South Tower (Willingdon South)
August 31, 2013
3325m
Eastern Banff Park – Clearwater Pass, AB
Tower, or South Tower, is the lowest peak among the Willingdon’s trio. It’s also referred as Willingdon 3. To get there one must traverse up and over Crown from Willingdon/Crown col. Getting down Crown requires a couple moderate to difficult scrambling moves and some brief route-finding, but other than that it was very straightforward. The elevation loss between the two was massive and frustrating but that’s the reason why these are separate peaks. The best view from summit of Tower is looking back towards the other two summits. We couldn’t find a register on the top. For the approach via Quartzite Col and then Clearwater Pass, go to my Willingdon’s trip report.
Descending from Crown
Panorama view from partway down Crown. Neat clouds still
This is Tower
Down to Crown/Tower col. It’s a straightforward slog from here.
Looking back towards Crown
Summit Panorama. Click to view large size.
Keeping walking down the ridge for a few step. This is a better viewpoint towards south
Looking south involves giants like Cataract Peak. You can also pick out Assiniboine
Hector and Lake Louise’s Group on left; Balfour and Waputik Icefield on right
Familiar peaks on Wapta Icefield on left; Freshfield Icefield on right
Willingdon and Crown
Looking down at the glacier between Willingdon and Harris
Recondite Peak
Willingdon and Crown
Mount Harris is a big pile of scree
Augusta, Recondite, and unnamed peaks in that area
Zooming-in down Clearwater River Valley
Me on the summit of Tower
Descending Tower
Neat clouds showing up on Willingdon, seen from Crown
Descending Crown
Eric and Vern
Ben down-climbing a short step
Typical terrain on Crown’s upper slope
Looking down to the tarn between Willingdon and Crown
Willingdon and the tarn
Down to Willingdon/Crown col already
Looking back at Crown
Steven's Peak-bagging Journey 