Grotto Mountain Buttress

Looking down the Bow valley.Mt Rundle,Cascade and Canmore

Looking down the Bow valley.Mt Rundle,Cascade and Canmore

October 29th Tuesday

Too early to cross county ski, so although the valley had some snow over the weekend we decided to have a go at Grotto buttress from the Rats Cave Parking lot.This is a route up Grotto Mountain but today the buttress would do. The trailhead is on Hwy 1A left side about 5 km from Elk Run Blvd

Taken at the Rats Cave Parking the Buttress is lower left

Taken at the Rats Cave Parking the Buttress is lower left

The route is probably easy in the summer but with up to 30cm of snow the route was hard to find. The trail to the Grotto Buttress and summit is just before a little dip ( under the power lines ) that lead to the Rats Cave. Look for a small cairn to your left.

Typical early going up the first ridge

Typical early going up the first ridge

After about an hour lots of cairns appear this is the time to look for the route to the right that will take you along the side of the big dry gulch.Try to keep your elevation and walk at one point along a rock face.

Looking back down the dry gulch

Looking back down the dry gulch

Trudging up through the deep wet snow

Trudging up through the deep wet snow

Keep looking for the rock buttress it should be over your left shoulder but you are heading for the Col.

From the Buttress looking into Canmore with Ha Ling left and East of Rundle upper right

From the Buttress looking into Canmore with Ha Ling left and East of Rundle upper right

The views and the exposure from the top are spectacular.

Very icy going up the creek to see the Cave.

Elevation gain  850 m   High Point 2152 m.  Distance 5.0 km  Time 5.45 hrs. Side trip to Rats Cave   90 m  2.5 km

Groto Butress Pic

 GPS Download Click on Open Double Click Tracks Click Show on Map Click OK

Google Earth – KML

The Bow Valley and the Rundle Range

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The Bow Valley and the Rundle Range

 

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