Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sat, Aug 31 2019 - Mount Blakiston (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Greg Notess
Participants:		Greg Notess, Doug Thorsen, Adam McClure, Mary N, Dennis Eaves

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Write Up:
Climbing the highest peak in Waterton is more difficult these days with the Akamina Parkway closed for re-construction. However, with a good weather day and bicycles to get to the trailhead, five of us set out early from the Waterton townsite. Biking 5.75 miles is not that bad, but for the four of us less used to biking, the steep 900’ gain was exhausting. However, it only took an hour to bike to the trailhead. From there, we ascended the Lineham Cliff trail for about 2.3 miles before heading up the common off-trail route to the summit. The biking and hiking through the burn from the 2017 Kenow Fire was fascinating.

The next 3,400’ went up steeply but in fairly open terrain until we got closer to the summit cliffs. We took a slightly more westerly approach than the usual but had nothing worse than class 3. The ridge walk to the summit have incredible views of the Lineham Lakes Basis, the rest of Waterton, and northern Glacier.

The descent was quick, and the bike downhill was much easier than the ascent. We took time to stop at Oil City so that some of the group could make it a triathalon day with a quick swim at the swimming hole in Cameron Creek.

The total time for the bike, hike, climb, and swim was only about 9ľ hours. Biking distance of 11.5 miles with 900’ gain, hiking/climbing 8 miles with a 5,000’ gain, and swimming of ten feet (for two of us).

Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Tim Anderson at twamontana@gmail.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.