Mount Kerr
June 23, 2013
2560m
Jasper, AB
Not to be confused with another Mount Kerr in Kane’s scramble in Yoho National Park, this one is in Victoria Cross Range, north of Jasper townsite. Eric, Ben and I did it as the 3rd summit of our Victoria Cross Traverse. Judging by the size of its summit cairn and a summit register, this one probably sees more visitors than the nearby Cairngorm.
Pyramid to Cairngorm to Kerr to Henry traverse route. GPX DL
After traversing over Pyramid Mountain and then finishing a complicated descent down from Cairngorm We slogged up a scree/boulder line up reddish rocks steeply up to an alpine tarn unofficially known as Kerr Lake. Due to the detour we’d lost quite a lot of elevation and it took us a long time to regain to this crest. After another short break we contoured around the lake on its right side, traversing over a steep snow slope and gained the northeast slope of Mount Kerr. Our original plan was to stick closer to the most direct line, but a huge set of cliff band guarding just beneath Kerr’s summit made us going around to its back side. It was all boulders up this very foreshortened slope. The boulders eventually gave way to a snow slope that was quite steep and a bit icy. My boots were fine kicking-step up it. I once thought it was a giant cornice but thankfully I eventually saw the rocky summit cairn. There were at least 4 beautiful alpine lakes visible from this summit, and it offered much wider view than from Cairngorm.
Ben slogging up towards Kerr Lake. This slope is very foreshortened.
Looking back at Cairngorm
A long shot of Kinross and Cairngorm
At Kerr Lake, Mount Kerr behind. Note the rock band guarding the summit.
We contoured around the lake. Some interesting rock scenery showed up
Eric cresting over the pass
Another photo of Kerr Lake. It hasn’t completely thawed yet.
Eric crossing a snow slope.
Ben slogging up typical boulders on the NE slope
Great view of Mount Kinross
Me kicking step up the snow slope just before the summit. Photo by Ben N
Summit Panorama. Click to view large size.
One of the alpine tarns
Another tarn, with Mount Henry behind
And yes, another tarn.
This is Kerr Lake
Cairngorm
The summit cairn
Roche Noire looks very attractive
Looking over towards Elysium Pass direction. The peak on far right is Mount McKean
Snaring Mountain is always the eye-catching
Buttress Mountain is another scramble that we’ll come back for
This is the piece of clouds building up
The fractured register. We didn’t bother to sign it.
One of my favourite shots from this summit
Me on the summit of Mount Kerr
Looking over Muhigan Mountain towards peaks in Tonquin Valley
Panorama looking north. Click to view large size.
At the meantime, we also noticed a piece of dark clouds building up over Pyramid Mountain direction. We didn’t think too much about it though, and after a short break, we were soon on our way to Mount Henry, the 4th summit of this traverse.
Steven's Peak-bagging Journey 
[…] Mount Kerr and Kerr Lake. Image courtesy of Steven Song. […]
Fantastic photos of great mountain views. Do you know the name of mountain seen from Jasper which looks like a man’s face lying down?
I know there’s a peak locally called “Old Man Mountain”, but more commonly known as Roche Bonhomme. Google it and see if that’s the peak you’re looking for. I’ve scrambled it a few years ago.
You guys are just awesome, great photos and trip descriptions, great accomplishments for being sooo young! I am not a climber but multi-week off trail route finder,so I carry a very heavy backpack as I attempt to see what “gos” .trying to get from valley to valley in remote areas. I remember the Mt.Kerr area for a windstorm I endured there back in the late 90s. Keep up the great work.