I'd very much recommend doing the circuit, and doing it in the direction mentioned. This is also a fantastic winter objective. There are only a few scrambling moves below the summit which may be trickier when icy/wet, but being able to glissade the ~50deg slope down to the Chester valley made it all worthwhile.
William Marler - Oct 9, 2011 1:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2011
Wintery day
Great outing in winter conditions made this a special day
Maria - Sep 18, 2011 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
This was the final peak of our hiking extravaganza. Our original plans had been to do nearby Chester but the Chester Lake approach was closed due to Grizzly activity. We found a geocache on the summit and I traded some chocolate covered granola for honey roasted peanuts which were 2 years old. Tasty! From Headwall Lakes and above it was a gorgeous hike and a great way to end our Canada trip.
attimount - Jun 24, 2010 12:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2008
Loop.
One of the most beautiful hikes in Kananaskis.
MtnMagic - Oct 21, 2007 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2002
Hard Work
Hard work to get to the top as there were some serious snow drifts to get across. There was no significant snow accumulation on the summit section above the col though. The views of the snowy peaks around on such a sunny day was wonderfull.
BlueFoxCA - Aug 23, 2007 2:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Didn't quite finish
Did the Chester Lake approach thinking we were pressed for time. My partner took a shortcut effectively cutting off the Fortress-Chester col and we ended up needing our hands all the way up, which made for an interesting ascent. Ran out of time and water when we hit the ridge, so we turned back.
Beautiful day and beautiful route... we'll be back to finish this one soon.
Route Climbed: Chester Lake approach Date Climbed: June 2003, June 2004
Very enjoyable scramble especially for early season when a lot of other mountains are out of condition. No real difficulties from the Chester Lake approach - totally different than the intimidating image this mountains presents from highway 40!
Route Climbed: Both Date Climbed: October, 2003-June, 2004
In June 2004 Michael Thompson and I went in to attempt Mt. Galatea. The entire south face was still completely loaded with snow and ice. We then skirted around the backside of Gusty Peak only to find point avalanches unloading on its route. We continued to posthole in alpine conditions up to the col between The Fortress and Mount Chester and did The Fortress summit as our third option. There was a significant cornice on this col.
Lesson learned is that the Spray Lakes Reservoir area peaks can hold some snow late into the season, when conditions are wet in the valley. The summit this day was spectacular, zero wind, with Mt. Joffre, Mount Sir Douglas and Mt. Assiniboine offering a triangular mountain landscape second to none. Tremendous late snow conditions existed on all of those peaks in 2004 and again in 2005. We glissaded down nasty wet snow on our return.
BJ and Stacy joined me on this pleasant scramble and we made a fun circuit out of it in October, 2003 via Headwall Lakes. I recommend this one as an easy day out. Cheers!
Old School WB - Oct 10, 2017 2:34 pm Date Climbed: Oct 24, 1995
Great fall weather in 1995Great fall weather in 1995 and we had a great day on this fun scramble. Hiked with Andy M.
NNourian - Oct 10, 2016 9:12 pm
Route: Headwall Ascent, Chester DescentI'd very much recommend doing the circuit, and doing it in the direction mentioned. This is also a fantastic winter objective. There are only a few scrambling moves below the summit which may be trickier when icy/wet, but being able to glissade the ~50deg slope down to the Chester valley made it all worthwhile.
William Marler - Oct 9, 2011 1:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2011
Wintery dayGreat outing in winter conditions made this a special day
Maria - Sep 18, 2011 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
From Headwall Lakeswith Gimpilator
gimpilator - Sep 16, 2011 3:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
9 Peaks In 9 DaysThis was the final peak of our hiking extravaganza. Our original plans had been to do nearby Chester but the Chester Lake approach was closed due to Grizzly activity. We found a geocache on the summit and I traded some chocolate covered granola for honey roasted peanuts which were 2 years old. Tasty! From Headwall Lakes and above it was a gorgeous hike and a great way to end our Canada trip.
attimount - Jun 24, 2010 12:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2008
Loop.One of the most beautiful hikes in Kananaskis.
MtnMagic - Oct 21, 2007 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2002
Hard WorkHard work to get to the top as there were some serious snow drifts to get across. There was no significant snow accumulation on the summit section above the col though. The views of the snowy peaks around on such a sunny day was wonderfull.
BlueFoxCA - Aug 23, 2007 2:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Didn't quite finishDid the Chester Lake approach thinking we were pressed for time. My partner took a shortcut effectively cutting off the Fortress-Chester col and we ended up needing our hands all the way up, which made for an interesting ascent. Ran out of time and water when we hit the ridge, so we turned back.
Beautiful day and beautiful route... we'll be back to finish this one soon.
pvalchev - Aug 24, 2005 1:51 am
Route Climbed: Chester Lake approach Date Climbed: June 2003, June 2004Very enjoyable scramble especially for early season when a lot of other mountains are out of condition. No real difficulties from the Chester Lake approach - totally different than the intimidating image this mountains presents from highway 40!
Dow Williams - Jul 14, 2005 11:08 am
Route Climbed: Both Date Climbed: October, 2003-June, 2004In June 2004 Michael Thompson and I went in to attempt Mt. Galatea. The entire south face was still completely loaded with snow and ice. We then skirted around the backside of Gusty Peak only to find point avalanches unloading on its route. We continued to posthole in alpine conditions up to the col between The Fortress and Mount Chester and did The Fortress summit as our third option. There was a significant cornice on this col.
Lesson learned is that the Spray Lakes Reservoir area peaks can hold some snow late into the season, when conditions are wet in the valley. The summit this day was spectacular, zero wind, with Mt. Joffre, Mount Sir Douglas and Mt. Assiniboine offering a triangular mountain landscape second to none. Tremendous late snow conditions existed on all of those peaks in 2004 and again in 2005. We glissaded down nasty wet snow on our return.
BJ and Stacy joined me on this pleasant scramble and we made a fun circuit out of it in October, 2003 via Headwall Lakes. I recommend this one as an easy day out. Cheers!