Cory Pass
Posted on March 30, 2011 by Scott in hiking
The premier hike in the Banff area takes you across a high pass, under the nearly vertical southeast face of Mount Louis and around the rocky pinnacles of Mount Edith. It is an arduous, leg-numbing 925 m ascent to Cory Pass in one direction; a toe-jamming descent if you hike the circuit in the other direction. Some prefer to get the hard part over early in the day. Photographers prefer the anti-clockwise direction to get the best light on the mountains. In condition from mid-July to mid-September.
THE TRAILHEAD
Drive west from Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway. Turn right onto the 1A Parkway 5.7 km west of the Norquay interchange. After 300 m turn right and follow the road to its end at the Fireside Picnic Area.
THE TRAIL
- From the trailhead cross the creek, turn right, and follow an old road 300 m downhill. Turn left onto a good trail and proceed to the Cory Pass/Edith Pass trail junction. To hike the circuit clockwise (Cory Pass first) turn left; otherwise go straight on.
- The trail begins a long, steep uphill climb on an open south-facing slope—a good reason to start early—then switchbacks through trees onto the end of Mount Edith’s south ridge.
- Continue easily along the ridge through trees with views ahead of Mount Edith and Cory Pass. A short uphill precedes a downhill scramble to a small col between the ridge and Mount Edith. The rock is polished and care must be taken.
- From the base of the rock step follow the trail up the ridge through trees a short way before embarking on a long, rising traverse to Cory pass across generally open slopes. The trail is sometimes sketchy where it crosses shale gullies. Ignore a climber’s trail to the right. Arrive at the pass, a rocky defile with a good view of Mount Edith.
- After a well-deserved rest, descend the steep talus slope on the north side of the pass. A little way down you get the first view of the impressive southeast face of Mount Louis. After the initial steep descent the grade eases off on a long, descending traverse to the right on scree slopes above Gargoyle Valley. Arrive at a jumble of boulders at the narrowest part of the valley between the sheer faces of mounts Edith and Louis.
- From here pick your way down the rocky defile, following cairns traversing rightward on scree to the start of the 60 m climb around Edith’s north ridge. Climb across a scree slope, taking a right-hand option low down. Continue into trees—sign—and climb through forest to a high point. Note a climber’s trail to the right. Carry straight on, making a descending traverse across avalanche slopes on the northeast slope of Mount Edith. A steeper descent through ever-increasing trees brings you to the environs of forested Edith Pass.
- Continue down through trees to the main Edith Pass trail. To the left is the trail to Forty Mile Creek. Turn right.
- Continue down the shady valley through mossy forest following the line of the stream for 3 km to a point close to the highway. Here the trail turns right, crosses Edith Creek and ascends a short hill to the Cory Pass/Edith Pass trail junction and the completion of the circuit. Carry straight on to the trailhead in 1.2 km.
