| TV
Peak - 2970m/9744' |
Scrambling with Ian Cameron
Height gain: 1600m/5250'
Ascent date: Aug 19, 2005
Ascent time: 2:15hrs From Stuart Knob
Descent time: 3:00hrs Back down to the road
Comment: Moderate scramble |
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Ian Cameron first suggested
to do Fable and Gap for this Friday's scramble. I thought, since
that he's willing to take 11 hours off his time, I talked him
into doing a 4-peak traverse in Banff instead.
This Banff trip was originally planned to scramble up Helena
Ridge, a traverse to Stuart
Knob, a traverse again to TV Peak, then
a traverse back to Castle Mountain. I chose to do Castle Mountain
last because Rockbound Lake trail would be more appropriate
to hike back to the car just in case we lose the sunlight.
I prepared myself and encouraged Ian in the beginning of this
trip to focus on finishing four summits, but I was the one who
gave up. When I noticed Ian has been constantly waiting for
me at the summit (20 mins on TV Peak), I realized I didn't have
the energy anymore to continue. I've already used-up my last
breath summiting TV Peak but Ian still got a smile on his face.
I could charge this to Gap Mountain
I did the day before, or to :-)_. Whatever the case might be,
it's the reason why we didn't finish-up with Castle Mountain.
On this day we met a couple of scramblers. Chris, on our way
to TV Peak and Blair Armstrong, at the summit of Stuart Knob.
Blair scrambled up Stuart Knob... on flip-flops, and caught
up with us on TV Peak taking a different route... on flip-flops.
On our descent, the three of us took the alternate route and
Blair led us to some fine bushwacking... not on flip-flops :-(.
Our overall roundtrip took 12:45hrs.
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(1) After leaving the summit of Stuart
Knob, we agreed not to gain unecessary elevation so we just
traversed both hills to the left.
(2) From the col, a few rock steps led us to the TV Peak's (blindingly
bright) ascent ridge. Ian at this point was already waiting
for the slow poke at the summit. If it wasn't for the will power,
I would have just given up at this point. My body did not agree
with what I wanted to do anymore. |
 
(1) Here's Ian, possibly just woke up from a nap while waiting.
Blair would eventually emerge behind Ian... on flip-flops.
(2) After we've decided not to continue to Castle Mountain,
we stayed for a bit at the summit. The sun was warm but the
wind was quite chilly. I had to put on all my layers just to
stop my shivers. |
  (1)
We're off to leave the mountain. Everyone has to pick their
own route. I guess I have no choice here but to take the middle.
(2) We had no clue where to go so our descent was a bit sketchy.
We traversed a bunch of ledges until we hit a relatively safer
downclimb. At the treeline, we set-up a bunch of landmarks
and just followed them to the road. |
  (1)
Ahhh fresh water. For a long day like this, we had to refill
our water containers. I hope nobody's peeing up the stream.
(2) Our descent time took 3hrs. When we got back to the road,
a fine gentleman gave us a 10mins ride back to Castle Junction.
It had been over 12hrs so this ride was really a treat.
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