![]() ![]() At this point, Woolley Shoulder is just starting to reveal itself. Soon you’ll be dumped out into a large glacial basin. The glacial basin with Woolley Shoulder right of center, just out of sight behind the rock ridge. ![]() The trail continues to follow the south side of the creek, becoming faint briefly as you cross a rock field. At the top, you’ll enjoy the last vegetation you’ll see on this trip, a quaint and comfortable alpine meadow. The trail turns abruptly to your right, returning to the side of Woolley creek.Ībundant cairns will lead you along a mostly obvious trail when at Km 4.5, you climb briefly next to a small scenic waterfall. Don’t be fooled, this is not the moraine you are looking for. ![]() Soon, you’ll depart from the creek for a short distance before coming to a lateral moraine heading left and up toward Mount Cromwell. The trail follows Woolley Creek closely until you reach the bivvy site under Mount Woolley. At places, the trail can be washed out from the changing flow, but it is usually easy to pick back up again. It doesn’t waste any time gaining altitude.Īt approx Km 1.5, the trail seems to level out (although it’s mostly mountain trickery – see elevations) as it runs directly beside Woolley Creek. Starting from the Sunwapta River, the trail runs directly south up the high side of the Woolley Creek basin. If you’re unsure if you are in the right spot, you’re not in the right spot. Visit my Strava profile for an interactive map/elevation chart.Īt the time of this writing, the trailhead was flagged with pink surveyors tape and was very well maintained. Elevation of the exit route from Lloyd Mackay hut to the Trailhead. Once across, you will find a well defined trail climbing abruptly up from the Sunwapta River basin, only 10-15 meters south of the Woolley Creek basin. The trailhead requires you to cross the heavily braided Sunwapta River, which often requires crossing through braids that could be as high as the knee. There is a small partially paved pullout on the east side of Highway 97, just under Tangle Ridge. On the Icefield Parkway, the trailhead to the Lloyd Mackay Hut is approx 13 km north of the Columbia Icefield Center, or approx 90 km south of Jasper, Alberta. That is the route I’ve included in the gpx file below. The exit route follows the creek closely and is more accurate. ROUTE NOTES: On the way in, we got suckered into climbing a lateral moraine when missing a cairn. There is only one downside, and it’s a big and messy one – the Woolley Shoulder. You can drool over the chossy cliffs of Mount Alberta, and are certain to be guaranteed solitude from any disruptions. You can see the headwalls of the mountains that hold the Columbia Icefield, and see endless vista of mountain ranges to the west. None that outweigh the approach, anyway.ĭon’t get me wrong, the hut is in a spectacular basin, perched on the shoulder of the dramatic Mount Little Alberta. There aren’t any good reasons to visit this hut. ![]() Alpine foliage is so diverse, and the blues you can find in the mornings are never better than at these altitudes. “The scree on the way up to the shoulder is repugnant and does not resemble fun in any way.” – unknown Heading down to Chrome Lake, the fall colours had spread throughout the meadow. ![]()
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