Glacier Mountaineering Society

Sat, Jul 18 2009 - Mt. Anderson, Lost Mtn and Mt. Baurerman (View Original Event Details)

Coordinator(s):		Ken McDermott
Participants:		Ken McDermott

Write Up:
Mount Anderson, Lost and Bauerman - July 18, 2009 Coordinator: Ken McDermott Initially scheduled in 2008, this climb was postponed for a year after I dislocated my shoulder in the Bugaboos. It's a spectacular alpine traverse over four peaks in the Red Rock Canyon area and a big day - 17 miles and more than 5,000 vertical feet. We headed up the Blakiston Creek Trail and a short bushwhack led us to the south ridge of Mount Anderson. The route up was a bit of a grunt although it improved as we headed to the top of the ridge near the false summit. At 8,852 feet, Anderson is the third highest peak in the Park. We continued west, losing a substantial amount of vertical on the ridge before climbing up through interesting red rock to the summit of Lost. After following the ridge for several miles, I noticed that the lead group had stopped. They were relaxing on a high point of the ridge, thinking they were on our last peak. They were disappointed when I informed them we were on an unnamed peak. The fun on the ridge wasn't over - Bauerman loomed in the distance. Pete, our marathon runner, seemed keen so we headed off and finally bagged our last peak. We descended off the ridge down a relatively clear drainage to Blakiston Creek where we replenished our water supply and headed back down the trail. The group had split into two on the trail and we were surprised when we saw the lead group heading back toward us. There was a magnificent subadult cinnamon grizzly on the trail behind them and heading toward us! We all yelled out but the bear kept on trucking. This griz had attitude and was insisting on the right-of-way! We scrambled up off the trail into the brush and hauled out our bear spray. It would have made a great shot - we had enough bear spray to drop an elephant. Fortunately the bear ignored us and headed up the trail. We arrived safely back at the trailhead as the sun was setting on another great day in Waterton Park. Climbers were: Pete Pratt, Bruce and Rhonda White, Ken McDermott and Dell Meuchel. Standing: Brian Kennedy, Tram Stout, Trevor Helwig, Bill Haring and Frank Wesolovski.

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.