Adventures and Rocks: Wonder Peak to Mount Cautley Traverse

Hike Name: Wonder Peak to Mount Cautley Traverse
Activity: Scrambling

Distance: ~20km (RT)

Altitude: Wonder Peak 2,852 m (Summited), Mount Cautley 2,880 m (Attempt)

Elevation Gain: ~1200m

Area: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park

Crew: Stephen, Jaimie, Travis, Stephanie

Time to Summit: Unknown (didn't keep track)

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Lake Magog Backcountry Campground

Getting There:

See the link below in "Additional Info".

Additional Info:

This hike was on Day 3 of our Mount Assiniboine backpacking trip. The weather looked gloomy at breakfast but we decided to head over to Wonder Pass to re-evaluate the clouds once we arrived. The weather looked ok so we headed up Wonder Peak, which was an awesome scramble by the way, when the sun came through the clouds. We were able to enjoy a summit-hang-out and then continued along the ridge to Mount Cautley. Apparently we were the first of the season (following 1 group ahead of us) to complete the traverse, as there is still a cornice on one section of the ridge. We scrambled around it and finally made it through the tricky sections of the ridge, when we saw a rainstorm rolling in. At about 100 vertical meters from the summit of Mount Cautley, we decided it was smart to head down so we scree-skied down into the valley - fastest summit ditch ever! The rain was pouring down on us at the bottom so we stopped at the Assiniboine Lodge for some tea. Of course the rest of the day was sunny and hot so we enjoyed our evening at the campsite.

This was definitely my favorite day of the trip - a day with the whole crew and an awesome scramble!

Pausing on a cliff near the summit of Wonder. Clear view of Mount Assiniboine. In the valley to the left is Marvel Lake (lower lake) and Gloria Lake (upper lake)