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Fossil Mountain
Skoki, Banff National Park, Alberta
September 5, 2004
Distance: 25.6 km (15.9 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1250 m (4101 ft)
Starting from Fish Creek parking lot, Dinah and I hiked up Temple Road and continued on the trail to Boulder Pass. We passed the trail to Hidden Lake and went to Deception Pass. From the pass, we hiked up the west slope to the summit without encountering any difficulties. Despite the long approach, Fossil Mountain can be done easily as a day trip, and the views are worth it.
At the end of the road, we saw a silver-back (left, partly hidden) and two
black grizzlies
Fossil Mountain seen from Boulder Pass. Deception Pass
is the low point left of Ptarmigan Lake.
Hiking up the trail
Anthozoan and Brachiopod Mountains
From Deception Pass the grade to the top of Fossil Mountain looks
gentle, but the view is deceptive
Looking back
The gentle lower slopes of Fossil ahead
On the ridge
Looking down at Ptarmigan Lake
The grade steepens
Looking back along the ridge
Stumbling up snow-covered loose rock on Fossil Mountain with Ptarmigan
Peak in the background
Zegadenus Lake and Myosotis Lake in the background
Higher up, the snow became deeper and mist rolled in
Nearing the summit
Dinah stands between the memorial and summit cairn
The memorial
On the summit
Molar Mountain
Heading back down
Taking a break
We came across a ptarmigan on the way back
82 N/8 Lake Louise, 82 N/9 Hector Lake
