THE BUCKLE 6926 ft.
Location: Alberta, Canada
52.266N / 116.405
Sections
Introduction to David Thompson Country
David Thompson - Explorer, Mapmaker and Fur Trader
Mountain Overview
Finding the Trailhead
Climbing Season in the Canadian Rockies
Mountain Conditions in the Front Ranges
Red Tape, Fees and Legalese
Camping in David Thompson Country
Shunda Creek Hostel
GPS Coordinates
Disclaimer - Hazard Warning
Center for Outdoor Education
Acknowledgememts and Photo Credits
Introduction to David Thompson Country
David Thompson Country is the name given to a vast corridor of land located between Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and Saskatchewan River Crossing in the Main Ranges near the Columbia Icefield. By taking this route, Highway 11, the David Thompson Highway, climbers, vacationers and tourists have discovered a new way of travelling to the famous Canadian Rockies. Driving through Alberta's arid plains, aspen parkland, and boreal forest, the Front Ranges come into view before the near-abandoned'ghost town' of Nordegg. The North Saskatchewan River winds along one of the most beautiful drives in western Canada, as it passes from the plains through foothills, front ranges and main ranges of the Rockies.
The route of explorer, mapmaker and fur trader David Thompson allows the visitor a view of mountain ranges and spectacular geological features. The mountains get bigger and more impressive as one heads west. David Thompson Country is also a haven for wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, bears, mountain lions, lynx and bighorn sheep. The North Saskatchewan River winds through this corridor, and the 91 m (300 ft) high Big Horn hydroelectric dam on the river resulted in Alberta's longest and largest manmade body of water, Abraham Lake. Unfortunately, the lake just a reservoir and has no real recreational use. But it looks nice.
David Thompson Country holds some of the best ice climbing in North America and is a mecca for ice climbers, hikers and those who want to go to the mountains and avoid the busier national and provincial parks. The tourists generally avoid this area and most users will usually be just Albertans who wish to avoid the tourists and not have to drive all the way to the Main Ranges to be ‘in the mountains’.
David Thompson Country is the name given to a vast corridor of land located between Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and Saskatchewan River Crossing in the Main Ranges near the Columbia Icefield. By taking this route, Highway 11, the David Thompson Highway, climbers, vacationers and tourists have discovered a new way of travelling to the famous Canadian Rockies. Driving through Alberta's arid plains, aspen parkland, and boreal forest, the Front Ranges come into view before the near-abandoned
The route of explorer, mapmaker and fur trader David Thompson allows the visitor a view of mountain ranges and spectacular geological features. The mountains get bigger and more impressive as one heads west. David Thompson Country is also a haven for wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, bears, mountain lions, lynx and bighorn sheep. The North Saskatchewan River winds through this corridor, and the 91 m (300 ft) high Big Horn hydroelectric dam on the river resulted in Alberta's longest and largest manmade body of water, Abraham Lake. Unfortunately, the lake just a reservoir and has no real recreational use. But it looks nice.
David Thompson Country holds some of the best ice climbing in North America and is a mecca for ice climbers, hikers and those who want to go to the mountains and avoid the busier national and provincial parks. The tourists generally avoid this area and most users will usually be just Albertans who wish to avoid the tourists and not have to drive all the way to the Main Ranges to be ‘in the mountains’.
David Thompson - Explorer, Mapmaker and Fur Trader
David Thompson ranks as the premier surveyor and mapmaker of North America. From 1792 to 1812, David Thompson mapped most of the country from Hudson Bay and Lake Superior, across the Rocky Mountains to the source of the Columbia River, and the length of the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. David Thompson traveled fifty-five thousand miles for the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company. The map created by David Thompson during his surveys for the North West Company covered an area of one and a half million square miles from Lake Superior and Hudson Bay to the mouth of the Columbia River.
The David Thompson map was placed in the Great Hall of the North West Company headquarters at Fort William, located at Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. In 1814, he compiled all of his surveys into a second great map that measured six and a half by ten feet long. The revised David Thompson map showed an accurate location of all the North West Company trading posts. Thompson’s map, his greatest achievement, was so accurate that 100 years later it was still the basis for many of the maps issued by the Canadian government and the railways. Thompson also completed the exacting survey of much of the Canada–U.S. boundary.
He was the first traveller of European origin to explore the Columbia River from source to mouth. In 1797, he left the Hudson's Bay Company and joined the North West Company. The maps he made of the Columbia River basin east of the Cascades were of such high quality and detail that they were regarded as authoritative well into the 20th century.
David Thompson ranks as the premier surveyor and mapmaker of North America. From 1792 to 1812, David Thompson mapped most of the country from Hudson Bay and Lake Superior, across the Rocky Mountains to the source of the Columbia River, and the length of the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. David Thompson traveled fifty-five thousand miles for the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company. The map created by David Thompson during his surveys for the North West Company covered an area of one and a half million square miles from Lake Superior and Hudson Bay to the mouth of the Columbia River.
The David Thompson map was placed in the Great Hall of the North West Company headquarters at Fort William, located at Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. In 1814, he compiled all of his surveys into a second great map that measured six and a half by ten feet long. The revised David Thompson map showed an accurate location of all the North West Company trading posts. Thompson’s map, his greatest achievement, was so accurate that 100 years later it was still the basis for many of the maps issued by the Canadian government and the railways. Thompson also completed the exacting survey of much of the Canada–U.S. boundary.
