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Rockies :: Banff-Louise :: Armor Peak

GPS Track

"Wonder Valley" between Protection Ridge and Mt. Pulsatilla (R).  Armor Peak extreme center left

July 2, 2023

Armor Peak is north end of Protection Ridge, seen as long line of cliffs on east side as one drives from Lake Louise towards Castle Junction.  Route is not technical, but long and requires fair amount of fitness.  Approach to treeline is via unofficial Baker Creek Mine trail (sometimes also called Protection Mountain Trail),  starting from Bow Valley Parkway (1A) some 12km north from Castle Junction.  Parking is at pullout on west side of the road, and unsigned - it will be roughly halfway between Baker Creek Chalets and Protection Mountain Campground.   See first photo in gallery, use GPS track download.   Narrow trail is mostly well defined and generally easy to follow.  It will take 2.5hrs of moderate pace for ~6km and ~900m vertical to treeline below the mine.  Trail vanishes in larch meadows and  this is good spot to turn back if not going further.

From the mine traverse horizontally right (south) couple of gullies without gaining much elevation, then head up talus slope that is longer than it appears.  Upper half is steeper and fairly lose;  stay climber right on ascent for some solid rock as scree spurs to the left are better for descent.  This slope would be avalanche trap in winter and no-go zone.  Upon topping up (~1.5hrs from the mine), turn left and traverse ridge crest heading north towards obvious highpoint - Armor Peak.  Several bumps along the way cause some elevation loss/gain, while final part to the summit has some shifting boulders but only last few meters is hands on scrambling.  With shallow snow cover this part could be problematic from stability perspective. This ridgewalk will take ~1.5hrs, roughly 3 hrs from the mine.  In 2023 summit had (pink) register with only handful of entries.

Views are fantastic as expected, in particular Bulwark Peak to the north and Protection Mtn to the east.  Specially intriguing is Mitella Lake deep below. Bivi by the lake would likely be fantastic in total solitude, but it is very hard to get there - technical descent from Wonder Valley,  horrendous trash from Baker Creek side.   Return is the same way;  take care descending lose talus below Protection Ridge to the Mine.   Outing is very long and I was quite beat on my trip, stumbling back to the car in total darkness after hiking last part with headlamp.

Gallery