Tangle Ridge Hike Scramble - Icefields Parkway
Columbia Icefields
Camped the night before at Wilcox Creek campground a few
kilometres before the Icefields Centre
View from the Wilcox Creek campground as the sun begins
to set
Trail heads off south for a bit parallel to the
highway then swings back around towards the falls as it gains elevation
Parking lot on the west side of the road. Tangle
Falls is on the east side of the road.
Toilets just beside the Tangle Falls parking lot
Views begin to open up fairly quickly
After about 30 minutes (plus or minus) of hiking,
the trail comes quite close to the creek that feeds Tangle Falls. Here you
see across the creek a couple of cairns close together. This leads up the
correct drainage. You follow a faint trail for a bit but the object is to
hit a steep trail on the left that take you up above on the left side of the
drainage.
Looking at the objective. Trust me the summit is a
long ways away and very foreshortened. Numerous false rises above tree line
can be discouraging.
The steep trail on the left that takes you above and
left of the drainage. If you miss it you will eventually have to climb out
of the drainage to your left
High on the left side of the drainage
Adeem steps into the picture
The views will excite or comfort you on his long
plod
Stutfield Glacier
Looks close but it is not
The early part of the slope above tree line
Still going on
Mt Columbia and the North Twin sticking their heads
up above the glaciers
Wow, views are looking nice! Mt Alberta left of
center.
And more!
Views to the south, Mt Wilcox, Mt Athabasca, Mt
Adromeda
Nigel Peak is left, Mt Wilcox is right, both
moderate scrambles
At long last the repeater tower
Notice you can't see the initial slope above tree
line
Adeem topping out in an amazing bunch of scenery!
Sunwapta Peak to the north, a long scramble
Closer view of Mt Columbia and North Twin above the
Kitchener and Stutfield glaciers
Enjoying those amazing views!
Views to the east
Taking it all in!
Long slope but summit slope hidden from view far
away
A persevering but beautiful day draws to a close
Tangle Ridge Hike Scramble
- Icefield Parkway Columbia Icefield
Scramble: Class 1 � Steep Hiking, Ski poles
would be useful, never ending scree slope
with terrific views to your left
Altitude: 3,000m (9,843 ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,240m (4,070 ft)
Ascent Time: 3 to
4 1/2 hours
Best Season to Scramble:
July to
October but more important is a blue sky day
Highlights
This scramble offers big mountain views of
Mt. Andromeda, Mt.
Athabasca, Mt. Columbia, Mt. Alberta
as well as many others.
Perseverance would be a good quality to have
for this one!
Getting There
Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada
highway # 1 to Lake Louise 187km (116.9 miles). Continue west on
the TransCanada for another 2.5km and take the Icefield Parkways
/ Jasper exit (highway 93) going north. Head north approx 124km
(77.5 miles) to the
Wilcox Pass campground which is 3 km before the Icefield Center.
Tangle Falls is 7 km past the Icefield Center or approx 10km
from the campground. Parking for Tangle Ridge is on the left
(west) side of the road if heading north.
