Kane rates Mount Smuts S Ridge as a "climber's scramble" - high end of Difficult with exposure. I'll be bringing a rope and a minimal rack for safety.
When I scrambled up the N Ridge of Mount Shark a couple of years ago, it looked like one could continue S along the ridge to Smuts, but haze and foreshortening left a lot of doubt. (See the photo above, taken from Mount Shark looking along the ridge S to Mount Smuts, the first peak from the left.)
We follow the scramble route up the S ridge of Smuts. From the summit, we'll try to descend via the NW Ridge and continue N to Shark and out to the parking lot, then 4km down the road to where we left the car. Any difficulties we encounter on the traverse should be early in the descent from Mount Smuts. If the traverse doesn't look feasible, we'll descend the standard gully route on the N side of Smuts and return on our approach route.
Smuts only: 17km distance, 1100m cumulative elevation gain, about 8 hours.
Smuts - Shark Traverse: 22km distance, 1500m cumulative elevation gain, 12+ hours.
Required Items to Bring:
Headlamp
At least 2L water
Rock helmet
Harness, 2 locking carabiners, small rack
Recommended Items to Bring:
Hiking poles
How to Get There:
Event Directions:
If you aren't meeting at the car pool, take the Smith-Dorrien / Spray Lakes road from Canmore to the Engadine Lodge / Mount Shark access road. Follow the access road for about 0.9km and take the first left-hand turn onto an old logging road and parking area.
Carpool Departure Time:
06:30 AM
Carpool Location:
Assumption School
Carpool Directions:
34 Avenue NW, just W of Sarcee Trail and N of 16 Ave NW
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Registration for this event closed on Thursday, August 07, 2008 at 11:55 PM.