On the other side of the creekbed, we turned left and followed it until it naturally went up to the right as we were getting closer to that huge cliff band surrounding the canyon. Great site I have a few questions about this one. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I could see flaggings here and there but I had to break my own trail. ( Log Out /  This was however the first time I’ve done the complete loop, ascending the ACC route, and descending the hard route. I went off-route here, and wasted about 20 minutes. She had recovered, so we headed back down. Another summit view, Bow Valley this time. Well documented in Andrew Nugara’s More Scrambles in Canadian Rockies, it is rated as difficult, loose, exposed and a “climber’s scramble”. The first is how steep it is. Grotto Mountain wasn't particularly on my list of “must-dos” for this summer, but bad weather stretching from Saskatchewan River Crossing through Banff had sent me running eastward to Canmore. The sun was getting low. Some bushwhacking was also involved and as I slowly gaining elevation the post-holing had become knee deep. The one we chose is known as the “ACC route. Beyond that, it's a straightforward ridgewalk to the base of the pointy summit. There were two trails that could ruin your day. Two cars or a bike are needed. And like me, she enjoyed returning to Grotto Mountain after an absence of many years. In these days, it seems like most people were hiking this trail instead of Grotto Mountain. This was my 3rd time doing the hike, and 1st for my friend. Grotto Mountain was not on my winter to-do-list originally, until I was ‘convinced’ by a local guy met in Grotto Canyon (who oddly enough, was Travelin’ Jones who I knew later)… He summitted this mountain in December via the “direct route”. As you can see, Grotto Mountain is a big one. There follow signs to The Alpine Club of Canada. -----We will be going up Grotto using the ACC route. There were two trails that could ruin your day. The best views of Canmore and of the Three Sisters from across the valley! Given its sheer size, its accessibility in Canmore's backyard, and being mostly a trail hike, it's no wonder Grotto Mountain attracts many hikers. August 9th 2019. Summit view looking towards Lac des Arcs area. I was already exhausted now…, Going towards the first of many false summits. Up direct route, down ACC route. On the skyline L to R: Mount Townsend, Epic Tower, Mythic Tower, and Little Mythic Tower. I took a few photos and then quickly returned to join Dinah. The decision was made to attempt Mt. Elevation) : 2,706m - 산행높이 Grotto Mountain is a mountain located in the Bow River valley, across from Canmore, Alberta, Canada.It is a popular hiking spot among locals and is home to the Rat's Nest Cave. by [deleted] in Canmore Shredthegnar1369 0 points 1 point 2 points 3 months ago Ahhh. This was however the first time I’ve done the complete loop, ascending the ACC route, and descending the hard route. Route #2 Right Side Edge of Cougar Creek #3 Direct Route #4 Grotto Buttress Route Rats Nest Cave #5 Cougar Creek Gully. Grotto Mountain is just outside of Canmore, Alberta, with it’s trail head starting right by the Alpine club. Keep climbing and keep writing! Most popular is ACC route starting from ACC clubhouse; more direct and recommended for peakbaggers is "Big Gully" route that branches off ACC route about 15-20 minutes past trailhead. Now I was practically exhausted but since the Rockies is such a long drive from Edmonton I had to figure something else out to do for the next few days. More road detail to follow. 11.42 km, 1378 meter vertical, 5 hours 36 minutes. Fortune as a snowshoe ascent but I again, didn’t manage to wake up early enough, and the deteriorating weather forced me to turn around right after crossing the lake. Calgary-based hiking, scrambling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing club. Grotto - heavens Chinese: 洞天 pinyin: Dongtian are a type of sacred Taoist site. Abstract An exploration to the valley South of Mount Balinhard in the hopes of finding a scramble route up Mount Balinhard. Grotto Mountain is just outside of Canmore, Alberta, with it’s trail head starting right by the Alpine club. "Goats of Grotto", as it is called by local runners, starts on the Horseshoe loop. This was my 3rd time doing the hike, and 1st for my friend. Once above the treeline, I finally can relax a bit. From Calgary take the Trans-Canada Highway to Canmore. Due to the lack of snow on upper section, the rest was just like a late season scramble (although still a long way to the summit). As I roamed the clubhouse looking at rusted crampons, ... deep below the surface of Grotto Mountain alpine caves twist and turn in an intestinal-like network that reaches far into the bowels of the Earth’s crust. Nestor. For us, a summer ascent here was a novelty. I had to take my ice axe out for a snow slope crossing. The first one was the trail to the direct route, bigger and flagged. The ACC route allows us to bag the false summit and traverse the ridge to the main summit (conditions permitting). GPS Route: Grotto-Cougar_Creek There are a couple things that stand out about Grotto. Very enjoyable to read. ACC had women breaking trails. There is still a decent amount up