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Stuart Knob |
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Trip No. 114 Elevation Height
Gain Time to Reach Summit Degree of Difficulty Scenery Date of Most-recent
Ascent |
Of the trio of summits over-shadowing Rockbound Lake, Stuart Knob is probably the most technical. Don't fret though, the scrambling is short and within the ability of any intermediate scrambler. The approach is long so plan on an early start. Access is via the official Rockbound Lake hiking trail. From Banff head west on Highway 1 to Castle Junction. Go north to Highway 1A and make a right. Park in the parking lot (GPS reference 51d16m08s N, 115d54m54s W) on the north side of the road on Highway 1A, 200m east of Castle Junction intersection. The wide trail starts just beyond the map shelter. Within minutes at the signed intersection keep left - the right branch leads to Silverton Falls. The 7.7km hike into Tower Lake (GPS reference 51d18m25sN, 115d55m20s W) is easy going through sub-alpine forest. As you twist and turn your way up to the southeast shoulder of Castle Mountain, the trail narrows a bit. Once you near the crest the trail levels and is down-right mucky in sections. As you approach the lake, the limestone cliffs of Castle Mountain spring to view. The first tower up ahead is Eisenhower Peak. Near Tower Lake are luscious green meadows. You may get glimpses of Stuart Knob's unusual summit bands - together they look like a teapot lid. March around Tower Lake on the right. The trail climbs hastily for the next 0.7km up a headwall and emerges at Rockbound Lake. The majority of casual hikers congregate here and marvel at the scenery and the completion their 8.5km trek. Rockbound Lake (GPS reference 51d18m40sN, 115d55m43s W) is surrounded by cliffs. Although not obvious from lakeside, there are two terraces above the cliffs. The lower terrace starts at the base of a large dome half-way up to Helena Ridge, while the upper route starts at the top of the dome. These routes provide the long traverse paths up to Castle Mt. You want to gain the upper route to get to your destination. Circle the lake to the right towards a wide talus slope just before the last patch of forest drops to the lake. Within moments of reaching the rubble a good trail branches right through stunted trees. At tree line the trail swings left across a rubble gully and sneaks through a rock band. Shortly you reach a grassy clearing. Ahead of you a trail angles up to the top of the dome. Once on top pause to catch your breath and enjoy the view - the entire Castle Mt. massif is stretched out before you. Below the limestone cliffs is emerald green Rockbound Lake. Helena Ridge towers to your right. Your objective is tucked way back at the northwest end of a huge bowl formed by Helena Ridge, Stuart Knob, and Castle Mt. From where you are do not follow the masses headed to Castle Mt. by dropping down to rubble slopes on the left. Instead, head up towards Helena Ridge a little further, then proceed in a level line around the right side of the rocky flats. The rock is rather peculiar here - blocks sitting on top of slabs. Due to weathering of soft inter-layers they resemble giant books (with real thick pages). Getting to the foot of Stuart Knob seems to take forever. This gives you plenty of time to study how to get pass the first rock band. The most obvious is to go way left and up rubble slopes. Nearer at hand, there is a spot a little beyond a small grotto at the base of the rockband that you can scramble through. Make your way up through breaks in the next band via any number of possible routes. Above here you have a clear view of the final pitch below the summit block. It is quite obvious that you can't get to the top from the front due to the vertical rock. Aim for the skyline ridge to the left of the summit block and treadmill your way up the fine-ground shaley slopes. The only joy is the prospect of running back down this same loose stuff on the return trip. At the base of the summit block continue around to the backside. When you run out of path turn right and scramble up plenty of hand and foot holds for about 6 meters to the summit (GPS reference 51d20m00s N, 115d57m35s W). The narrow summit sports a modest cairn and no register. If you have more than a couple of people in your group you'd be hard pressed to find space for everyone. The view is very nice here: You can see the entire upper approach route to Castle Mt. Almost directly in line with Eisenhower Pk. is Mt. Sir Douglas. Further south Mt. Assiniboine forms a backdrop for Pilot Mt. To the west is the Wenkchemna peaks and Mt. Temple. Looking northwest up the Bow Valley, you can pick out Mt. Daly and the Bath Glacier in the distance. In the north the highpoint is Bonnet Pk.
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