Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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49.12843°N / 114.12641°W |
Activities:
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Hiking, Mountaineering, Trad Climbing |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
Elevation:
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7799 ft / 2377 m |
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Overview
Mount Bauerman is located in the rugged, windswept Canadian Rocky Mountains in stunning Waterton Lakes National Park. Waterton Park, in the southwestern corner of Alberta Canada, is a non-commercialized, beautiful piece of nature often referred to as the Crown of the Continent. Home to lofty mountain peaks, crystal-clear lakes, a superb variety of plants and animals, and calm gently rolling prairies, Waterton is a nature lover’s dream-come-true.Mount Bauerman resides in the North West corner of this 505 sq km (195 sq. mi) park, offering breath taking, panoramic, views in all directions. To the east, along the same ridge line are Lost Mountain and Mount Anderson. To the north, one may glimpse Goat Lake and the surrounding peaks. To the south Lone Mountain. To the west is Kishinena Peak.
Mount Bauerman is one of the peaks of the Clark Range. The Clark Range forms part of the Continental Divide and also the boundary between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. A small portion of this range extends into the far northwestern section of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. The range is named for Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The home of Mount Bauerman, together with neighboring Glacier National Park, in the US state of Montana, form the world's first International Peace Park established in 1932. UNESCO has identified this area as a World Heritage Site making the joint peace park a worldwide treasure.
 (Above image is displayed from and belongs to explor8ion.com) |
Getting There
Mount Bauerman is located in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. This Park is situated 270 km (162 miles) south of Calgary, Alberta, 43 km (27 miles) west of Cardston, Alberta, and about 80 km (48 miles) from the St. Mary entrance to Glacier National Park, Montana. When driving to Waterton Lakes National Park it can only be accessed from its eastern side.From Calgary take Highway 2 south to Fort Macleod, then west on Highway 3 to Pincher Creek, then south again on Highway 6. The drive requires about three hours.
From Cardston take Highway 5 west, through the village of Mountain View. The drive is less than 40 minutes.
From Glacier National Park, Montana, take the Chief Mountain International Highway (closed in the winter). From the St. Mary entrance of GNP it is approximately a 1 hour drive. In the winter take Montana Highway 89 to Alberta Highway 2 to Cardston, then Highway 5 to Waterton.
Once you pass through the toll both on Highway 5 continue going southeast a few kilometers until you notice a major road on the right (west). This is the first place you can turn right (west) and is just before a bridge over a creek. The road is the Red Rock Parkway and it travels 15 km (less than 10 miles) up the Blakiston Valley through rolling grasslands and ends at Red Rock Canyon where the hike to Mount Bauerman begins. The Red Rock Parkway is gated closed from late fall to early spring.
Click here for a map.
Routes
Route 1Typically climbers of Mount Bauerman climb it along with Mount Anderson, and Lost Mountain. If doing that follow the Mount Anderson route instructions, copied here for convenience.
Drive up the Red Rock Parkway to its termination at Red Rock Canyon. From the parking lot follow the signs for Blakiston Falls. Pass the falls and continue on for approximately 4 kilometers watching for a grassy slope leading to a drainage bisecting the south facing slope of Mount Anderson. This drainage is the 3rd such drainage as you are heading south along the Blakiston Falls trail. This 3rd drainage is the route to the top, and involves around 1200 m (3900 ft) of elevation gain. The lower slopes of Anderson are covered in low shrubs and thick trees making the first kilometer or two a difficult bushwhack. Scramble up the drainage along the path of least resistance, either the left or the right or the center any and all will get you to the top of the ridge leaving you south west of the summit and about 50 vertical meters (160 ft) below it. From the ridge top wander northeast to the peak.
The drainage followed to the ridge top is located between Anderson Peak and Lost Mountain. Also along this same ridge line, west of Lost Mountain is Mount Bauerman. Many peak baggers will want to head west after summiting Mount Anderson and summit both Lost Mountain and Mount Bauerman (not visible from Lost). The bump at approximately 2420 m between Lost and Bauerman is unofficially known as Kootenai Brown Peak (interestingly the Parks Canada map mentioned in the Overview section appears to label the Kootenai Brown Peak as Lost Mountain) . From Bauerman there is no need to return to the ascent drainage between Lost and Anderson, instead head down the scree slopes on Bauerman's south facing flanks towards the Blakiston Creek Trail. The scree will soon turn into a very steep scree/grass mix, and eventually some bushwhacking before reaching the Blakiston Creek Trail. Once on the main trail head east for 8 kilometers back to Red Rock Canyon.
