Grassi Knob Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).

Starting up the Highline-East-Connector Trail, from the far east end of Wilson Way.

Grotto Mountain glows in the sunrise!

We soon reached a bridge (barely visible below, just left of the big tree trunk) leading over the creek, just after Highline-East-Connector joins with Highline Trail. Once across the creek, we immediately started heading up the steep slope, directly left of the creek.

Steep climb up to the ridge!

Climbing this steep slope on snowshoes was quite the adventure! Shout-out to the trees for being there when I needed them most, to drag myself up the super slippery snow!

Eventually the slope eased off as we gained the ridge.

The higher we climbed, the deeper the snow became! Luckily a faint indent of a previous trail led the way...at least for now!

Incredible lighting on Charles Stewart South, with Bald Eagle Peak below to the left, and Mount Lady MacDonald to the right!

A sea of cloud stretches out to the prairies!

The lower cliffs of Mount Lawrence Grassi, with Ha Ling Peak far-right!

Eventually all signs of previous trail breaking disappeared...Looks like we're on our own now!

DEEP!!!

It may not look like much, but breaking that trail was not easy!

My dad takes a turn trudging through the snow.

Ship's Prow Mountain is quite impressive!

Don't mind me struggling through waist deep snow...The summit is just ahead!...but the slopes guarding it look like they could pose quite the challenge! Photo credit: Dad

My dad gave it a go with snowshoes, but would end up sliding all the way back down to me in slow-motion as he dug his poles in, trying to get a grip on anything! But the fine, crystalized snow just rained down off the slabbly rock beneath. We decided it was time to switch to microspikes, as a slip slightly further up the crux was not an option!

The microspikes worked!! My dad reaches the top of the crux!

My turn! Photo credit: Dad

Finishing off the crux! Photo credit: Dad

Making the final few steps to the summit!

The Three Sisters, two of which are scrambles (Big Sister and Middle Sister) tower above, from the summit!

Grotto Mountain has regained all the snow (plus extra) from when we climbed it back in May!

The summit of Mount Lawrence Grassi is now visible!

The east face of Ship's Prow Mountain continues to impress!

Looking down to the ever expanding town of Canmore.

I've always wanted to experience looking down at a sea of clouds from a mountain-top, and although it doesn't stretch throughout the entire valley, this was still a highlight of the day for me!

My dad's a snowman! This man must have survived up here for a while now, as the frigid temps of late don't really support snowman building!

Me, standing on my first summit of 2022! Photo credit: Dad

He wants to ski there...

Summit selfie!

Since we were already up here, and we knew coming down the deep snow would take a fraction of the time it took to climb, we decided to continue along the ridge towards Ship's Prow Mountain!

Though we soon questioned that decision...

Looking back towards Grassi Knob, from the first highpoint.

There are a couple of dips in the ridge to reach the base of Ship's Prow Mountain's cliffs.

As a result of the cornices directly on the ridge, we ascended slopes on climber's left.

My dad climbs to the end of our extension.

The weather really took a turn for the worse! Photo credit: Dad

Aw man! I can't go any further! Photo credit: Dad

The view up Ship's Prow Mountain's snowy east face!

Although it didn't seem that way from Grassi Knob (now distant center-left), this was actually the highest point of our trip...Unfortunately there's not much to see anymore :(

Looking back up our tracks as we make our way back down the ridge. If anyone wants to do this trip soon, there's a nice path now! :)

Cornice!

It’s snowing pretty hard!

Some low clouds form in the valley as we return to the summit of Grassi Knob.

Bye-bye summit snowman! Looks kinda creepy to be honest...no wonder my dad had a bit of a scare when he first reached the summit! lol!

Since we didn't want to switch back to microspikes to descend the crux on Grassi Knob's north ridge, we decided to descend down the south ridge just enough to traverse back around the summit, to the left. We hoped that this would then join us back up with our ascent route.

Traversing below the cliffs guarding the summit.

Wolf lichen 2.0 :)...See 1.0 from Storm Mountain

We were able to join back up with our ascent route without much trouble.

I like how the snow decorates these trees in little puffs :)

EEOR along with the other peaks of Mount Rundle make an appearance, after being covered by cloud all day!

Following our tracks back down the mountain. If I'm being honest, I actually spent more time off our tracks, unable to resist descending the deep soft powder beside...it's too much fun!...Though it might make things confusing if people try to follow our tracks now...oops

Crux #2 of the day: descending the steep section back down to the creek on snowshoes!! We may or may not have fallen on our butts a few times...

It was pretty dark by the time we arrived back at Highline Trail, but we surprisingly didn't even need headlamps to reach our car!