In her Kananaskis Country Trail Guide Volume 2 book, Gillean Daffern when comparing Cornwall to Glasgow, Outlaw, and Banded Peak says: "Cornwall has other attributes. Its gloriously long summit ridge of brilliant orange scree is lined both sides with stupendous cliffs of palest grey. And it's famous for it's snow patch that lies just below the summit and is visible from Calgary. Rarely missing, this snow actually disappeared during the hot summer of 1994 (and 2025!), but two days of rain (snow at higher altitudes) and it was back by some quirk of topography."
This hike was one I will never forget, both because of the amazing sights and views, and also because of how much of a grind it was for me to get to the top. As always, Sam was the ultimate hiking partner - no pressure to summit, no time constraint, and tonnes of good conversation!
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| Early Morning Moon Shot - Cornwall Summit Under Right Edge Of Cloud In Middle |
Sam and Ben did Mount Cornwall last year in cloudy/misty conditions. Sam suggested doing it again this year with me as they enjoyed it so much, and he thought I would love it too. We got an early start on a beautiful morning with lots of anticipation on what the day would bring. After a quick stop for the above photo we got to the parking lot, unloaded our bikes and were on the way. The Mount Cornwall hike is very long. It can be broken down into three phases - trailhead approach, mountain approach, summit ascent. The trailhead approach is about 3.5 km from the parking lot to the actual trailhead. This is done along Big Elbow Trail, which is more like a gravel road than anything. We decided to bike this section as it would reduce a 27 km day of hiking down to about 20 km. We would truly appreciate the extra effort and planning associated with the bikes on the return leg! The mountain approach is 6.5 km of mainly dry riverbed hiking - very tough on the feet on the return leg. The final summit ascent after biking and hiking for 10 km and ~700 m ascent is another 750 m of ascent over only 2.5 km. I'm not usually concerned about reporting distances and elevations, but think that it is justified this time in order to try and communicate how close I was to total exhaustion. 😫
Having said all of this, the hike was truly unforgettable. The mountain approach section was so beautiful and interesting. If you ever do this hike and have the ability to bring a biologist and geologist, I would highly recommend it. The mushrooms, and vegetation were so interesting and unique. The rock formations, waterfalls, and boulder placement were even more so. The approach was truly enjoyable and worth doing on its own without attempting the summit.
At the end of the approach section (an ideal spot for an overnight camp) we left the last waterfall behind and started the short (but very long) grind up the scree slopes to the summit. I needed many breaks on this section to catch my breath enough to keep going. Thank goodness Sam was there to make everything seem alright, and encourage me to keep taking short breaks. After what seemed like a never-ending climb where my lungs were one breath away from exploding, we gained the summit ridge for the final push. It was an amazing feeling getting to the summit cairn and we enjoyed the 360-degree views while fuelling up with some sandwich buns, fruit, and a cookie.
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| End Of Mountain Approach - Cornwall Summit At Back Center |
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| JM On The Scree Slopes |
Old Man On Summit Ridge:
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| Summit Shot - Approach Valley On Right |
After a very nice break in pretty ideal conditions we packed up and headed back down. Although the last few kilometres were tough, the conversation kept me going. As always the subjects ranged from serious to silly. In addition, the many waterfalls were a welcome distraction and perfect source for a splash in the face and/or cold re-hydration.
Waterfall Video #1:
Waterfall Video #2:
Waterfall Video #3:
I would be lying if I said we didn't wonder when the hike would ever end during the last few kilometres. But despite my complaining, this hike is one I will not forget. It challenged my physical and mental stamina, but rewarded my spirit with an all-time experience. Thank you Sammy for this amazing day and forever memory!
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