Narao Peak

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Narao Peak

Trip No. 141

Elevation

2977m

Height Gain

1374m

Distance (one-way)

6.18km

Time to Reach Summit

4.0 - 6.5 hours

Degree of Difficulty

3.5 of 5

Scenery

4 of 5

Date of Most-recent Ascent

October 4, 2003

Download GPS Track

If you like following trails be well advised that this is one scramble which has NO trails (beyond the Lake O'Hara road). Not even animal trails. Nada. Furthermore, the complete absence of any obvious scree seams will force you to walk the entire way back down. Having said that, those who make it to the top will find the trip very rewarding, as the views are fantastic.

From Calgary, the drive west to Lake O'Hara is about 2.5 hours. The parking area (GPS reference 51d26m40s N, 116d19m46s W) is off Highway 1, 10.3km west of the Jasper exit (Highway 93).

Hike up the road to Lake O'Hara. At just over 2km you should come across a culvert crossing under the road. A little further ahead is the signed Ross Lake hiking trail on your left (GPS reference 51d25m50s N, 116d20m38s W). It takes some 20-25 minutes at a brisk pace to reach this point.

Follow the Ross Lake trail in for about 5 minutes as it trends northeast. When you can see an obvious clearing through a thin layer of trees on the left leave the trail and head uphill on your right. There are no trails to follow. The slope is moderate and the thrashing is not too bad. The worse of it is over in about 30 minutes as you gain elevation. As you head up angle slightly to the left. You should have frequent glimpses of Narao's north summit ridge as you ascend.

There is an second ascent route which avoids most of the thrashing. This access is about 1km beyond the Ross Lake trailhead on the Lake O'Hara road (GPS reference 51d25m12.4s N, 116d20m39.7s W). It is unmarked so finding it would be difficult, because it is not obvious from the road. If you have a GPS receiver you can follow the reference coordinates or download the GPS track data and head for the waypoint marked "ALTERNATE". From the road simply head straight into forest. In about 10 minutes the cover will diminish. Further up slope a dry drainage becomes better defined. Boulder-hop your way up this section until you emerge at the south end of the open level area gained via the first access.

After about an hour from the Ross Lake trailhead you should clear treeline. In front of you the terrain levels for a bit, then ramps sharply uphill. You can pick any line you want up to the summit ridge, but the further north you wander before striking uphill the easier the angle. The boulder and rubble slopes are steep in places but reasonably stable.

Once on the summit ridge you'll either stay on the crest or will have to duck down to the right to avoid the obvious drops. Depending on where you top out you'll have to climb at a couple of 3m high pitches head-on.

When you arrive at an imposing wall at the first large false summit traverse to the right on top of ledges for about 100m. If snow lingers in this shaded section be extra careful, as the ledge is narrow and the drop is steep. After you go around the corner at a cairn head uphill to the left to regain the ridge. A few minutes further on you arrive at the false summit highpoint. In front you you is a wide gap. Below you on the left is the top of the permanent ice/snow sheet that drapes Narao's northeast face. To continue you will have to descend rubble on the right, loosing some 15-20m of elevation along the way. Ahead you can see a large cairn perched atop the next false summit. As it turns out this is a large flat area sporting two cairns.

At the second cairn climb down a small step. The summit is directly ahead of you atop a pile of large rubble. You're close to your objective - just pick your way along the boulder slope to the right of the ridge crest.

As you come over the last few steps Pope's Peak spring to view. The panorama at the summit (GPS reference 51d24m45s N, 116d18m56s W) is absolutely spectacular. No doubt you've already noticed the improving views of Cathedral Mt. to the west and Mts. Niblock and Whyte to the east as you were toiling up the summit ridge. To the north the folds of Mt. Ogden cast its shadow onto Sherbrooke Lake. Paget Peak is to the east of the lake, but from where you are it is barely noticeable as much more prominent peaks like Niles, Daly, and Bosworth steal the show. In the distant northeast is Mt. Hector. To the west and southwest are the Kootenay Ranges.

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