The Crowsnest High Five is a route which connects 5 iconic mountain summits for a scenic tour of the rugged and remote Crowsnest Pass region of the Canadian Rocky Mountains:
- Crowsnest Mountain - 2,785m
- Mount Tecumseh - 2,547m
- Mount Coulthard - 2,645m
- Turtle Mountain - 2,210m
- Bluff Mountain - 2,145m
Each summit offers a unique view of the valleys below along with glimpses into the area's rich and tragic history. Atop Crowsnest Mountain, the area's namesake, you will be treated with expansive views of the High Rock Range and the 7 Sisters. En route to the Mount Coulthard summit you will pass through the wreckage of a military aircraft that crash landed in the valley in 1946. At the summit of Turtle Mountain you may stand in awe at the panoramic views of the Frank Slide, Canada's deadliest rockslide, and an incredible reminder of the power of mother nature.
A successful High Five attempt will start and finish at the same location, summiting all 5 mountains in one activity. Athletes may connect the peaks in any order they choose, so long as they reach the true summit of each. To assist in tracking progress, a series of orienteering punches can be found in each of the summit registers. You can collect an official Crowsnest High Five punch card from spry in Blairmore, AB.
The GPX file provided is one possible route created by Jamie Lowe-Wylde and Matt "Shep" Shepard utilizing a mix of single-track trails, old mining exploration roads, and some lesser-known routes which avoid private land and unregulated railroad crossings.
NOTICE:
The Crowsnest High Five is a challenging route that requires some light scrambling, route finding, and alpine travel. You will be travelling through remote Rocky Mountain wilderness, across consequential terrain, and subject to unpredictable mountain weather, please prepare accordingly.
Generally, the best time to attempt this route is 01 June through 01 October
Variation - PEAKS ONLY:
The “Peaks Only” route variation will be in a supported fashion, which involves driving between trailheads. The "Standard" variation of the route involves linking up all of the mountains in a continuous footpath.
A successful attempt of the "Peaks Only" Crowsnest High Five will summit all 5 mountains starting and finishing at each mountain's respective trail head. Time starts at the first trail head and ends when you get back to the trail head after summiting the last peak. Vehicle use to travel between trail heads is permitted. To assist in tracking progress, a series of Silva orienteering punches can be found in each of the summit registers. You can collect an official Crowsnest High Five punch card from spry in Blairmore, AB.
