Archie Hikes: Mt. Carthew, Waterton Lakes National Park

Sept. 18th, 2015

The Crew: Emily and Me
Overview:
Carthew-Alderson Trail Head to Summit Lake = 1 hour
Summit Lake to Larch Ridge = 1 hour
Larch Ridge to Carthew Ridge on par with summit saddle = 45 minutes
Carthew Ridge to Carthew Summit = 15 minutes
Summit to Parking lot = 2 1/2 hours

Special Skills/Equipment: none

General Route:

We set out to summit Carthew and Buchannan peaks. However, due to extreme weather, we stopped and turned back after the summit of Carthew. The trail is the Alderson-Carthew trail from Cameron Lake parking lot. Very straightforward, popular trail. We were going to take the trail up to the "summit" saddle and then head left/north up Carthew, but saw a tempting clearing up to the ridge much earlier. See the pictures below to clarify. It is a very obvious avalanche path, so only shrubs or small trees, easy to navigate up to the unnamed ridge. There is an unnamed summit, then a nice ridge walk past larches over to the ridge of Carthew. The larches sheltered us from winds and were gorgeous bright yellow. We picked up a trail as we approached the first knob on carthew ridge, followed that most of the way along the south or top of the ridge. Brown rock turns to red, you have a couple very small downs and ups and there you are at the summit. Smallest cairn ever on top of there. Our views were completely obscured by that time by snow clouds. We descended to join up with the trail that goes to the popular "summit" saddle on the main Alderson-Carthew trail. Trails are obvious in the red shale. We descended via the trail. Enjoy a snack break on the way up and down at Summit lake. Try this hike in the fall and go along what I have officially named Larch Ridge. It was my first time hiking this area in the fall and the colors are astounding.

This is the avalanche path we took up to the ridge, we aimed for the right side of this unnamed peak. You will see this on the left/North side of the trail when you are hiking on the alderson-carthew trail, it is just before you break out of the trees along the path.