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Mount Fable |
| Elevation 2702m Height
Gain Time to Reach Summit Degree of Difficulty Scenery Date of Most-recent
Ascent |
Heading west
on highway 1A, turn right just before the bridge crosses Exshaw Creek onto Windridge Road.
Follow the road to the end and turn left onto Mt. Lorette Drive. At the end of Mt. Lorette
Drive, park at a pull-off just before a foot bridge. Cross the bridge over Exshaw Creek and turn right. The path parallels the chain link fence of the Lafarge plant. At the end of the fence line, cut diagonally left across the clearing and up the road into forest. In 15-20 minutes the road rejoins Exshaw Creek just above a concrete/boulder dam. Hug the left side of this broad drainage and in a few minutes look for a good trail entering forest. For the next 35-40 minutes the well-trodden Exshaw Pass Trail crosses Exshaw Creek 6 times via wooden bridges. Shortly after the sixth crossing the summit of Mt. Fable can be seen. From this point the mountain still appear miles away - and it is! In another 10 minutes Fable Creek intersect the trail from the left. This wide drainage was a mere trickle in late August. At the large cairn pick up the trail on the left which takes you west into Fable Creek. The trail alternates back and forth between the left and right banks of the creek, slowly making a gradual right turn which takes you in a northwest direction. From this point on the trail settles down on the left bank. The long march up Fable Creek seems just as long as getting to Fable Creek itself, but at least the scenery is more interesting. The upper stretch of the route is above trees and is flanked by cliffs on the right. Eventually, you regain sight of Mt. Fable's summit, and the headwall guarding the col to the summit ridge. The headwall is best surmounted on the right side. Once you're at the top stay high to avoid the broad scree gully which we'll save for an easy descent. As you make your way up towards the center of the col note the different colored rubble to your left and right. At the saddle you are rewarded with delightful views of the mountains to the north. Earlier parties have built a large stone circle here - could be the same bunch responsible for crop circles. If you're carrying ski poles, you'll want to leave them here, they'll only get in your way as to make your ascent up the shoulder to the summit. Stay slightly to the left as you head up low and moderate angle slabs. A couple of notches will require short downclimbs on the right. When you top out on the summit block, look for a cairn to your left marking the western extremity. The true summit is on your right. A short walk accented with a couple of careful maneuvers takes you to the cairn and register. The number of peaks visible from the summit must rank Fable as "The Mountain With the Most". Experienced hikers will recognize everything along the Bow Corridor from McConnell Ridge to West End Rundle. On a clear day, the snow-capped peaks of the Lake Louise group can be spotted far to the west. Directly west, eagle-eyed individuals can pick out the tea-house on Mt. Lady MacDonald, just above a grassy ridge. To the north rise numerous summits of the Ghost wilderness area and the Fairholme Range.
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