Canadian taxicab, Mt. Shark Heliport, BC, Canada
The hike to Assiniboine goes through the Gmoser Highway, the cliffs above my head. Mt. Assiniboine is the highest peak in Banff NP
On the right track!
The Gmoser "Highway," the crux of the route. You traverse ledges with big exposure
Cairn & the Assiniboine Glacier
Mt. Assiniboine, aka the Canadian Matterhorn & the Hind Hut (lower left). Our route ascends the ridge on the left
Sunrise from the N. Ridge of Mt. Assiniboine. The haze was from fires burning in BC
Beckie on the lower 1/3 of the route. Loose rock everywhere (and other parties knocking it down from above) was the crux of the route
Typical step on the route. We soloed all but one pitch on the Gray Band. There was a bit of snow, but the rock was dry
Beckie belaying a pitch up high on the North Ridge
At the top of the Grey Band. The rock up here was a bit more solid
On the summit ridge, above the difficult climbing. It's just a 5 minute walk to the summit from here
Peering into the void, more than a vertical mile to the valley below
Beginning the descent
RCR and the incredible corniced East Face of Mt. Assiniboine
The visceral East Face
Rapping a steep step up high. We rapped ~4 pitches, all from established anchors
Tedious downclimbing. The loose rock was forgettable. Lake Magog in the valley below
The Beckeys. One of the highlights of the trip was hanging out with Fred and his friend Rodger at the Hind Hut
Staying warm outside the Hind Hut, watching the masses climbing the day after our ascent
Mt. Assinibione from Mt. Strom
Beckey in action! Fred descending the Gmoser Highway
Looking back at Assiniboine from Lake Magog. 30 minutes after this photo was taken, a storm rolled in and covered the mountain in a blanket of snow (and soaked us!)
Our next adventure: Wiwaxy Peak, taken from Lake O'hara, Yoho National Park. The route we climbed ascends the ridge just left of the shadow in the upper middle of the photo
Typical climbing on the Grassi Ridge, Wiwaxy Peak. The route is ~300m long, or about 12 roped pitches
On the Grassi Ridge
Beckie climbing, with Lake O'hara below
A steep pitch high on the ridge on perfect quartzite, a nice change from the rubble of Assisiboine
Beckie at a nice beley ledge on the route
Taking in the view from the summit