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Mount Fullerton |
| Elevation 2725m Height Gain Time to Reach Summit Degree of Difficulty Scenery Date of Most-recent Ascent |
South of Bragg Creek take Hwy 66 and head west until you reach Powderface Trail junction. Turn left and drive to the Little Elbow campground. Park at the last permitted area (GPS reference 50d47m30s N, 114d51m30s W) and hike past the campsites. Stick to the main road next to the Little Elbow River. In 10-15 minutes you'll reach a gate and map kiosk - the start of Little Elbow Trail (GPS reference 50d47m21s N, 114d52m16d W). Proceed through the next set of gates and in 40 minutes (3.5km) look for the signed Nihahi Creek trail on your right (GPS reference 50d47m47s N, 114d54m33s W). Take this branch; don't fret if it initially veers away from Nihahi Creek, the trail builders have simply put in a bunch of graceful switchbacks to lessen the grind. Follow this good trail for some 2.5km until the end. The spot (GPS reference 50d48m27s N, 114d54m59s W) is marked by a mammoth cairn. Continue on up Nihahi Creek. Initially narrow, it soon opens to a vast flood plain. This section is long and wide enough to land 737's. Although flat, you'll walk till you drop for the next hour or so. From a distance it appears that everything disappears into forest at the north end of the valley. As you arrive you'll quickly discover this is not so. The creek has simply changed course. Turning west (left), you will soon come into view of the east face of Mt. Fullerton. In a few hundred meters, look for the trees on your left to thin; revealing a narrow gully. There is a large cairn (GPS reference 50d49m55s N, 114d56m17s W) sitting atop the low embankment marking the spot for you to turn left and start ascending. The rocky gully gains elevation gradually. It is not necessary to scramble up the right bank onto a forested ridge; just keep going and eventually you will arrive at an amphitheatre just above tree-line. Angle right towards a broad shoulder on the east end of the summit ridge. Once on the ridge, the initial going is mainly hiking on gentle grassy slopes. As you gain altitude you'll soon have to scramble from ledge to ledge. Mind what you grab or step on as loose holds are everywhere. You may find it easier to stay just below the ridge on its left side, but as you near the summit you should transfer to the ridge crest itself. The summit (GPS reference 50d49m21s N, 114d57m47s W) view is wonderful. The reward for all your hard work is a splendid panroma. To the east is the 8km long Nihahi Ridge. Moose Mt. peeks over the ridge to the northeast. To the west the highpoint is Fisher Peak. To its right in the distance is Assinniboine. In the near distance to the southwest are the summit blocks of Remus and Romulus. Mt. Glasgow is the pyramid one range further.
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