free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
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
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!
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
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.
- setting off from Moraine Lake
- coming through Larch Valley
- switchbacks ahead up to Sentinel Pass - summit almost in sight!
- more gentle path to the Pass; summit 'just' above us here!
- 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
For a long time it felt like we could almost touch the top yet we weren't getting much further from the bottom
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.
- 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
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
Happy we reached our goal of climbing to 11,000ft we turned and headed slowly back down.
- our turning point
- view from our turning point - higher than anything else around us ...except the summit, lol!
- steep descent
- 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
- and even if we had, we didn't have any with us today
I think I managed to get sunburn on my eyeballs
had a swollen face for days
and was left with white helmet strap lines under my chin
- slightly over-cooked!
What an awesome day though... we'll be back!
For an even better 'picture' of our day,
here's Scoob's video