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

The mighty slog appears! The scramble route up Sunwapta Peak is readily seen from the highway!

From the small parking pull-off, it's a bit of a roundabout route to start the ascent. Wet, marshy terrain stands in the way of a direct route, and we followed the Stanley Falls Trail until we reached the Old Icefields Parkway. From there, we then backtracked to our left (down the overgrown road), until we found the cairn marking the start of the ascent route! Tangle Ridge rises to the right. Our objective is still 300m higher than that... Photo credit: Dad

There is a trail...but it sure doesn't feel like it at times! Lots and lots of deadfall to navigate around!

Some low clouds form on this crisp morning!

Our objective finally comes into view! Once we reach the tree line, there will still be over 1000 vertical meters of elevation gain to go! Talk about a foreshortened view!

On to the long stretch of scree! My dad and Kaitlyn were already starting to feel "slogged out" at this point. I can't blame 'em, but for some reason I didn't mind the climb. I started a bit of a game with myself, seeing how far I could go without taking a break...Seemed to make the trudge go by faster. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tangle Ridge, similar to Sunwapta, has a steep face on its backside! Much more of an eye-catching angle than the highway view!

After some time, the nice scree trail fades away, and the angle of the slope increases up larger rubble. The rubble may seem never-ending, but check out the views! Incredible angle of Nigel Peak (center-left) and its glacier! 100% gonna climb that one soon!! Photo credit: Dad

After a good stretch of rubble, we reached the summit ridge! About 250m of elevation gain remains!

Interesting cornice.

Looking over Sunwapta's sheer east-face.

Almost at the summit!

My dad and Kaitlyn continue up the ridge!

Nigel Peak, with Amery behind (far-left), Mount Saskatchewan, Athabasca, Andromeda, Androlumbia, and finally Kitchener and Snow Dome rising behind Tangle Ridge in the foreground as I reach the 3315m summit of Sunwapta Peak! Note Kaitlyn, a tiny speck center, approaching the summit, giving perspective to the sheer size of our surroundings!

Summit register!

Summit selfie! Photo credit: Dad

Looking over the cornice hanging on Sunwapta's east-face! Mount Brazeau (3470m) stands out above a significant icefield in the distance (center-right)!

Looking down to a couple of alpine tarns!

Mount Columbia (3747m), the highest mountain in Alberta (second in Canadian Rockies, falling short of Robson), is quite the sight!! As much as I pleaded, however, the clouds never fully revealed the summit :(.

After cloudy Columbia, we have Stutfield Peak (with what would be North Twin Peak (3730m), the second highest mountain in Alberta, behind, if the clouds didn't have something to say about it) and Mount Cromwell, followed by Mushroom Peak below and between Mount Woolley and Diadem Peak! This trio then sits below the third highest mountain in Alberta, Mount Alberta (3619m)! Unfortunately it's east-face is only briefly visible, before it too is lost in the clouds!

Mount Smythe's sharp summit stands out (center-left) from an expanse of peaks across the highway!

Lots of remote peaks waiting to be named!

Pano to the east! Poboktan Mountain still has some snow patches (center-left)!

Standing with the BIG summit cairn on Sunwapta Peak! I think this adds an extra meter to the mountain's elevation ;). Photo credit: Kaitlyn

Lots of familiar peaks to the west!

Kaitlyn and I take in the incredible views. Photo credit: Dad

My dad and I, on our highest summit to date! Photo credit: Kaitlyn

Starting down!

Kaitlyn descends the ridge!

Checking out an outcropping on the edge of the ridge! Photo credit: Dad

I found this long patch of snow on the way down and couldn't resist the glissade!! My dad was hesitant at first, as the slope was pretty steep (we didn't have ice axes), so we stood at the top, contemplating for a while...Meanwhile, Kaitlyn thinks we're going to decide against the glissade, and continues down the rubble (thinking she's getting a head start), only to see us flying past her on the snow a few minutes later...let's just say she wasn't too happy about it! To this day we haven't been forgiven! I ripped a hole in my pants if it makes you feel any better Kaitlyn! lol! Photo credit: Dad

Looking back up the slope, and the snow patch we descended, back on the scree trail!

Back below the tree line! All that's left now is a stretch of deadfall ridden forest!

Following the old highway, the roundabout route back to our car, with Tangle Ridge looming high above us once again! I think my dad and Kaitlyn would agree with reports of Sunwapta being a long, unpleasant slog, but for some reason I didn't mind it that much. Sure, climbing over deadfall at the end of a long day was a bit much, but maybe I had mentally prepared myself to expect the absolute worst, and ended up being very pleasantly surprised :).