high. The second one was the Horseshoe Traverse, which continues horizontally all the way to Cougar Creek. Throughout the trip we encountered hikers on this popular route, so it was no surprise to run into people on the summit. But it wasn’t too dark by the time I made back to parking lot. As you can see, it was pretty dry in the alpine. Report on a Scramble trip Grotto Mtn via ACC clubhouse route on 2020-08-04 The party engaged in a lively discussion of local and world affairs while enjoying a leisurely hike and The official trailhead is 100 m up the road, but there's a flagged shortcut behind the dumpster. Too bad I went off-route again, and wasted about 1 hour here. Everything looks small from here. And on top of that, after roughly 200 m elevation gain I completely lost the trail. We were partway along the ridge when Dinah was hit with vertigo; years ago a viral infection in her inner ear robbed her of her balance and she never fully recovered. The direct route involves several steep slab sections even below the treeline with a few cliff bands, so I decided to give it an attempt via ACC route, a longer but safer route. You can also see Mount Aylmer. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I went off-route here, and wasted about 20 minutes. Hi Steve. The huge mass of Grotto Mountain towering above the Bow Valley has a route up the sloping west flank that is a laborious ascent to the northwest ridge on a twisting trail, followed by an interesting ridgewalk to the summit. bobspirko.ca  |  Home  |  Canada Trips  |  USA Trips  |  Hiking  |  Snowshoeing |  MAP  |  About, Grotto Mountain (ACC Route) From there, a lengthy trail runs up a scree slope to the rocky ridge. The mountain was named for a grotto-like cave within it. It features steep Grotto Mountain - ACC Route | Kananaskis Trails. After that I was very demotivated to drove home. I’m not a climber, but this is a cool site! She had to sit down but urged me to continue without her. At tree line, the trail narrows to the false summit. But even here, there's a trail going to the top. We went the ACC route so I can’t speak to what the scrambling portion is like on the loop. True summit is on right. Even though I tried to run down, I was forced to watch sunset on the mountain again. By the time I eventually reached the summit, it was 2:20 pm, which indicated I only had about 2 hours of daylight time. Change ). Calgary-based hiking, scrambling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing club. Although I successfully summitted this mountain, I should say, I was neither physically nor mentally ready for this ascent. A few minutes after starting out, we took a right fork that dips down before going back up, The trail dips briefly into a lush forest, After this, the trail begins a steep climb, The climb relaxes when switchbacks kick in, Above the treeline there's a long trail in scree. June 30, 2018. On the way down, I stayed on the ridge all the way until the last false summit and this route proved to be both easier and more scenic. Time to hurry up on the descent. This is the second time I’ve climbed this mountain (the first time was via the ACC route), and both times my calves were killing me on the way up. Check in with the folks at the ACC before parking in the Clubhouse parking lot. Untitled 1 [Alberta/Bow Valley Provincial Park] Grotto Mountain - 2,706m // 2013년 6월 8일 토요일 * Easy to Moderate * GPS - 최고높이 (Max. Looking back towards the summit form the descent, Retracing my steps down the forested slope. There are three routes to the top of Grotto Mountain. This route starts at the Alpine Club of Canada clubhouse and stays to the left of the large gully. Can someone send me a photo or 2 of Grotto Mountain showing the ACC and direct route and the peak? However, we'd noticed yesterday that while many mountains had received a few inches of fresh snow Friday night, Grotto Mountain outside Canmore had been largely spared and what had been there in … It rockets straight up before easing into switchbacks. This is the most direct route up to the summit of Grotto Mountain, albeit a steep plod. View of Grotto Mountain from the parking area. The first one was the trail to the direct route, bigger and flagged. No Place For A Friend 90 m, 5.9 R. Baillie & M. Toft, June 1983 This route climbs the left side of the buttress, passing a prominent treed ledge at just over half height. We got lot's of great beta and photos. View Tyler's Recording Trevor Belsher reviewed Grotto Mountain Trail August 19, 2020 Hiking Great! The space is limited so guest will have first Grotto Mountain standard scramble route. I didn’t stay on the ridge during ascending, instead I traversed around several false summits on west slope which actually led to more interesting terrain. On the first false summit. (ford) (route finding required) Abraham Mountain Route Abraham Slabs Climber's trail Acephale Trail Alberta Rockies 700 Alexander Henry's Trail Allstones Creek Trail Allstones Lake Trail Alternate Route Amiskwi Pass to David Thompson Heritage Trail Amiskwi ( Log Out /  Having reached the summit before, she didn't feel shortchanged. Given its sheer size, its accessibility in Canmore's backyard, and being mostly a trail hike, it's no wonder Grotto Mountain attracts many hikers. ( Log Out /  Distance: 12 km Elevation gain: 1560 m Route map With gorgeous weather in the mountains today we were looking for something big to hike, but many bigger objectives were still completely snowbound. Note this elevation gain is almost the same as Cascade Mountain’s. After leaving her, I easily downclimbed a two-metre cliff band, the only scrambling bit along the ridge. Grotto Traverse is a very strenuous scramble from the Rats Nest Cave Parking to the summit is 1450m. Second sign, right again (Grotto Mountain trail) loosing some more of elevation and reaching the creekbed. Grotto Mountain (D irect R oute) Kananaskis, Alberta March 13, 2004 Grotto Mountain provides a good workout in early season when other peaks are still snowbound. