Charles Stewart South Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).

Morning glow on part of Mount Rundle from the side road, parallel to the highway, where we started our ascent!

Mount Lawrence Grassi and Ha Ling Peak are also hit by some morning rays!

Bald Eagle Peak (left), with our objective, Charles Stewart South, rising behind (center)!

We parked on the shoulder of the side road, where our map claimed that Johnny's Trail started. This happened to be right at a fenced in property that said NO TRESPASSING! I'll just pretend I didn't see that...We found a gap between the short wire fence and the chain link fence to the left of the gate, and hiked up along the fence.

We soon arrived at this drainage, and followed it up to the left.

A couple minutes later, a trail crossed the drainage. We joined the trail on the left side, where a sign points towards Stoneworks (the canyon on route to Charles Stewart South).

There are lots of intersections in the trail, so be careful not to take a trail leading to who-knows-where! We tried to stick to Johnny's Trail the whole way, as it seemed to be the most direct route. Eventually we emerged at this drainage, and found a trail continuing up on the opposite side.

We soon arrived at Stoneworks Canyon! Photo credit: Dad

Quite an attraction of its own!

I thought that once through this cool canyon, we would arrive at the base of Charles Stewart South in no time...I couldn't have been more wrong! Boulder hopping up this drainage starts to feel endless, when around every corner lies another helping of boulders! STOP giving me boulders! I'm full!

It's a miracle!! The drainage finally ends! We angled up slopes to the left, leading to the scree basin below Charles Stewart South.

Heading up rubbly slopes! The summit of Charles Stewart South lies just right of center!

Close up of the upper slopes! Sooo...apparently the route angles right, up to the ridge, once these slabs peter out...Looks fun right?

We initially followed a bit of a ridge, on the edge of some sort of rock slide. It was solid and provided good footing (wouldn't it be great if the rock was this stable the whole way!?). After some time, we spotted some cairns and an obvious trail to climber's left that we decided to give a try.

The fun is about to begin! Bald Eagle Peak rises behind, with long Mount Rundle in the background!

Looking up at what lies between us and the ridge! This'll be interesting...

We followed the path as it curved up to the right, but the slope soon steepened considerably, and there was no solid footing to be found.

Looking up...

...looking down. "Okay, this is officially the worst mountain ever!" - Dad. lol! Honestly though...I can't even disagree! Scrambling up on all fours, every step we took, our leading foot would literally slide all the way back down to our other one! It took immense amounts of effort to gain the slightest bit of elevation! This may be easy scrambling in the technical sense...but mentally, this has got to be rated extreme! I would choose more exposed terrain, where there's actually some solid rock to be found once in a while, over this any day! Looking back now, I wonder if I'm exaggerating a bit, but I'm also no longer in the situation, where you feel absolutely useless against the never ending treadmill scree, and really do feel like you are climbing the "worst mountain ever!" (Lots of endlessness on this mountain...I think it should be called Mount Endless, or Endless Peak, or Endless Mountain...whatcha think?)

The suffering does end!! Finally on the ridge!

Well...one of us is...My dad fights his way up the final trudge to the ridge! We crossed paths with another scrambler (Martin), when we reached the ridge. We saw him a little ways behind us in the lower basin, but then lost sight of him...He angled up to the ridge earlier than us (maybe saw how much we were struggling and said, "screw that!"), and we arrived at the ridge at the same time. He said his route was pretty brutal as well, but that at least he had some solid rock! As Martin put it, his options were "bad, or worse"!

SOLID ROCK!!! Don't know if I've ever been more excited for solid rock in my life! Following the beautifully stable summit ridge!

Looking back down the ridge.

A little bit of an easy downclimb, just before the summit!

A plaque describing the naming "Buffalo Point"! Don't know if they decided to inform anyone of the naming (other than those who venture to the summit), as I've only seen it referred to as Charles Stewart South on maps...Unfortunately no summit register though :(

Cascade Mountain rises behind Princess Margaret Mountain!

Mount Rundle!

The Matterhorn of the Rockies, Mount Assiniboine, meets the clouds!

Bald Eagle Peak, down the ridge to the west! We wanted to traverse the ridge up to here when we were on its summit earlier this season...looks pretty technical from this side though!

Mount Norquay looks massive compared to the tiny Tunnel Mountain below!

Mount Charles Stewart is just a ridge walk away! Looked sketchy to downclimb from up here though...Hopefully there's a scramble route to try someday! Mount Peechee rises behind (left), and Mount Alymer lies distant right!

A tiny bit of Lake Minnewanka can barely be seen center-left, where the treed ridges meet! Mount Costigan rises far-right, with Astral Peak and Castle Rock distant center.

Unique view towards the front-range peaks to the east!

Mount Fable rises center with the prairies stretching out beyond! The traverse from Gap to Fable sits high on my to-do list! Cougar Peak is in front, to the right.

Mount Townsend is one of the larger front-range peaks!

New friend Martin! We enjoyed the descent in his company! You'll get the hang of that Rocky Mountain scree soon! ;)

Grotto Mountain!

All four peaks of Mount Lougheed rise in the distance behind Lady Mac! Mount Allan sits left of Lougheed.

The Three Sisters are an iconic symbol of Canmore! We've climbed the two that are scrambles (Middle Sister and Big Sister)!

A raven stopped by to say hello!

Raven taking off.

Raven with friends.

Raven.

Interesting slabby rock formations below!

My dad on the summit of Charles Stewart South/Buffalo Point!

Me, with Bald Eagle Peak behind! Photo credit: Dad

A rare picture of the two of us that's not a selfie! Thanks Martin! Photo credit: Martin

But who wouldn't want to see a summit selfie anyway?? ;)

Summit pano to the west!

Martin and I heading down the ridge. Photo credit: Dad

Looking off the ridge to the east!

We may have had to suffer miserably on the way up, but it all feels worth it on the way down!!...maybe...actually probably not...but it was still fun. Finding a better route up, and taking this amazing scree skiing run down, would make for a great day!

From the last photo to down here in less than 10 minutes!

Martin notices me taking a picture and strikes a pose!

Side-hilling back down to the drainage.

Our route to (and from) the drainage! I missed the short leftward traverse on the way up, and ascended straight up the hard packed, steep slope to the right...My dad found the right route up, and stared down at me from the top, probably wondering what I was getting myself into! Lol!

Cool view, back at Stoneworks Canyon! If only we could have teleported from the end of the scree run to here...Unlike the scree, the boulder hopping is no better on return :(

Following the mossy trail back down, on skier's left of the drainage.

Looking back the long ways to Charles Stewart South, from a viewpoint on Johnny's Trail! Although this mountain wasn't all great, I'm super happy to have finally knocked it off the list! That being said...I'm never going back!...unless the scramble route for Charles Stewart (main) uses the same approach...then I'll cry...but I'll do it anyways.