Oval Peak

August 18, 2022, cloister mountains, white goat wilderness area

Summit
2900 m
Gain
300 m
Distance
0 km
Round trip
2 hr
Technical
SC5
Activity
scramble
Quick 'n dirty
Class 2 - you fall, you sprain your ego.
Difficulty
A remote peak with an easy ascent line once you're all the way out there.
Route
GPS trackMap

It was already 15:00 as Sara and I started up the north shoulder of Oval Peak but we weren’t concerned. This peak looked exceedingly easy from afar and we thought we had plenty of time to burn anyway. Speaking of “burn”. As we bypassed the false summit on easy scree on a goat path, I noticed a strange white cloud forming over Afternoon Peak. I knew from my canoe trips that this wasn’t a normal cloud - it was a forest fire growing very very quickly! By the time we were on our final approach to the summit it looked like a volcano going off just behind Afternoon Peak. We had no idea at the time but the Banff wardens were conducting a controlled burn of the Alexandra River Valley and this was that fire. We wondered if we’d even be able to drive back on hwy #93 - the smoke was looking pretty intense!

Wandering the White Goat Wilderness Route Map
Wandering the White Goat Wilderness Route Map
Ascending the north shoulder of Oval Peak to the false summit. It is a HOT afternoon!
Ascending the north shoulder of Oval Peak to the false summit. It is a HOT afternoon!
Ascending to the true summit.
Ascending to the true summit.
A wildfire grows dramatically behind Afternoon Peak. We found out later this was a controlled burn in the Alexandra River Valley.
A wildfire grows dramatically behind Afternoon Peak. We found out later this was a controlled burn in the Alexandra River Valley.

At the summit we were shocked to discover a very busy register for such a lowly and off-the-path peak. Two other people had already filled in their names since Ephraim Roberts placed the register in mid-July, one of them only a few days previous! That seemed very unlikely considering how quiet all the other registers had been. I guess people must think this is the real “Afternoon Peak” and it’s visible from the South Boundary Trail below but still… Odd to say the least!

Dramatic views past the north face of Afternoon Peak.
Dramatic views past the north face of Afternoon Peak.
Dramatic colors on big peaks to the east.
Dramatic colors on big peaks to the east.
Dramatic colors on big peaks to the east.
Dramatic colors on big peaks to the east.

Because we still thought we had so much time before camp, Sara chilled at the summit in a light breeze while I explored the plateau towards Afternoon Peak’s incredible north face.

A wildfire grows dramatically behind Afternoon Peak. We found out later this was a controlled burn in the Alexandra River Valley. Mount Willis and Athabasca to the right of Afternoon. I hiked south from the summit of Oval to get this perspective.
A wildfire grows dramatically behind Afternoon Peak. We found out later this was a controlled burn in the Alexandra River Valley. Mount Willis and Athabasca to the right of Afternoon. I hiked south from the summit of Oval to get this perspective.
Views over Mount Frances to Lonely and Strong Winds Peak from Oval.
Views over Mount Frances to Lonely and Strong Winds Peak from Oval.
Views over Marble Mountain to Poboktan at left with Isaac, Chocolate and Aztec at right over the Brazeau River valley.
Views over Marble Mountain to Poboktan at left with Isaac, Chocolate and Aztec at right over the Brazeau River valley.

After taking at least 45 minutes on the summit of Oval, we decided that it was prudent to start heading down to our waiting overnight packs and make the long descent to the South Boundary Trail far below. We’d even spotted a bridge over the Brazeau River all the way from the summit so we knew where we were headed.