Mt. Indefatigable - Upper Kananaskis Lake

Darcy and Maja on final slope

Mt. Indefatigable S

Scramble: Class 1 – Steep Hiking

Altitude: 2,670m (8,758 ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,000m (3,280 ft)

Ascent Time: 2 – 3 ½ Hours

Best Season to Scramble: Mid-June - September

Highlights

This scramble offers great views from the open ridge all the way to the top. Great views of the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes. Many people like doing this one more than once (not to mean the same day though).

Getting There

Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1 for 79km (49.4 miles) and take the Kananaskis Country highway # 40 turnoff and head south. If your base is Banff head east on the TransCanada for 52km (32.5 miles) and turn south on route as above. Drive south for 49km (30.6 miles) and take the right hand turn into Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Follow this road for 15 km (9.4 miles) to the Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot. From this lot looking north you can see the long ridge on Mt. Indefatigable.

Route Description

From the parking lot head counterclockwise around the lake. After a few minutes of walking you will see a trailhead heading into the trees to the right. Take this trail as it heads through the forest for 20 minutes or so and gains the open left side of the ridge. In another 20 minutes or so you gain the ridge proper where there is a bench and the beginning of some great views. The way is obvious as you continue straight up the ridge with a big drop-off on your right. The ridge is really wide so just steep hiking here. Just as you make it to the top of the ridge and the incline levels off you take the first trail to your left. If you look straight up at this point you can see the antennae at the south summit. Follow this trail generally heading in the direction of the summit. When you reach tree line the trail climbs diagonally left to a rock rib that comes halfway down from the summit ridge. Continue on and then to the left of this rock rib and then traverse a short distance left again to gain the summit ridge. A nice plod to the top is all that remains. Return the way you came.

This peak was my first scramble and at that time the upper slopes were covered with a half a foot of snow. We definitely missed the easier route. Our group went straight up towards the summit and let me tell you it got pretty steep. When I got home my mind kept replaying possible mishaps on a slope like that. Some how I continued my scrambling career and it was nice to later discover an easier route to the top.