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Rockies :: Kananaskis :: The Orphan

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Orphan Summit View:  Connecting Rimwall Scramble Ridge Foreground, Lougheed behind with stormy Smith-Dorrien Background

July 15, 2015

The Orphan is one of several destinations accessed via drainages that extend behind "The Wall of Canmore" down to Smith-Dorrien (Hwy 742).  Its most photogenic side is seen from Stewart Creek on usual approach to Middle Sister via Kane route, however there is no easy way up from here. Backside offers much tamer journey that is just steep off-trail hike and for fit person can readily be completed as after work hike from Canmore.  Floods of 2013 have washed out access drainage and no trail can be found anymore.  Although there is no need for use of hands (except for stability), this ascent probably classifies as scramble as lower slopes above the forks are very steep and loose.  Higher up scree is replaced by meadows leading to Boulder Pass below Rimwall.  Final bit above the pass is just an easy plod on low angle talus that is surprisingly stable.  Summit views are awesome and offer front-row seat of 3 Sisters, including great views of upper part of scramble route up Middle Sister.

Parking is at Driftwood boat launch some 20 minutes past Whiteman Gap along Smith-Dorrien.  Walk back (north) on the road for few minutes to obvious huge drainage and make your way up the creek bed.  There is variety of options, but it pays off to watch for cairns past the narrows as they generally indicate where you should cross from one side of drainage to the other.  Critical part is where drainage forks, about an hour from parking. Take the left branch and stay right. Bits of trail on the edge of forest lead to awkward steep section of shifting talus.  This bit is very uncomfortable on descent. Easiest is to cut right across slabs aiming toward patches of green.  The further you climb, the easier it gets and about halfway up meadows kick in allowing for easy hike up to the pass. This is good spot for the break; it might be possible to descend to Stewart creek this way.  From the pass it is just an easy low angle plod on stable scree to the saddle between the Orphan and Rimwall W2. Grand view of Three Sisters awaits here.  Turn right and reach summit cairn in 5-10 minutes following bits of trails beaten in scree.  True summit is just 1-2 minutes away across the dip in the ridge, and this bit is slightly exposed but offers no significant challenge.  Return is the same way and it won't be much faster due to loose nature of terrain in lower part.

Alternate, but more rewarding return is via Rimwall.  I have not done this but apparently it is in moderate scramble domain.  See lead photo on this page for view of connecting ridge.  Descent from Rimwall is standard Kane route, with final part 15-20min Smith-Dorrien road walk

Gallery

Three Sisters and upper Stewart creek from the summit with view of Middle Sister scramble route