Cinquefoil Mountain

Elevation: 2260 m
Elevation Gain: 1230 m
Cinquefoil is a bright yellow species of alpine flower with five (cinq) petals for which Cinquefoil Mountain was named by Morisson P. Bridgland in 1916. The peak itself is actually a high point on the long ridge which forms the taller Roche Jacques.
My Ascents:
September 2 2011
Trailhead: Merlin Pass Trailhead

After a windy, rainy and generally miserable excursion up Roche Miette the day earlier, day 3 of our Jasper trip dawned no differently (despite what the forecast had promised). Our tent in the Whistlers campground was pretty chilly so we got dressed and drove into town to warm up with a Timmy’s (double double for Boss, hot chocolate for me). On the drive in, we could see that many of the peaks had been covered by snow overnight. We stared dejectedly at our hot beverages while it drizzled outside. The weather looked so poor that we considered spending a “tourist day” in Jasper and not climbing anything. Seriously. I actually considered it! In the end, however, we decided that we had come a long way to bag some Jasper peaks and that we ought to give it our best shot. With that mindset, we settled on Cinquefoil Mountain as our objective hoping that the low summit elevation would prevent the accumulation of any of that nasty white stuff.

The oh-so helpful sign at the Merlin Pass trailhead led to some confusion as to whether or not we were in the right place. A sign saying “Merlin Pass”, for instance, would have been more helpful!

Sketchy-ass bridge minutes beyond the sketchy-ass trailhead. Again, thanks Parks Canada.

Great line from Kane’s description: "While the paths through the woods are helpful, you can't help but notice how much better suited they are to bodies under 1 m tall" (and presumably with four legs).

Following Kane's further helpful directions: "Go up."

Early views of Mount Greenock across the Athabasca River.

Nasty white stuff and nasty weather to the west.

At least the view to the east was a little more clear. Breezy in front of Jasper Lake, Talbot Lake and Roche Miette.

Roche Miette's vertical walls.

At this point, you may think that you are approaching the summit. Do not worry – you are not. The ridge goes on and on!

Undoubtedly the work of a well-placed lightning strike. Good thing we were going up under clear skies. Oh wait...

Troopering up the last steep bit, after which an endless ridge ensues.

Hiking along the ridge that Kane describes as "delightful". Strange, Brianne doesn't look delighted...

New personal best! Standing atop my 39th summit of the season, up-ing the ante from last year's personal best of 38 summits. I climbed the cairn for good measure!

Brianne wondering where the sun went.

It certainly didn't go over there.

Is that sun?! Beyond the summit of Cinquefoil Mountain, the endless ridge continues, turning into the much more technical sun-splashed Roche Jacques to the south.

A snowy Hawk Mountain to the west.

One of us looks happy at least. The poor girl climbed under overcast skies in the cold all day with a bad stomach ache. She's definitely a keeper!

Pyramid Mountain over the Jasper townsite to the west.

Rainbow over Roche Miette.

The valley sees a lot of train traffic – rain or shine!

The sun decided to shine a little more on our way down at least making our descent a little more pleasant than the ascent. Brianne's stomach even started to feel better!

In fact, her stomach felt so much better by the time that we were down, that she decided to stop for chips and beer! Here she's keeping me from stealing any using her stick.

A large bull elk near our campsite. His mating calls provided an eery soundtrack to our night - that is, when we could hear over the sound of the potato chips crunching!

A perfect end to the day: fire + beer + elk + summit = happy Brianne.