Looking at the ridge to the summit
Grotto Traverse is a very strenuous scramble from the Rats Nest Cave Parking to the summit is 1450m. Two cars or a bike are needed. This way up is way more interesting than the ACC route. First it’s up to the buttress lookout and then a very rocky trail up to the first peak. We cut across to the col rather than going to the summit but still ended up a bit high and had to come down to the col. By this time the wind had picked up and the gusts were just about pushing us around. The ridge up to the summit passes the telecommunication equipment and then it is a short stretch to the summit. With the wind blowing so hard we did not linger very long. The views were very clear and we could see as far as Calgary 100km away and Mt Assiniboine looking fairly close at 30km. From the summit it is a craggy walk along the ridge down to the west end. We went as far as the route #5 comes out and had planned to go back down route #4 along the edge of the route 5 gorge but somehow missed it and ended up on the ACC route down. This put us way to far over to the east. Then we had to back track along the Horse Shoe Loop back to Cougar Creek so we could get back home pick up a car to retrieve the other from the Rats Nest end.
Route up around the Buttress
Two ways to this point upper or lower. This is the lower.
Lee coming up from the lower route
The way up after the Buttress lookout
Looking at the ridge to the summit at middle left
Summit ridge goes past the telly towers
View from a very windy summit
Incredible views over to Assiniboine 30km away
After the summit the ridge down
After the summit a lower look at the ridge down
Looking back to the summit
Distance return 15.0 km Time return 7 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 1785 m Elevation to Summit 1410 m Summit height 2740 m
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