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Indeed, even though Dinah and I have climbed Grotto a few times, it was always in winter conditions. This way up is way more interesting than the ACC route. I've been up it a few times using both the ACC route and the direct route. There are five routes I have called them #1 A.C.C. I did all the trail-breaking by myself…. Looking North towards Mount Lady MacDonald and Charles Stewart South. August 24, 2013 3125m Kananaskis – Smith Dorrien Valley, AB Located on the west side of Spray Lake, the unofficially named Old Goat Mountain is the highest in Goat Range sees few visitors unlike its neighbour, Mt. Grotto Mountain - ACC Route 10.6 km return 1381 m Canmore Area Middle Sister 17.2 km return 1414 m Canmore Area Mount Allan from the north 22.2 km return 1441 m Bow Valley Mount Collembola Traverse 22.1 km return 1685 m Bow Valley Mount Bow Valley from above treeline. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hike / scramble up Grotto Mountain, by Canmore, on blustery day. After going up a couple of gentle cliff bands, the path suddenly breaks out of the trees. Grotto Mountain (ACC Route) Kananaskis, Alberta. The second one was the Horseshoe Traverse, which continues horizontally all the way to Cougar Creek. June 30, 2018. Distance 10.6 km return, height gain 1381 m, very strenuous. Route Description This is a 4500’+/- ascent day. I retraced my footprints once entering the woods and I couldn’t believe I made the trail all the way to the treeline. I checked the register, and the last ascent was done on Dec. 27th, so I’m the first one successfully ascended Grotto Mountain in 2012. This was my first scramble in 2012, done on my 19th birthday. "Did the Acc route so I could experience the amazing ridge walk twice, saw the rock window and mount Assinaboine, got caught in a T-storm on the way down the mountain, a bit scary, pelted with pea sized hail, soaked to the bone, sliding down mud trails OK that is all the routes up Grotto that I know of completed. Grotto Mountain - Canmore Grotto Mountain Scramble: Class 1 – Steep Hiking, Nice Ridge Walk Altitude: 2,706m (8,876 ft) Elevation Gain: 1,425m (4,674 ft) Ascent Time: 3 – 4 1/2 Hours Best Season to Scramble: Mid-May to October, relatively little snow on the There are two main scrambling routes: Northwest Variation - from the ACC clubhouse, ascends the northwest side of the mountain on a good hiking trail. Start an unrelenting steep ascent here and stay on the edge of this ridge (canyon to your left). ( Log Out /  No rappel is necessary. Dinah stopped before the short cliff band, After regaining the ridge it's a walk to the summit, 230 m before the summit there's a small window, The trail runs to the summit while avoiding the cliff bands, Dinah took this shot of me on the ridge while a few hikers appear on the summit, I was reaching into my pack when Dinah took a photo of me on the summit, One of the girls on top was kind enough to take this photo. The trail then crosses over and briefly runs below the ridge on the left side before returning to the crest. Presented here is most scenic and relatively unknown option that starts from Cougar creek trailhead (same as for Lady MacDonald) and climbs semi-forested "Cougar ridge" gently rising at west flanks of the mountain. Moreover, it enjoys a long climbing season. Unfortunately parking in any of the ACC lots wasn’t permitted, but we The scramble section is merely a very steep hike and the few hands-on steps are all avoidable if staying on the ridge. And although I posted the direct route, I thought I should add the easiest route, the ACC (Alpine Club of Canada) route. Left in the foreground is Cougar Peak. Kananaskis, Alberta Grotto Mountain – 423 Follow ledges down to the left. Zooming-in towards Fairholme Range. With the day already drifting into the afternoon, I needed something that was local, reasonably quick, and wouldn't require any additional research on my part. However, the 1425 m elevation gain makes it a demanding ascent even in summer time. Can you reply back? When I was back to the correct ascent rib, it was almost 11 o’clock. Hey Steve! ” It’s largely just a hike and starts a short distance below the ACC clubhouse in Canmore. Hopefully there would be people doing this mountain in the following several days, so they don’t need to do the massive trail breaking thing. We also ascended Meda Mountain on this trip. Moreover, it enjoys a long climbing season. 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