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HomeMount Tyrwhitt
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Mount Tyrwhitt |
| Elevation 2874m Height
Gain Time to Reach Summit Degree of Difficulty Scenery Date of Most-recent
Ascent |
Park at the
Highwood Meadows day-use area on Highway 40. At the north end of the parking lot follow
the interpretive trail for a few hundred meters. When the trail bends right look for a
faint path branching left towards forest. This sloppy trail takes you over a low ridge and
in 30-40 minutes exits into Pocaterra Cirque. Further on, the trail skirts a small pond
and then slowly swings left. At the next branch, head left through a short belt of trees.
Mt. Tyrwhitt is ahead and slightly to your right. You should also be able to spot the rock
arch high up on the ridge. It is possible to head straight up Tyrwhitt Cirque towards Grizzly Col, however, a much easier path exists in a gradual traverse on the left hand slopes. Watch for cairns which guide you over a grassy shoulder up towards the trail. At Grizzly Col, you'll want to tell your novice scrambling friends to stay put and pass the rest of the day there - the remaining trek to the top of Tyrwhitt requires scrambling through hiddeous rubble. If there's snow clinging to the mountain you'll want to make use of it. Ski poles will also lessen the treadmilling that's ahead. Two-thirds of the way to the top, the rock arch is a welcome distraction, allowing you to regain your composure before making your way to the summit. The panorama at the top rivals that of Mt. Fairview. Mt. Rae, Mt. Arethusa, Storm Mt., and Mist Mt guard the eastern skyline. To the north is a face-on view of the Elk Range. On its lower right is Pocaterra ridge. To the northwest are the Kananaskis Lakes, while the western vista is packed with glacier clad summits - best bring your topo map if you want to name them all. On the return trip, a more interesting way back is via Grizzly Ridge. Once you've descended to Grizzly Col, look for a path which winds up to Grizzly Ridge. As you top out follow the ridge north-east. A broken path can be picked out on the right of the undulating ridge crest leading to a minor summit at the north end of Highwood Ridge. There are a couple of intersecting rockbands along the way which you have to either downclimb or bypass by descending into Paradise Valley on the right. Once you reach the minor summit, head south until the rock step on your left fades into something manageable, then drop into the lower bench and traverse back north. Keep an eye out on your right for a point almost directly in line with the parking lot below. From there, steep but easy scree delivers you quickly back to civilization.
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