Mount Saskatchewan Jr.

Mount Saskatchewan is a gorgeous and beastly looking mountain, and I want to get as close to it as possible at this time of year, so the objective is Mount Saskatchewan Jr. This is a DIFFICULT snowshoeing objective (not your typical 6km roundtrip jaunt up EEOR) that will involve steep snow slopes, possibly require crampons for the glacier section, and will be a long day. If you have done Spine Speak in the area, it will be something similar to that. I intend to follow Steven Song's descent route up and back, which will allow us to bypass Big Bend Peak (which I've already done) and save us some time. There are three options for this trip:

1. Head to the Icefields/DTC to bag a small peak on Saturday and spend the night in the area to get an early start on Sunday for MSJ.
2. Do MSJ as a day trip which will require leaving Calgary at 4am.
3. Do MSJ as a day trip on Thursday, April 16th as the weather is the most optimal that day (option to stay the night and bag a peak on Friday before heading home).

Let me know which of these options you prefer in your response to the screening questions.

🌲 Distance: 15km
🌲 Elevation gain: 1200m
🌲 Time: 9-10 hours
🌲 Max Group Size: 6 (No children, No Pets, No guests)
🌲 Difficulty: S5/S6 route
🌲 Meeting Location: TBD
🌲 Descriptive Link: https://stevensong.com/canadian-rockies/icefield-parkway/mount-saskatchewan-junior/

🌲 If we have not hiked together before, please answer the question regarding your hiking experience. The waitlist for this event is not first come, first serve, but rather is based on your hiking/scrambling experience that is suitable for this hike.
🌲 I prefer to move at a moderate and steady pace with short breaks only when necessary (e.g., re/delayering, bathroom, snacks, lunch). This means that if you need to stop for frequent and/or elaborate photo shoots at every large boulder and pseudo-view point, please do not sign up. It is also a must that the GROUP STAYS TOGETHER, so don't sign up if you want to take off to do exploratory route finding through the bushes or up an uninviting gully or trying to set a personal best time. It is also not acceptable to break off into your own small group to selfishly bag a peak and then head back to the trailhead while leaving the rest of the group behind.

🌲 Required gear:
- snowshoes
- crampons
- ice axe
- headlamp
- water
- lunch / snacks
- hiking boots
- hat / gloves
- sensible outdoor clothing (no cotton, no jeans)
- appropriate layers for changing weather (rain shell, down jacket, etc.)
- personal first aid kit, toilet kit
- trekking poles
- sunglasses

🌲 WAIVER: You must sign the club waiver before you are allowed to go on this trip and you shall arrive prepared with an emergency name and phone number to be recorded on the waiver. The organizer will have a group waiver for you to sign at the trailhead.
🌲 Disclaimer: You are fully aware that your hosts are volunteers and not trained guides and you assume all responsibility for your own safety and well-being. All participants are responsible for assessing the current road conditions, current weather conditions, your current physical condition, current trail conditions and current avalanche conditions for the trip and you are responsible for your safety and well-being. You are fully prepared with proper gear and you're physically fit to do this hike with the group.