The trail at the start is well worn and very obvious. It is part of the very popular Heart Creek trail. To get to Heart Mountain Scramble route, a creek needs to be crossed and then you shoot up to the right. The trail is rocky from the start. No scree. At this part of the trail you can see why Heart Mountain has its name. (it's the shape of a heart)
The moon hung in the sky above the neighbouring peaks.
The flowers were beautiful.
After gaining some elevation, several peaks are visible. Yamnuska is the most prominent to the right. Loder Peak, Door Jamb, Goat Mountain are also in the frame.
Tops! I enjoyed this part. A nice undulating ridge with the full summit just ahead. I had the idea of perhaps doing the Twin Towers (in the background to the left of the frame)
The target summit is just above to the left. The saddle connecting Twin Towers looks enticing!
Summit! This is Grant MacEwan Peak. Feeling very patriotic with the Canadian flag.
There were a few marmots hanging out on the mountain.
I did make an attempt for the Twin Towers. However, just ahead was a steep downclimb. A cliff. Not something I was keen on doing alone in case of injury. Not many people come out this way.
I returned to the summit of Grant MacEwan to enjoy a beer and a PB&J! I had the whole mountain to myself as I was decently speedy on the ascent and it was still early... it was just around 10am.
After enjoying my breakfast I carried on along the ridge.
There was a slight descent to only go back up again. A cairn, but it's not a summit? But it can be I guess... I do have a second beer. Saw a couple of marmots along the way.
Giant cairn. Poles for scale. I guess this can be a summit. I enjoyed the second beer and took in the sights.
From this false peak, I looked back at Grant MacEwan peak. The Twin Towers to the left. The beautiful ridge to the right. Also this amazing looking, wavy, rock band.
The descent route was very straight forward and smooth. I ran most of the way. Being alone I was making some noise in the form of singing things I saw... to then meet up with a mother daughter hiking pair and having them say hello and me now trying to think of how embarrassing that was. The trail here is very worn and connects to the power line that you follow west.
Along the way I start to see people until I run into the masses at the creek crossing. The parking lot is jam packed. I'm happy I arrived to the trailhead when I did.
