by cousin jon and I getting a cloudier! Over a nice 2-3 day trip Thank you for your patience while we retrieve your images and! The 4 Kane Aster Lake | explor8ion Thank you for your patience while we retrieve images! The Upper Kananaskis Lake trail in sneakers and attempt it this season and could let me know how goes. 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