The Elbow Big-Four – Mt Glasgow, Mt Cornwall, Outlaw Peak and Banded Peak has been in my radar for a couple years. We postponed it because we need bikes or courage for the long approach. We still don’t have any bikes yet, but did scrape up enough courage to challenge this 33 km hike.
We basically followed Bob’s route up Mt Glasgow and followed So’s route down from Banded Peak. We started from the Trailhead parking lot and walked southwest along the Little Elbow River in the dim light before sun rise. After 600 metres, we turned left and crossed the river over a bridge and then turned right and followed a good trail on the left side of the river for about 2 km. Here we turned left going after some faint trails and had to correct our direction after being tricked by one of the animal trials. We finally stepped on a neat trail to the left of Glasgow Creek heading the right way, so I think we should have stayed close to the creek. When this well traveled trail took us across a meadow, we should have left the trail and climbed the woody slope on our right instead of following it into the forest ahead. But we didn’t realize that the trail we liked so much wouldn’t lead us all the way up. Therefore, we had to backtrack a little and took the correct northeast ridge between Glasgow Creek and South Glasgow Creek up. From now on, there was no trail in the woods, but fortunately, the bushwhacking was light. Once out of the trees, the route was as simple as following the ridge line, but a very long one with several ups and downs plus couple moderate steps.
After slightly more than 5 hours leaving the car, we stood on the top of Mt Glasgow. We spent half an hour to take pictures and have some foods then leave for the next peak. The whole traverse from Mt Glasgow to Banded peak wasn’t too hard except the descent from Mt Glasgow that involved down climbing some steep slabs which made me feel unsecured. Luckily, the slab was bone dry and had cracks on the surface, and we encountered no difficulties afterward.
While we were ascending the scree slope up Banded Peak, we met two gentlemen getting down to their campsite in Little Elbow Valley. Thinking of us still having around 16 km to go, I was so jealous of them at the moment. Even though we didn’t stay long at the summit of Mt Cornwall and Outlaw Peak to admire the fantastic views due to time constriction, it was still getting late when we topped the summit of Banded Peak. So we just took a short break and then got down via the north ridge by backtracking a little on the west slope and traversing right to the north ridge. The ridge brought us down to a creek below a steep bank. Upon climbing up this bank, we hiked the next 6 km by crossing an open area on the left side of the creek, bushwhacking for a while to another open area, and then picking up a horse trail all the way to the Big Elbow Trail. Thereafter, we hiked and ran a bit along this wide trail while the sun was setting, and eventually backed to the car in the dark.
Even though the traverse worn us out and the pain was all over the body, a successful 4-peak day kept our spirits up during the drive home.
First glimpse of our object (CL)
Follow a trail on the left side of the river for about 2 km
Then turn left going after a neat trail to the left of Glasgow Creek
This well traveled trail goes through the meadow
At the end of the meadow, ascend the treed ridge on the right
Light bushwhacking in the woods
Enjoying one of the few scrambles of the day
Another one
The route to Mt Glasgow is as simple as following the ridge line, but involves several ups and downs
Walking along the ridge
Mt Glasgow in the dark to the right
The cliff above Glasgow Creek guards the north side of the ridge
Still a long way to go
Go around climber's left
Easy scramble up
Mt Glasgow to the right of centre
Losing elevation with (l-r) Outlaw, Cornwall, and Glasgow in the background
Looking back down to the ascent route
The South Glasgow Creek leads to the cirque below Mt Cornwall
On the way to Mt Glasgow
The mist from the north didn't last long
Getting closer
Looking back to the bumps
Sidesloping below the ridge
You can go around the left side and then up the summit ridge
We chose to scramble up on the right side of the outcrop eventually
The rocky summit ridge
Standing on the top of Mt Glasgow
Looking east towards Forget-me-not Ridge and Mountain(background) with the ascent ridge in the foreground between Glasgow Creek(L) and South Glasgow Creek
View southeast with (l-r) Threepoint Mtn(C), Mt Rose, and Bluerock Mtn in the background
Looking south to Banded(C) and Outlaw(CR) Peaks with Highwood Range(L) and Mist Range(R) in the background
View southwest to Outlaw Peak(L) and Mt Cornwall(C) with Mounts (l-r) Schlee, Jerram, and Burney beyond Cornwall's right shoulder
Mounts Jerram, Burney, Blane, Brock, Hood, Packenham, Evan-Thomas, Potts, and Denny in the background to the west
Fisher Peak(CL,B) towering above Mt Romulus(CL,F), Mt Remus(C,F), and Mt Fullerton(CR,B) to the northwest
View north to Mt Fullerton(L), Nihahi Ridge(C), and Moose Mtn(CR,B)
View northeast down to Elbow River
Looking closer at (l-r) Mounts Jerram, Burney, and Blane
A closer look at Mounts Blane, Brock, Hood, and Packenham with Mt Sir Douglas beyond
The ascent ridge to the east-northeast with Elbow River and Forget-me-not Ridge in the background
Heading to the next 3 objects (r-l) of Mt Cornwall, Outlaw Peak, and Banded Peak
Descending the south ridge of Mt Glasgow
Looking back the slabby south ridge of Glasgow
Looking down the ridge leads to the col between Glasgow and Cornwall
Downclimbing the slab
Mt Cornwall ahead
Looking back towards Mt Glasgow from the col
The summit of Mt Cornwall with the next object Outlaw Peak to its right
Summit panorama (E-S-SW) of Mt Cornwall
Summit panorama (SW-W-NW) of Mt Cornwall
Summit panorama (NW-N-E) of Mt Cornwall
The Elbow Big-four: (l-r) Mt Glasgow(L), Mt CornWall(CR), Banded Peak, and Outlaw Peak
The next one would be Outlaw(CL)
Hiking from the col to Outlaw
Looking back towards Mt Cornwall
The recent snow fall didn't pose any obstacle to our hike
Would scramble up directly
The third peak of the day
Looking southeast to Cougar Mtn with Bluerock Mtn to the left
Mt Rae in the centre to the south
A closeup of Mt Rae
Panorama (SW-N-E) from the summit of Outlaw Peak
View northwest to Mounts Brock, Hood(C), Packenham, and Evan-Thomas(R)
View north-northwest
Panorama (N-NE-E) from the summit of Outlaw Peak
Looking back to Cornwall(CL) and Glasgow(CR)
Banded Peak to the left, Cougar Mtn to the right with Bluerock Mtn in between
Heading to the final peak
A trail leads to the col
Cougar Mtn from the col
The switchback goes through the snow on the slope
Another party summitted before us
Finally on the top of the last object - Banded Peak
View east with Threepoint Mtn and Mt Rose at right
View SE with Bluerock Mtn in the centre
Cougar Mtn in foreground
Part of the Mist Range forms the backdrop
Mt Rae again
Looking back to Outlaw
Mt Cornwall and Mt Glasgow(R)
Backtracking a little on the west slope and traversing right to the north ridge
Lower down the north ridge
Looking back up to the Banded Peak
Aiming the valley below
The ridge would bring us down to a col
Descending the scree slop on the left to a creek below a steep bank
Down to the creek and looking for a spot to ascend the steep bank ahead
Hiking above the creek
Bushwhacking for a while to another open area
Picking up a horse trail
This is where the horse trail Joins the Big Elbow Trail
The end.
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