Route: Waterton Lakes 32 Peaks (AB, Canada)

Submitted by Sasha_Gali on Fri, 09/25/2020 - 11:21am
Location
Alberta, CA
Distance
292 km
Vertical Gain
22,000 m
Description

Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) has 32 peaks, the majority of which require hands-on scrambling but never more than low 5th class. Only one of the peaks has an established trail to the top, so good route-finding is both necessary and part of the fun in bagging the peaks. Some of the summits can be linked via connecting ridges - but not all - which makes for endless route possibilities. Snow lingers on northern aspects well into the summer and arrives early in the fall, adding another challenge to completing the list. And Waterton's notoriously high winds add extra spice to any peak attempt!

WLNP's unique rainbow-coloured rock bands and views over the abrupt transition from prairies to mountains make this route particularly special. Together with Glacier National Park to the south across the US/Canada border, WLNP forms the UNESCO World Heritage Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

Link to the list of 32 WLNP Peaks, as compiled by the Glacier Mountaineering Society:

http://www.glaciermountaineers.com/pdfforms/peaks-waterton.pdf

Link to a description of the unique qualities of WLNP:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton/nature/environment

 

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FKTs