He was the first traveller of European origin to explore the Columbia River from source to mouth. In 1797, he left the Hudson's Bay Company and joined the North West Company. The maps he made of the Columbia River basin east of the Cascades were of such high quality and detail that they were regarded as authoritative well into the 20th century.
Mountain Overview
Lookout Peak and The Buckle are the two summits of a mountain which lies along the north shore of Abraham Lake in David Thompson Country. The main massif itself is not officially named. The normal route up this long ridge is mainly just a moderate scramble with some solid cliff bands and slabs thrown in to make it interesting: however, there are many exposed sections on its eastern and western aspects, and hence opportunities for technical rock climbing. Located due north across the lake from the much larger Mt. Michener, this ridge climb is a fun half day outing with magnificent views of Abraham Lake and the central Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies.
The David Thompson Highway serves as a quiet and less frequently used route to the Main Ranges and the Columbia Icefield from central Alberta and is known to locals as “The Road Less Travelled.” The highway runs for many miles along the lake, passing right by the foot of the mountain and the trailhead for the climbing routes. The origin of the names of the two summits is unknown, and there are no published guide books or maps containing climbing information for this mountain. The mountain is well-treed up to nearly the high point of Lookout Peak, the lower of the two summits at 6582 ft. Long smooth slabs and grassy meadows are found among the hardy spruce trees along the route. The summits are connected by a long, broad scree ridge which loses a couple of hundred feet of elevation from Lookout Peak before climbing up to the high, rocky summit of the Buckle at 6926 ft.. A good trail ascends the mountain from the highway, switchbacking around climbable and fun cliff bands, some sixty to eighty feet high, and making this a non-technical outing.
Lookout Peak and The Buckle are the two summits of a mountain which lies along the north shore of Abraham Lake in David Thompson Country. The main massif itself is not officially named. The normal route up this long ridge is mainly just a moderate scramble with some solid cliff bands and slabs thrown in to make it interesting: however, there are many exposed sections on its eastern and western aspects, and hence opportunities for technical rock climbing. Located due north across the lake from the much larger Mt. Michener, this ridge climb is a fun half day outing with magnificent views of Abraham Lake and the central Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies.
The David Thompson Highway serves as a quiet and less frequently used route to the Main Ranges and the Columbia Icefield from central Alberta and is known to locals as “The Road Less Travelled.” The highway runs for many miles along the lake, passing right by the foot of the mountain and the trailhead for the climbing routes. The origin of the names of the two summits is unknown, and there are no published guide books or maps containing climbing information for this mountain. The mountain is well-treed up to nearly the high point of Lookout Peak, the lower of the two summits at 6582 ft. Long smooth slabs and grassy meadows are found among the hardy spruce trees along the route. The summits are connected by a long, broad scree ridge which loses a couple of hundred feet of elevation from Lookout Peak before climbing up to the high, rocky summit of the Buckle at 6926 ft.. A good trail ascends the mountain from the highway, switchbacking around climbable and fun cliff bands, some sixty to eighty feet high, and making this a non-technical outing.
Finding the Trailhead
The trailhead for this mountain is located right at the foot of the mountain, approximately thirty miles west of the nearly-abandoned town of Nordegg, Alberta on Highway 11. If traveling east on Highway 11 from the Icefield Parkway, the trailhead is approximately thirty miles east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. The mountain is located on the north shore of the lake, and there is a large signed gravel parking area which juts out well into the lake adjacent (south) from the peak. This protruding gravel flat is obvious on any Alberta map showing Lake Abraham.
Slow down and keep an eye out for it, especially if coming from Nordegg as there is a small rise between the parking lot and the highway which makes the lot easy to miss. Turn off the highway, drive up a small hill towards the lake, and the road will end just a little to the right in the parking lot.
The trailhead for this mountain is located right at the foot of the mountain, approximately thirty miles west of the nearly-abandoned town of Nordegg, Alberta on Highway 11. If traveling east on Highway 11 from the Icefield Parkway, the trailhead is approximately thirty miles east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. The mountain is located on the north shore of the lake, and there is a large signed gravel parking area which juts out well into the lake adjacent (south) from the peak. This protruding gravel flat is obvious on any Alberta map showing Lake Abraham.
Slow down and keep an eye out for it, especially if coming from Nordegg as there is a small rise between the parking lot and the highway which makes the lot easy to miss. Turn off the highway, drive up a small hill towards the lake, and the road will end just a little to the right in the parking lot.
Climbing Season in the Canadian Rockies
This peak can be climbed any time of the year. It is mainly a ridge climb, however the ridge is broad and well treed up to just below the summit of Lookout Peak, and holds snow well where you’ll be climbing, but sluffing could be a problem if you get too close to the cliffs on the west and east sides of the peak. The Front Ranges see a fair amount of snow in the Nordegg area, making this a busy winter playground for cross country skiers, ice climbers and snowmobilers.
This peak can be climbed any time of the year. It is mainly a ridge climb, however the ridge is broad and well treed up to just below the summit of Lookout Peak, and holds snow well where you’ll be climbing, but sluffing could be a problem if you get too close to the cliffs on the west and east sides of the peak. The Front Ranges see a fair amount of snow in the Nordegg area, making this a busy winter playground for cross country skiers, ice climbers and snowmobilers.
Mountain Conditions in the Front Ranges
Rescue Dynamics offers current climbing conditions , as well as weather reports and a host of other mountaineering related services.
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