Mount Rae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Rae
Mt. Rae from the north (Sept. 2006)
Highest point
Elevation	3,218 m (10,558 ft)
Prominence	1,330 m (4,360 ft)
Parent peak	Mount Joffre 3433 m
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Geography
Mount Rae Location in Alberta
Location	Alberta, Canada
Parent range	Misty Range
Topo map	NTS 82J/10
Climbing
Easiest route	Moderate scramble

Mount Rae is a tall mountain found in the beautiful Canadian Rockies. It is located in Alberta, Canada, right beside Alberta Highway 40. You can find it between Elbow Pass and an area called the Ptarmigan Cirque.

Discovering Mount Rae

Mount Rae stands tall at 3,218 meters (about 10,558 feet) high. It was named in 1859 after a famous explorer named John Rae. John Rae explored many parts of Northern Canada a long time ago.

Why People Climb Mount Rae?

Mount Rae is a very popular spot for an activity called scrambling. Scrambling is like hiking, but it's a bit more challenging. Sometimes you need to use your hands to climb over rocks, but it's not as difficult as rock climbing.

People love to scramble up Mount Rae because it's quite high, but it's not too hard to reach the top from the starting point. This makes it a great adventure for many outdoor lovers.

The Scramble Route

The journey to the top of Mount Rae usually begins at the Highwood Pass parking lot. This parking lot is on Alberta Highway 40 and sits at an elevation of 2,227 meters (about 7,306 feet). From there, climbers head towards the back of the Ptarmigan Cirque.

Once you reach the cirque, there are a couple of ways to go. You can either climb up a steep field of snow or go over increasingly rocky slopes. Both paths lead to a "col," which is like a low saddle between two peaks.

From the col, the path goes up the northern side of the mountain. It leads to a narrow ridge at the very top. If there's snow, climbers usually stay close to the ridge and go around a large rock tower called a "gendarme." If it's dry, they can sometimes go below the gendarme.