Mount James Walker
Updated: Dec 10, 2024
Date: July 1-2, 2023
Location: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
Total Trip Distance: 13.7 mi / 22 km Total Elevation Gain: 4,800 ft / 1,463 m
Trip Duration: 2 days
Team: With Alex Catalfamo
Field Notes: This trip is easily completed in a day. We wanted to break up the long drive and had a strong desire to camp in the alpine. The tarns we camped at were magical. The ascent is straightforward and helmets are not required. The only difficulty is the steep, loose scree on the final 1,000 ft. The summit view was spectacular and there is plenty of water on route.
Rating: Class 2
As summer started to take hold, Alex and I began to explore deeper into the Canadian Rockies. This wound up being one of our favorite trips of summer. The approach was beautiful and took only a few hours to get to camp. Our camp-spot located at the tarns in the alpine valley below the summit remains one of the best camping spots of summer.
The climb to the summit the following morning was spectacular. We woke up at sunrise and found ourselves above the clouds. There have been a few memorable Canadian summits from this summer... namely, Mount Daly, Mount Niles, and Mount Nelson. However, this one may have topped the lot for me. The clarity in the sky was perfect, we were above the clouds, and were completely engulfed by jagged peaks.
Enjoy the photos below and happy days...
Alex on the approach Mount James Walker top left Mount James Walker James Walker Creek Alex & Kent Ridge North The tarns we camped at Mount French Camp, Mount French behind Mount Inflexible
At camp Alpine start Mount Inflexible behind Alex climbing higher Alex grinding up loose scree Alex above the valley floor The summit ridge James Walker Summit of Mount James Walker Summit of Mount James Walker
Alex on the summit On the summit On the summit On the summit Alex descending James Walker Incredible light in the valley
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