About 4km west of the falls is the 3rd drainage used to ascend Mount Anderson. After ascending Mount Anderson one may head west to Mount Bauerman.In the picture above the arrowhead pointing left indicates the approximate location of Blakiston Falls along the Blakiston Trail. About 4km west of the falls is the 3rd drainage used to ascend Mount Anderson. The drainages are labeled 1, 2, and 3. Peak A is Anderson, Peak B is Lost, Peak C is Bauerman. The right pointing arrowhead is the unofficially named Kootenai Brown Peak.
Route 2
One can also follow the Blakiston trail 10 km to the point where it meets the Tamarack trail. At the intersection turn right heading north along the Tamarack trail about 2 km to an evident high point above Twin Lakes called the Bauerman Divide at 2,070 m (6,791 ft) which is marked with a large cairn. At the cairn, on the high point, turn east up the ridge toward Mount Bauerman. From this point the summit of Mount Bauerman is only 2 kilometers ahead up a mildly steep slope. Veer left when you head into the trees and you will eventually come to a unkept (aka social) trail at the top of the cliffs above the Bauerman Creek side of the range. Take in the incredible views of Twin Lakes below. Follow this trail up and it will soon open onto a rocky slope on a nice wide ridge. Simply follow the ridge to the summit.
Route 3
It is also possible to climb Mount Bauerman by going around its north side. At Red Rock Canyon, after crossing the bridge, instead of turning left toward Blakiston Falls, go straight ahead (in a northwest direction, eventually heading mostly west) towards Goat Lake and the Snowshoe Cabin along the Snowshoe trail. Bikes are allowed on the Snowshoe trail, so if you are climbing Bauerman in a day you might consider biking the Snowshoe trail for 8.5 km at which point you will end up at designated backcountry campground directly below the north face of Mount Bauerman. The adventurous might choose to find a way directly up the north face. From the campground continue west 3.2 km, on foot (bikes are not allowed on this section), to the Twin Lakes. At the lakes turn left, heading south up about 1 km to the evident high point above Twin Lakes called the Bauerman Divide, and from the Divide follow the instruction for Route 2 above.
See a terrain map of the area on Acme Mapper 2.0.
The Massif of Mount Bauerman, Lost Mountain, and Mount Anderson is circumnavigated by a 25.1 km trail system (made up of the Blakiston, Tamarack, and Snowshoe trails) starting from, and returning to Red Rock Canyon. Most trail maps of Waterton Lakes Park should have the trail system clearly marked.
Camping
There are 9 designated wilderness campsites in Waterton, and one of them is located at the end of the bike permitted section of the snowshoe trail as mentioned in the routes section above.Non-designated camping may be permitted in certain circumstances. Prior permission from a park warden is required and all wilderness camping regulations and fees apply. Fires are not permitted.
Reservations are available for wilderness campsites. A non-refundable reservation fee is charged (see below), plus a modification fee for any changes. Reservations may be made 90 days in advance. Call the visitor center at (403) 859-5133.
As of January 31, 2012 Backcountry camping fees are as follows. Overnight, per person $ 9.80. Season, per person $ 68.70. Reservation $ 11.70. Can anyone say “rip-off”?
All fees are Canadian dollar rates.
Additionally Parks Canada operates four campgrounds in Waterton Lakes National Park. Click here for details.
Weather
The summers in the Mount Bauerman area are brief with some hot spells (high 35*C/94*F). Winters are long and relatively mild (high 10*C/50*F), with occasional warm spells caused by Chinook winds. This area is often one of Alberta's warmest places in the winter, despite ample snow and temperatures that can occasionally drop as low as -40*C/-40*F.Wind is a noticeable element of this area’s climate, and shouldn’t be ignored. Gusts of over 100 km/hr (60 mph) are common, but thankfully they occur mostly in the fall and winter rather than the summer. Note that gusts of over 150 km/hr (90 mph) have frequently been recorded in the area.
This area receives Alberta 's highest average annual precipitation of 1072 mm (42 inches) per year.
Red Tape
In the spring, summer, and fall, one must pay an entrance fee in order to get into Waterton Lakes Park, home of Mount Anderson. There is no fee in the winter. As of summer, 2011 the Canadian dollar daily rates were $7.80 per adult or $19.60 for a family/group. Click here for the most up to date rates.Also note the park has no gas or groceries available in winter.
When traveling to Waterton Lakes National Park from Glacier National Park in the US state of Montana one must be aware of the Canada Ports of Entry operating schedules. Chief Mountain port of entry is open seasonally (closed in Winter) from May through September and Carway/Peigan port of entry is open year round from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.