Mount Athabasca

Mountains of Alberta - Canada Highest Major Mountain Peaks

Coordinates 52°10′50″N 117°12′06″WCoordinates: 52°10′50″N 117°12′06″W
Geography - Mount Athabasca is located in Alberta

Location in Alberta
Country Canada
Province Alberta
Protected area Jasper National Park
Parent range Canadian Rockies
Topo map NTS 83C3 Columbia Icefield

Climbing Mount Athabasca

First ascent 1898 by J. Norman Collie and Herman Woolley
Easiest route Scramble, glacier, snow climb

Mount Athabasca is located in the Columbia Icefield of Jasper National Park in Canada. The mountain was named in 1898 by J. Norman Collie, who made the first ascent on August 18 of that year. Athabasca is the Cree language name for "where there are reeds", which originally referred to Lake Athabasca. Mount Athabasca is unusual, in that water flows to the Pacific Ocean from the western slope, the Arctic Ocean from the northeastern slope, and to Hudson Bay from the southeastern slope.

Mount Athabasca Climbing Routes

There are several climbing routes, including:
North Glacier (Normal Route) II
Silverhorn II
AA Col II
Regular North Face III 5.8
North Ridge III 5.5
The Hourglass 300m, III, AI3-4

One of the most prominent features of Mount Athabasca is a horned-shaped tip near the top called the "Silverhorn". The Silverhorn is one of the easier routes to the summit but requires more caution and ability than the normal route because of blue ice and falling ice from other parties. Although not apparent from the typical roadside view of the mountain, the south side of Silverhorn contains a scrambling route but one must still cross the north glacier to get to it. From the top of the Silverhorn, the summit is a rather easy 15-minute plod in good summer weather over the narrow snow-covered summit ridge.


Jasper Columbia Icefield Home

More Jasper & Banff Columbia Icefield Tours

Jasper Columbia Icefield Maligne Lake 2 Day Tour | Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk from Banff | Glacier Day Tour: Calgary, Bow Lake, Columbia Icefield | Glacier Skywalk and Athabasca Glacier Tour from Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre | Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks | Glacier Skywalk