‘Mount Denny’ (GR 338277)

Saturday August 27, I had an enjoyable solo day in the Opal Range. ‘Mount Denny’ (GR 338277) is a fun moderate scramble two summits north of Mt. Evan-Thomas in the Opal Range. The prolific Glen Boles applied the unofficial name of ‘Mount Denny’ to this peak after his team’s (G. Boles, D. Forest and M. Simpson) first ascent of the more northern summit in July of 1973 (first ascent of southern summit by John Martin in March 1973 (solo)).  Cecil Denny and Jerry Potts were key in the established of the RCMP (then the NWMP) in Alberta. 1973 was the 100 th anniversary of the RCMP, thence Boles’ suggestion.

The toughest part of this scramble is the hike up Grizzly Creek. I recommend that when up the creek about 1 km from highway, take the game trails on the north side of the creek. Just as the creek narrows into a tight canyon with a waterfall, an excellent trail presents itself on the left (north) side, take this trail into the upper reach of Grizzly Creek. 

Hike southward, past ‘Mt. Potts’ (GR 340267) to the south-west slopes of Mt. Denny. About 3 hours takes you to the base of scramble; aim for the obvious short cliff band, above a scree cone, likely to have a snow patch (there was a snow patch on Aug. 27), a small waterfall, or ice, depending on the time of year.


An easy gully to climber’s right bypasses this overhanging rock band. Once above the band, you have a choice of loose scree, or fun hands on moderate to difficult scrambling, based on line of ascent. 

I mostly stayed left (north) of the primary gully system and enjoy lots and lots of steep slab with moderate/difficult scrambling most of the way to the southern summit (GPS reading 3003m); about 5.5 hours from the car. Easy scree and slab northward reaches the northern summit in about 10 – 15 minutes (GPS reading 3000m). Only a register on the southern summit.

On the descent I managed to stay on scree for about 95% of the elevation loss to the rock band. Just above the overhanging band I went to skier’s right hoping to stay on scree. Bad call, short, but difficult downclimbing got me back on scree north of the scree cone. Quick plod down Grizzly Creek, lots of sheep and goats, and back to the car in less than 4 hours from northern summit. Total 10 hours car to car.