Jewell Peak (Twin Towers)

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Jewell Peak remained on my mind after inbound rain turned my friend Chris and I back at the difficult crux earlier in the spring of 2026. It's true that I technically did bag two summits already that evening, and had gone into it fully knowing that Jewell likely wouldn't "go" - but nonetheless, I find myself disliking leaving attempted summits undone more and more these days.

I'd spent the previous weekend indoors to boot, and reckoned it was about time to push past the mild depression that staying inside always brings, and get out into the backcountry. Thanks to Vern DeWit's trip report Jewell Peak (Twin Towers)
explor8ion - A Slice of Infinity
[Archive] [No Archive Link] of Jewell - which I'd read when Chris first proposed the summit as an objective - I was aware that it was possible to creekwhack to the peak from Jewell Pass instead of dealing with a 5th class downclimb. Why the heck not?

Vern also made use of a bike approach to shave some distance off his ascent; I decided to mimic this, but from the closer Quaite Creek trailhead instead of his starting point of the Prairie View Trail some 20 minutes further from my apartment in Banff. This proved to be a taxing endeavour; I evidently had not learned in the least from my recent trip Sulphur Mountain (True Summit)
hagelslag.ca
[Archive] [No Archive Link] up Sulphur Mountain, where cycling the approach had likewise left me drained of energy that could have been used lumbering my way up the actual ascent slope.

The trail starts out very bikeable, but does get much rougher and steeper than this further up. The trail starts out very bikeable, but does get much rougher and steeper than this further up. ✕

Descending from Jewell Pass on foot after dropping my bike. Descending from Jewell Pass on foot after dropping my bike. ✕

I ascended at a miserable 5km/hr to Jewell Pass, before waving the white flag and locking my bike. I knew the trail descended from the pass to the start of my creekwhack, and I had no desire to grind up even more elevation on the return journey.

The trail from the pass to my target bridge was in excellent condition, and just as much of a Rockies superhighway as most of the other paths in the area. It wasn't long before I reached the creek I was looking for, and left the party behind me looking thoroughly confused as I meandered off-trail and up the creek.

Alas, this bridge is not for me. I head right here and start creekwhacking. Alas, this bridge is not for me. I head right here and start creekwhacking. ✕

The creek starts out quite passable. The creek starts out quite passable. ✕

Older human-made cuts indicate somebody might be trying to build a trail up here. Older human-made cuts indicate somebody might be trying to build a trail up here. ✕

The occasional square cut indicated that some amount of maintenance has been done here, but to what end I'm not really certain. There was no properly defined trail - just a few bits and bobs on one bank or the other - and the creek only worsened in navigability as I ascended. Vern recommends becoming "one with the bush" here, and I took his advice and enjoyed the day instead of pushing for any kind of speed record. I was really feeling the amount of energy I'd expended on my bike by this point, and wishing I'd just hiked up the whole way.

The creek gets a whole lot worse when it's not in the mood to cooperate. The creek gets a whole lot worse when it's not in the mood to cooperate. ✕

Sheep (and possibly human) trails lead around the worst of the debris. Sheep (and possibly human) trails lead around the worst of the debris. ✕

The creek branches, with the direct route to climber's left and mine to the right. The creek branches, with the direct route to climber's left and mine to the right. ✕

I knew for certain I was making good progress when I encountered a major fork in the creekbed. My map confirmed this was the route used by a few parties in the past for a direct ascent. Given how well Vern's day had gone by just sticking to the creek, I saw no reason to tempt fate and continued my slow but steady 'whack upwards.

It didn't feel like much longer before the creekbed became increasingly blocky, and the treeline abruptly gave way to lovely open ascent slopes. I have to admit the creekwhack was far easier than I was expecting - but then again, having been up and down the ruined Siffleur River trail Siffleur Mountain
Hagelslag.ca
[Archive] [No Archive Link] , there are very few conditions that faze me at this point.

The creekbed gets a bit blockier but remains easily passable. The creekbed gets a bit blockier but remains easily passable. ✕

The forest abruptly ends at the ascent slope. The forest abruptly ends at the ascent slope. ✕

I started upwards on firm ground, which transitioned quickly to rubble slopes. Briefly distracted by a small flash of colour that turned out to be a stinkbug, I paused for a few photos and then continued upwards.

The ascent slope wasn't bad at all, though it definitely was foreshortened. My original estimate of 40 minutes to the top fell apart pretty quickly when I checked my map and realized it was almost 400 vertical meters to the top, and I corrected my math again when I started encountering snow higher up that made the rubble annoyingly slick in places.

'Stinkbug' is a poor name for such a pretty little insect. 'Stinkbug' is a poor name for such a pretty little insect. ✕

Higher up, the ascent slope is covered with enough snow to make it slippery. Higher up, the ascent slope is covered with enough snow to make it slippery. ✕

About an hour after poking my head out from the creek, I reached the summit and took in the absolutely glorious views in every direction. I was not expecting Jewell's summit to look anywhere near this good given its low elevation of just 2320 metres - but I can confirm that it does, in fact, defy those expectations.

The best summit view I've had this year features glorious views over K-Country in every concievable direction.

The best summit view I've had this year features glorious views over K-Country in every concievable direction. ✕

I spent a fair while on the summit block just taking in the view - almost half an hour, in fact! - before consigning myself to another few hours of thrashing through brush in the creekbed. I trended northeast along the ridgeline for a bit before finding an easier spot to descend, where the snow was a bit shallower and the rock more loose and forgiving. I picked my way down this, zigging and zagging back and forth instead of going at it head-on and risking a slip, making it down slower than I wanted but definitely fast enough.

Looking at the downclimb from Grant MacEwan in more detail as I return to my creekwhack. Looking at the downclimb from Grant MacEwan in more detail as I return to my creekwhack. ✕

Lovely Calypso Orchids poke their way through the creek's mossy bank. Lovely Calypso Orchids poke their way through the creek's mossy bank. ✕

I took a few moments to photograph some Calypso Orchids I spotted in the creekbed, and otherwise just kept moving. I made it back to my bike about three hours after leaving the summit, and was suddenly very grateful that I had the option of just cruising all the way out.

I'd recently replaced the garbage Covid-supply-chain-nightmare-era brakes on my hybrid with some newer Shimano Deore 6100s and larger 180mm discs, and nearly threw myself over the handlebars once before remembering that yes, good quality disc brakes can actually lock your wheels! After that little lesson sunk in, I rode with a bit more care and made it back to my car with almost zero effort expended. I really do need to spend more time on the bike so I have the energy to do this sort of thing more often...