Mount Alderson

Posted on by par

July 9, 2024. Straightforward but scenic scrambling to a summit overlooking the Carthew-Alderson trail.

  • Region: Waterton Lakes National Park. Traditional territory of the Tsuu T’ina, Ktunaxa, and Blackfoot First Nations
  • Distance: 21 km round-trip
  • Total Ascent: 1210 m
  • Elevation of Objective: 2692 m
  • Total Time: 6h 23m
  • Safety and Disclaimer

Mount Alderson is one of the Waterton scrambles described in Kane’s Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies. The ascent route is very obvious when hiking on the Carthew-Alderson trail from Cameron Lake down to the Waterton townsite. From the hiking trail the summit is visible at the top of a fairly easily navigable ridge line. A lot of strong hikers have probably crossed-over into scrambling after looking at Mount Alderson’s summit from the hiking trail and thinking, I could probably just hike up there.

Mount Alderson’s impressive northern aspect as seen from Bertha Peak. The mountain looks formidable from this direction, but it’s a simple ascent from the other side.

The peak is best approached starting from Cameron Lake. Access is via the Akamina Parkway in Waterton – Cameron Lake is at the very end of it. The road leads to a large parking lot at the north end of the lake. The trailhead is found by following the lakeside trail clockwise past the boat rental and over the outlet stream coming off the lake. I set off along the trail, following the shore of the lake for a short time before turning into the woods and up a steep hillside in broad switchbacks. Eventually the grade eased and the trees thinned out as the trail reached something of a plateau. Views to the south slowly opened up, and by the time I had followed the trail to Summit Lake I had a great views of Chapman Peak just across the international border in Glacier National Park.

Early in the morning at Cameron Lake.
The info signs at the trailhead.
The trail starts off fairly level and following close to the shore of the lake before turning uphill.
Up on the switchbacks, looking south at Mount Custer and Forum Peak.
Before Summit Lake the grade of the trail levels out. Chapman Peak is visible through the burned tree trunks.
Chapman Peak and Mount Custer reflected in Summit Lake.

The thick insect swarms at Summit Lake helped prompt me to move along. I followed the signed trail departing from the shore heading northeast, eventually reaching a long, curving traverse leading to more switchbacks that finally brought the trail to its apex on a col between high points of Mount Carthew’s southern ridge. This high point is referred to as “Carthew Summit” on signs and maps. The views from this spot were excellent, and for the first time the summit of Mount Alderson came into full view.

Following the signage towards Carthew Summit.
On the long traverse heading towards the switchbacks, passing through bent and broken trunks on an avalanche pathway.
Looking south again towards Chapman Peak and Lake Wurdeman.
Ascending switchbacks to Carthew Summit.
Southern panorama from Carthew Summit.
The first clear look at Mount Alderson. The ascent basically involves walking up its western ridge.

I lost some elevation as I followed the trail down from Carthew Summit to reach the base of Mount Alderson’s western ridge. From there, the ascent mostly just involved steep uphill hiking. Two areas of actual scrambling along the ascent involved down-climbs. The first was negotiated by finding friendly terrain to climber’s left, the second by trending a little bit right. A short climb beyond the 2nd scramble led to the summit.

Walking up the first part of the ridge. I didn’t head right to the high point but followed a faint trail that traversed left to intercept the ridge beyond the high point.
On the ridge between the first and second high point. The first scrambling section is up ahead, down-climbing from the visible high point.
The edge of the down-climb. I found a good route to the left.
Looking back at the down-climb.
Looking north at Mount Carthew, Buchanan Peak, and the lower of the two Carthew Lakes.
Looking ahead towards the summit.
Looking at Alderson Lake, almost 600 meters below this point on the ridge.
Coming up to the 2nd down-climb. I bore to the right.
Looking back at part of the 2nd down-climb.
The last stretch before the summit.
Looking off the edge of the ridge below the summit.
The summit of Mount Alderson.

It was a fairly clear day, with only a bit of smoke in the air. Views were excellent in all directions. The summit itself was marked with a survey marker and there was a cairn on an adjacent, slightly lower spot. Shortly after my arrival at the summit I was joined by a gentleman from Montana who was escaping the crowds down in Glacier National Park. A few minutes later we were joined by a lady from Calgary, who was escaping the crowds back home due to the Calgary Stampede. It was calm and warm up there, so I enjoyed a fairly long stay at the top before returning along the same route. The light during my descent made for good photography conditions so I took plenty of pictures on the way down.

Southwest panorama from just below the summit marker. A nice view into Glacier National Park.
Looking closer at Lake Wurdeman and Lake Nooney.
Lake Wurdeman
Lake Nooney
Carcajou Lake
Looking west from the cairn.
Forum Ridge, with Akamina Ridge beyond it and Long Knife Peak in the background.
Looking north-northwest. Mount Blakiston/Sikaahkoinimaiistáko is in the distance, right of centre.
Looking a little closer in the direction of Sikaahkoinimaiistáko. Note the little lake near the bottom centre of the picture. This lake sits under a section of east-facing cliffs of Buchanan Ridge. It appears on most maps but is only named on one: the Gem Trek map identifies it as Lake Dormaar. Interestingly, searching online using that name yields no results.
Looking east. Bertha Lake is at the right, Bertha Peak straight ahead.
Starting back down. Looking at Mount Carthew and Buchanan Peak across the valley. They remain on my ‘to do’ list at the time of this post.
Climbing past a cairn on the upper scrambling section.
Peering over the edge of the ridge, looking down and Alderson Lake far, far below.
Mount Carthew and the Carthew Lakes.
Nearing the lower scrambling section.
Off of Mount Alderson and back on the Carthew-Alderson trail, looking north at the Carthew Lakes.
A last look at Chapman Peak and Lake Wurdeman.

3 thoughts on “Mount Alderson”

  1. Pingback: Mount Richards – Hiking With Par

  2. To reach Carthew Summit only, is there a scree section? If so, is it manageable for moderate hikers (someone who hikes a lot but doesn’t do actual scrambling)?

    To reach Mount Carthew Summit, is there a scree section also? And again, how difficult is it for someone who hikes a great deal but doesnt do any hands on scrambling or the likes of that?

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    1. Carthew Summit is definitely manageable for a non-scrambler. It is all on-trail. I haven’t gone over the Mount Carthew’s summit yet, but provided you are on-route I don’t think there’s any scrambling involved.

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