Elevation: 3000 m
Degree of Difficulty:
Easy
Time to Complete Round Trip:5 - 7 hours
Where to Park:
On the Smith-Dorrien / Spray Lake reservoir road, highway 742, park at the Chester Lake parking lot.
The Route (see photos below):
I present the Chester Lake approach. Kane has an alternate approach, the Headwall Lakes.
Walk up the trail to Chester Lake. When you're at the lake you'll see a fork in the path. You'll head to the left and make your way to the Chester Lake Falls. Make your way above the falls via a scree slope and keep heading north up a long rocky valley.
At one point you will find a gigantic boulder that fell and landed relatively intact save for one giant crack (see photo).
Above, bragging at the cairn, below view of the Fortress ski area. Don't attempt the Fortress from THAT side.
Looking straight down to Fortress Lake. Lots of air there, yikes.
The first time I attempted the Fortress, I had to hightail it down the mountain when thunder and lightning put the fear of God in my carcass. I was only about twenty minutes from the summit too! The following week the weather was great. My reward? The summit! The photo below is from my first miserable attempt.
Above, someone I met on the day I stood on the Fortress. Wonderful experience.
Thank you for visiting the summit of the Fortress and keeping it clean.
