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Mount Indefatigable

Elevation: 2670 m
Elevation Gain: 1000 m
Like many other peaks in the area, Mount Indefatigable was named for an ill-fated WWI battlecruiser. The HMS Indefatigable was sunk by German forces during the battle of Jutland in 1916. Of the 1015 souls aboard, only 2 survived. The peak was first ascended in 1901 by the venerable Walter Wilcox.
My Ascents:
August 24 2008

Wanting to tag along for a trip to the mountains, James got in touch with me to see what I was up to. Having been up the Indefatigable outlier a year earlier, I decided to it was time to bag the actual summit. And so, we made our way to Upper Kananaskis Lake, accompanied by James' French friend Aurore.

Looking across Lower Kananaskis Lake towards Highwood Pass on ascent.

Mounts Pocaterra and Tyrwhitt across Peter Lougheed Park.

Beautiful clouds over Kananaskis.

Indian paintbrushes litter the lush slopes.

The north (true) summit of Mount Indefatigable at the end of the long death ridge.

One last smile from James before the panic attacks!

Let the scrambling begin!

Aurore has no fear!

Looking past the death ridge that connects the south summit of Indefatigable to the true north summit.

Aurore on the summit ridge...but where's James?

There he is! A few more hands-on manoeuvres to go!

James clinging to the summit ridge. We eventually enticed him the extra 20 feet to the actual summit by pointing out the register!

White knuckles? ("I do believe I'm having a panic attack.")

A fine view of the death ridge connecting the north and south summits of Indefatigable...a scramble for another day!

Upper Kananaskis Lake and Hidden Lake far below.

Looking west towards the headwaters of the Kananaskis River.

Higher peaks straddle the continental divide.

Glaciated Mount Joffre to the southwest.

Mount Black Prince stretches down from the northwest.

The Opal Range high above the Kananaskis Valley and Highway 40.

The wind messed up my hair.

Glaciers abound above Upper Kananaskis Lake.

James leaving his mark on the mountain. The Smith-Dorrien valley behind him.

Did she sign the register in French? You'll have to go up to see!

Summit panorama of the glaciated Royal Group, Upper Kananaskis Lake, and the Upper Kananaskis River Valley. Click to see larger.

Looking north along the Mount Black Prince and Mount Invincible ridge lines. Click to see larger.

Looking across Peter Lougheed Park to the Opal Range and Highwood Pass. Lower Kananaskis Lake stretches from one side of the Indefatigable outlier to the the other. Click to see larger.