Two days after traveling 32 km to climb Mounts Brachiopod and Anthozoan, we were ready to do another 32 km trip that encompassed TV Peak and Stuart Knob.

There seems to be no easy way to bag these peaks together. Traveling east to west entails downclimbing the crux on the SW ridge of Television Peak so we opted to travel the ridge west to east by first ascending Protection Mountain using an old mining trail that we had hiked four years earlier.

Two hours after starting out we reached the mine. From we easily scrambled to the crest of Protection Mountain. We followed the ridge and then dropped down 100 m to the col and started up the SW ridge. At first the ridge was easy but after getting to within 170 m of the summit the scrambling became difficult and exposed. Unfortunately Dinah found it unnerving so we backed down. We would have find to another way to get to Television Peak.

Our best route appeared to be on the NE ridge. This would not be easy for we had to drop down 250 m to the basin and then negotiate snow and cliff bands on the lower slopes below the ridge.

As we hiked in the basin, a couple of places appeared possible. The first involved crossing snow to reach a break in the cliff band. After covering a couple dozen metres on the snow however, my pole broke through to a hidden underground stream a few metres below. I quickly retreated.

Our second option eliminated crossing snow and there was a weakness in the cliff band that looked promising. After some scrambling we were on scree and plodding to the summit.

Television Peak was rife with antennas making it one the most unattractive summits I've been on. But the views were impressive. After snapping a few photos we were on our way. Bagging Television Peak had taken far too long – five and a half hours – and we had a long day ahead of us.

The hike to Stuart Knob was pleasant if long and uneventful. After reaching the base we easily scrambled to summit to find someone had left their down jacket there.

From the summit we dropped down to the basin. This was more difficult than I anticipated. Finding a way up through the cliff bands would be easier than looking for a break down through them. Eventually, though, we arrived at Rockbound Lake.

We followed the trail to Castle Junction where I had stashed amy bike. In the fading light, I cycled – uphill unfortunately – back to Protection Mountain trailhead to my car.

MOVIE (2:14)
Download path for Google Earth

Much of the trip from Television Peak to Stuart Knob was an enjoyable plod. We dropped to the pleasant col between Television Peak and the unnamed peak (GR720904) where we replenished our water supply. From the col we easily scrambled along and up the black rock band to gain the ridge. Here the wide, colorful ridge was like a highway, although it literally had its ups and downs. There were few clouds and visibility allowed us to take in the beautiful mountain scenery all around us.

The trip from Television Peak to Stuart Knob was an uneventful hour and 45 minutes. After reaching the summit block we scrambled up the final few metres on a route well used by the looks of it. The summit itself offered limited seating but it mattered little, as we couldn't stay long.

From the summit we first followed the ridge south to the base of the summit block before dropping down to a plateau above the basin. The good scree near the bottom was a welcome change from the loose rock higher up.

I was now concerned with finding a way down a cliff band that separated us from the huge basin. There was no easy way to spot a break so we contoured left along the top of cliff band before finally finding a breach. In a short time we were on the trail leading down to Rockbound Lake.

It was late in the day by now and I was concerned about getting back to the car, parked 12.5 km from the Rockbound Lake trailhead. I had stashed my road bike but being optimistic, I hadn't brought a bike light. I didn't relish riding in the dark.

Just before Tower Lake though we caught up to two guys around 60 years of age who were also heading back. We hoped to get a lift with them but ironically they had parked 10 km down the road and anticipated getting a lift from us! They were on their way back from rock climbing.

So I was left with riding my bike. Leaving Dinah in their company, I decided to scoot ahead to get to my bike with what little daylight was left. As I hurried ahead down the trail I expected Dinah to ease her pace. But she kept a brisk pace herself and the two climbers labored to keep up to her. They arrived at the trailhead ten minutes after me just after I had jumped on my bike. My road bike quickly ate up the distance and in 30 minutes I was at the car. I drove back to Castle Junction to learn one of the climbers had just caught a ride to get his truck after hitchhiking for 50 minutes. Dinah got in my car and we arrived back in Calgary at midnight.

Download path for Google Earth (same as TV Peak)