Days of Noah are Here!

Tangle Ridge Scramble - Icefields Parkway Columbia Icefield

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Camped the night before at Wilcox Creek campground a few kilometres before the Icefields Centre

Tangle Ridge Scramble

View from the Wilcox Creek campground as the sun begins to set

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Trail heads off south for a bit parallel to the highway then swings back around towards the falls as it gains elevation

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Parking lot on the west side of the road. Tangle Falls is on the east side of the road.

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Toilets just beside the Tangle Falls parking lot

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Views begin to open up fairly quickly

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

After about 30 minutes (plus or minus) of hiking, the trail comes quite close to the creek that feeds Tangle Falls. Here you see across the creek a couple of cairns close together. This leads up the correct drainage. You follow a faint trail for a bit but the object is to hit a steep trail on the left that take you up above on the left side of the drainage.

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Looking at the objective. Trust me the summit is a long ways away and very foreshortened. Numerous false rises above tree line can be discouraging.

Tangle Ridge Scramble

The steep trail on the left that takes you above and left of the drainage. If you miss it you will eventually have to climb out of the drainage to your left

Tangle Ridge Scramble

High on the left side of the drainage

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Adeem steps into the picture

Tangle Ridge Scramble

The views will excite or comfort you on his long plod

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Stutfield Glacier

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Looks close but it is not

Tangle Ridge Scramble

The early part of the slope above tree line

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Still going on

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Mt. Columbia and the North Twin sticking their heads up above the glaciers

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Wow, views are looking nice! Mt. Alberta left of center.

Tangle Ridge Scramble

And more!

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Views to the south, Mt. Wilcox, Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Adromeda

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Nigel Peak is left, Mt. Wilcox is right, both moderate scrambles

Tangle Ridge Scramble

At long last the repeater tower

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Notice you can't see the initial slope above tree line

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Adeem topping out in an amazing bunch of scenery!

Tangle Ridge Scramble

 

Sunwapta Peak to the north, a long scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Closer view of Mt. Columbia and North Twin above the Kitchener and Stutfield glaciers

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Enjoying those amazing views!

 

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Views to the east

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Taking it all in!

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Tangle Ridge Scramble

Long slope but summit slope hidden from view far away

Tangle Ridge Scramble

A persevering but beautiful day draws to a close

Tangle Ridge Scramble - Icefields Parkway Columbia Icefield

  • Scramble: Class 1 - Steep Hiking, Ski poles would be useful, never ending scree slope with terrific views to your left
  • Altitude: 3,000m (9,843 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 1,240m (4,070 ft)
  • Ascent Time: 3 to 4 1/2 hours
  • Best Season to Scramble: July to October but more important is a blue sky day

Highlights

This scramble offers big mountain views of Mt. Andromeda, Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Columbia, Mt. Alberta as well as many others.

Perseverance would be a good quality to have for this one!

Getting There

Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1 to Lake Louise 187km (116.9 miles). Continue west on the TransCanada for another 2.5km and take the Icefield Parkways / Jasper exit (highway 93) going north. Head north approx 124km (77.5 miles) to the Wilcox Pass campground which is 3 km before the Icefield Center. Tangle Falls is 7 km past the Icefield Center or approx 10km from the campground. Parking for Tangle Ridge is on the left (west) side of the road if heading north.