 Mount Yamnuska - Canadian Rockies
Mount Yamnuska is also known as Mount John Laurie. No disrespect to Mr. Laurie, but the native name should remain.
This is a great scramble, close to Calgary, a spectacular setting and a bit of hands on scrambling to keep you on your toes.
Anthony Hopkins has appeared in a few movies in and around this area. Anthony is one of my favorite actors.
In Legends Of The Fall, Anthony plays the patriarch of a western family beset by good fortune and tragedy. The film was shot in the Morley area and views of the frontal range are numerous. I identified Mount Yamnuska and Big Sister as a few of the peaks visible.
Its a good movie but for me the best part is Anthony's performance of the stroke hobbled father. His bearish mumblings and salty swath are de rigour Hopkins.
The first time I tried this mountain, I went in reverse so that I could avoid the down climb. Such precautions are unnecessary, there is a ledge that is not really that hard so the down climb can be circumnavigated.
I never made it the first time, I was content to just gaze across the valley once I had done all of the hard work scrambling up the talus slope on a stunningly beautiful fall afternoon a few years ago.
The normal way up is a lot easier, just angle right below the summit cliffs, on well used trails. It's steep going until you get around the corner, just below the cliffs.
Then the fun starts.
When you make it to the other side, some great views of CMC valley unfold. I think this is one mountain I'll do many times, just to keep the bones from getting too soft.
Once on the summit crest the view across the vertical cliffs are breathtaking. Don't be surprised to see climbers, this is one of the most climbed of all the mountains in Canada. Many of the parties ascending this fabulous mountain are guided parties.
 Mountain Photography
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A view of the Bow Valley from Mount Yamnuska |
On the way down is a talus slope that you can more or less run down. Be careful though as there is a section of basement rock hiding under what looks like loose talus about half way down. Once you hit this you'll know it. All of a sudden you're trying to control what seems like a dangerous speed over hard steep rubble strewn slopes. Yikes!!!! Holey trousers Bat Man!!
CANADIAN MOUNTAIN PANORAMAS
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6. Mt. Yamnuska  |
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 f we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.
Ray Bradbury
1920-, American Science Fiction Writer
end danger from the east unto the west, so honor cross it from the north to south.
William Shakespeare
1564-1616, British Poet, Playwright, ActorDiscipline
 hen things are steep, remember to stay level-headed.
Horace
BC 65-8, Italian Poet
© CanadasMountains.com + Tim L. Helmer
Monday March 10, 2008 03:43 PM |
