Distance

19.0 km to summit

38.1 km total

Elevation

1,695 m start

3,080 m max

Vertical

1,468 m gain

Time

9 hr 14 min to summit

13 hr 13 min total

A fine weather day for this peak, although a couple weeks past prime time for the approach. I can't recommend it anymore this season unless you hate yourself. The snow bridge over the creek is gone, although it's easy enough to hop across the rocks keeping your ski boots on, no problem. Coverage was great right from the car for the first 5km until you get closer to the glacier, then the snow just disappears. Gotta walk on the muddy moraines, which was no issue in the morning with a decent freeze but it was hell on the way back. Glacier coverage was poor until higher up, some bare ice in spots at the beginning. We probed 3m at ~2500m though. Didn't find any crevasses where we traveled. About 10-15cm of fresh snow on the face made for excellent skiing. It's a great run down and took under an hour from summit to the glacier toe (holy crap it's far!) It then took over 3 hours to reach the car from there, including about 5km of mud and moraine "hiking" before we reached the isothermic snow. Heavy trail breaking all the way back to the car sealed the deal to certify this trip as a slog. If you're going to do this one, take Athabasca glacier, or do it in early April! 38km, 1600m gain in 13hrs.

Route name

Castleguard Mountain 38.1 km route

out-and-back
Obstacles

road/access issues, stream crossing, snow on route, avalanche danger, crevasse danger

Key gear

rope/harness, skis, trekking poles