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Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:16 pm
by Mrs Scoob
At a total height of 3,544m (11,627ft), Mount Temple is the 3rd highest peak in the southern Canadian Rockies and the highest in the Banff/Lake Louise area... plus it's actually do-able for mere walkers who like scrambling as opposed to full-on climbers :lol: We'd done a lot of research on this and felt it was within our capabilities - distance and ascent-wise, it wasn't as big as our usual walks at home! 8)

As the day went though, we got through Larch Valley without spotting any bears and up the zig-zags ('switch backs') to the col known as Sentinel Pass. Chilly in the shade, some of the path was snow-covered or even iced over but the sun was beating down and it was heating up. Amazing views everywhere 8) :D We'd seen a few people behind us on the path up to this Pass, but none followed us much beyond that for the rest of the day.
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setting off from Moraine Lake
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coming through Larch Valley
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switchbacks ahead up to Sentinel Pass - summit almost in sight!
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more gentle path to the Pass; summit 'just' above us here!
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view back down from Sentinel Pass

The route from here to the summit is known as 'the vertical mile' on account of its gradient.. and approx distance :roll: :lol: For a long time it felt like we could almost touch the top yet we weren't getting much further from the bottom :o We passed through the rock bands with no issues or concerns. Actually, we thought it was probably easier today as the snow had filled in some gaps.
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the vertical mile (well, most of it!)

Eventually, at 3, 435m (11,269ft) we'd had enough... just 109m down from the summit (plus around 0.5km still to go along the top). It was after 3pm and we'd set off at 7am :shock: long since in a cycle of climbing a few steps then stopping for a rest. Scoob's GPS showed we'd been walking for just over 4 hours, but stopped for almost the same time :crazy: Happy we reached our goal of climbing to 11,000ft we turned and headed slowly back down.
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our turning point
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view from our turning point - higher than anything else around us ...except the summit, lol!
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steep descent
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posing rocks just have to be stood on :)

It was only when we reached the lake underneath Sentinel Pass that I felt my face burning; neither of us had even thought about sunscreen :o - and even if we had, we didn't have any with us today :roll: I think I managed to get sunburn on my eyeballs :shifty: had a swollen face for days :shock: and was left with white helmet strap lines under my chin :roll:
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slightly over-cooked!
What an awesome day though... we'll be back! 8) :D :clap: :thumbup:
For an even better 'picture' of our day, here's Scoob's video :D

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:32 pm
by SAVAGEALICE
wow! That looks stunning :shock: shame about the sunburn :(

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:41 pm
by dav2930
What a stunning objective. It must have been sooo frustrating to have to turn back from so near the summit! But as you say, pretty satisfying too to reach 11,269 ft. - good effort! :clap:

Well worth it for those jaw-dropping views caught so well in your photos & vid. Every bit as magnificent as the European Alps and much, much wilder! :clap:

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:51 pm
by scoob999
dav2930 wrote:What a stunning objective. It must have been sooo frustrating to have to turn back from so near the summit! But as you say, pretty satisfying too to reach 11,269 ft. - good effort! :clap:

:


Under normal circumstances we wouldn't have turned back, but somehow that day it felt good :?
It was a good experience to sample the altitude and how much the lack of oxygen really drains you. We have never felt that before, then again we have never been that high before :shock:

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 1:05 pm
by HalfManHalfTitanium
Stunning photos and, for me, it is interesting to read

"actually do-able for mere walkers who like scrambling as opposed to full-on climbers"

I'd always assumed that all the peaks in that area are full-on Alpine climbs - and my era of that sort of climbing is sadly over.

So it is good to know that I might holiday in the Rockies sometime and still be able to have a bash at Mt Temple. Thanks very much for posting!

Tim

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 11:20 pm
by Mrs Scoob
SAVAGEALICE wrote:wow! That looks stunning :shock: shame about the sunburn :(
Thanks Alice; memories of the day by far outweigh the (now all healed) burn :D
dav2930 wrote:...Well worth it for those jaw-dropping views caught so well in your photos & vid. Every bit as magnificent as the European Alps and much, much wilder! :clap:
Thanks Dav; we really pushed ourselves to get that far so were pretty pleased with what we did. Europe's on our list for visiting at some point too! :D
HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:...So it is good to know that I might holiday in the Rockies sometime and still be able to have a bash at Mt Temple...
Thanks Tim; and yes, go for it! We just need to work on our stamina for the next time :lol:

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 3:17 am
by ChrisW
Fantastic post Fi with beautiful pictures :clap: :clap: It's a shame the altitude nailed you but it is bloody hard going out here that's for sure. Don't forget us when you come back as it seems we'll still be here :roll: Can't say I'm not a little bit frustrated by that....but I think I'll get over it pretty quickly :wink:

p.s. that sunburn is just un-effing-believable :crazy:

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:35 pm
by litljortindan
Incredible scenery.

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 10:32 pm
by Mrs Scoob
ChrisW wrote:Fantastic post Fi with beautiful pictures :clap: :clap: It's a shame the altitude nailed you but it is bloody hard going out here that's for sure. Don't forget us when you come back as it seems we'll still be here :roll: Can't say I'm not a little bit frustrated by that....but I think I'll get over it pretty quickly :wink:
p.s. that sunburn is just un-effing-believable :crazy:
Thanks Chris! Delighted you'll likely still be there next time :thumbup: but also hope you get plenty good days to make it easier :wink: Don't think I'll be forgetting the sun cream again :roll: :lol:

litljortindan wrote:Incredible scenery.
It sure is :thumbup: highly recommend the Rockies :D

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2016 9:11 am
by Borderhugh
Fi - The jagged peak and that scenery with blue skies is stunning. Shame you had to turn back so close to the summit. Looks like you had a superb day. I dig those red faces. :clap: :D :lol:

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2016 9:06 pm
by Petr Dakota
Beautiful ! :clap: :clap: :clap:
the country of my dreams... :D

Re: Canada16: Mount Temple - the biggy!

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 10:55 pm
by malky_c
Can't believe I haven't looked at this before :-? . Meant to ask you about it at the last meet but I completely forgot. Looks like a worthwhile day out despite the lack of summit. Will have to do some research 8) .