Trip Report - Mt. Niblock

Just wanted to share some photos from this weekend's adventure, scrambling up Mt. Niblock in the Lake Louise area. This was my fourth summit in 7 days, and I felt every single step of it on the outer sides of my hips. I'm no doctor, but I think either my IT band or Tensor Fascia Latae muscles were screaming at me 'WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US?!!' for the entire day (and for the entirety of the giant mountain we hit two days before that too...). But apparently, I'm hard of hearing, and just ignored them.

Anyways, I digress. The trek up Niblock involved 1241m of net elevation gain, hiking up two massive steep scree bowls, climbing up a cliff band beside a waterfall, and also ascending a fairly exposed ridge to gain the summit. At times, it felt like a slog, but the views at the top were unbelievable. This summit view easily lands in my top five, with a great closeup of a massive glacier, views of Lake Louise and Lake Agnes, as well as views of hundreds of peaks in the Icefields Parkway and leading into BC. Oh, and the photos of everyone scrambling at the top are pretty epic too. Take a peek, and you'll either 1) be inspired to go bag this one for yourself, or 2) be terrified by the steep exposed ridge traverse. (Hopefully more the former).

Anita heading up the second scree bowl.


I spotted a family of White Tailed Ptarmigans, perched along the cliffs, just below the ridge (2700m above sea level).


We sheltered behind a cliff wall, to escape the howling wind threatening to blow us over the edge.


The windgusts were strong, and you even had to hold on to your strapped on helmet.


Traversing across a rocky ridge, just below the summit. It was pretty airy and exposed.










On the summit of Mt. Niblock.


Anita soaks in the views.


I was there too!




Summit pano. For a mountain of only moderate technical difficulty, this view is an amazing reward.



Summit Brew: Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. Ring Pop Double Dry Hopped IPA.






















Looking back at the summit (right), after dropping back down to Lake Agnes.