Protection Mountain (Ridge)
Banff Park
June 30, 2001

Although reaching the summit of Protection Mountain well exceeded our abilities, we were more than capable of gaining the ridge crest. Not only did we enjoy the alpine views but we were also fascinated with the abandoned mining camp dating back to the late 1800s.

After parking on the south side of Hwy. 1A, 12.4 km northwest of Castle Junction, we started up a trail – vague at first but later becoming defined – that follows the west bank of a stream. The trail leads to a mine above the treeline. We continued climbing another 400 m above the mine to the ridge crest. There was no trail, but the ascent was an easy scramble. I kept this route in mind when, four years later, we used it to ascend Television Peak and Stuart Knob.