Wolf Lake Mountain
Posted by Derek on Jun 13, 2010
Wolf Lake Mt. just visible on the right through the trees
Height: 1654 feet / 504 meters
GPS recorded height: 1650 feet / 503 meters
Lat/Lon: N46 51.759 W80 39.669
Date Summited: May 22, 2010
Overview:
Wolf Lake Mountain is located just outside the boundaries of the world’s largest old-growth red pine forest; the Wolf Lake forest reserve. Named after the lake it stands over, Wolf Lake Mountain is the highest point within the boundaries of the City of Greater Sudbury. The area, commonly referred to as Chiniguichi, is a relatively popular canoeing destination with it’s clear acidified lakes, old growth pine forests and aboriginal pictographs. Read the rest of this entry »
Ishpatina Ridge (North Peak)
Posted by Derek on May 25, 2010
View to North Ishpatina summit
Rank: 3
Height: 2221 feet / 677 m
GPS recorded height: 2247 feet / 685 m
Lat/Lon: N47 19.977, W80 44.014
Line Parent: Ishpatina Ridge (Tower Summit)
Key Col: N47 19.742 W80 44.593 (1640 ft / 500 m)
Clean Prominence: 581ft / 177m
Date Summited: May 1st, 2010
Overview:
The Ishpatina Ridge traverses several rounded humps and under the Ontario 2100 Footer criteria, 3 of these qualify as being distinct 2100+ foot peaks. The familiar Fire Tower summit of the Ishpatina Ridge is the highest point in Ontario and a popular destination. It is reachable via a trail from Scarecrow Lake. The North Peak as seen from the Fire Tower summit appears to be just as high if not higher, but according to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario Base Maps (OBM) series, it is 43 feet lower. There is no trail to the North Peak of the Ishpatina Ridge and several approaches are hindered by cliffs surrounding the peak.
Ishpatina Ridge (South Peak)
Posted by Derek on Jan 12, 2010
View of The South Peak of Ishpatina from the Tower Peak
Height: 2188 feet / 667 m
GPS recorded height: 2198 feet / 670 m
Lat/Lon: N47 18.389 W80 45.906
Line Parent: Ishpatina Ridge (Tower Summit)
Key Col: N47 18.704 W80 45.312 (1952ft / 595m)
Clean Prominence: 236ft / 72m
Date Summited: August 1, 2010
Overview:
The Ishpatina Ridge traverses several rounded bumps and under the Ontario 2100 Footer criteria, 3 of these qualify as being distinct 2100+ foot peaks. The highest point, the familiar Tower summit of the Ishpatina Ridge is the highest point in Ontario and a popular hiking and canoeing destination. The South Peak, the lowest of the 3 peaks, ranks as Ontario’s 5th highest point. Despite being only a short bushwhack from the trail leading from Scarecrow Lake to the Ishpatina Ridge Tower summit, the South Peak remains relatively unexplored. A small lake at the summit is crowned by several candidate high points. OBM map spot elevations indicate that the southwestern-most point is the highest.
Directions:
Due to it’s close proximity to the Ishpatina Ridge Trail, the best approach to the South Peak is to hike to it in conjunction with a trip to the main Tower Peak via an overland trip or canoe trip. Although it’s shorter to bushwhack directly to the primary candidate high point from the height of land just south of Dick Lake, the route is made difficult by the extremely thick underbrush which dominates the south slopes of the peak. Instead, it is recommended to bushwhack to the secondary candidate high point first, then bushwhack west around the small lake atop the South Peak to the primary high point, and return back to Dick Lake by retracing the route in.
From the trailhead on Scarecrow Lake, follow the Ishpatina Ridge Trail to Dick Lake. Turn left and follow the lake shoreline west for 250 meters until reaching a small stream at the western edge of the lake. From here bushwhack west and paralleling the stream for about 500 meters to a small lake / wetland. Head northwest around the edge of the lake / wetland area and ascend the hill up to the secondary candidate high point at N47.3088, W80.7612. To get to the primary high point from here, continue the counter-clockwise swing around the lake / wetland by heading west for 250 meters, then south for 500 meters to an open area composed of ferns and moss covered rock outcrops. The height of land at N47.3065, W80.7651 is the likely candidate for the highest point on the South Peak.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sleeping Giant
Posted by Derek on Sep 6, 2009
Sleeping Giant seen from Thunder Bay
Height: 1847 feet / 563 m
Prominence: 1247 feet / 380 m
Lat/Lon: N48.35085 W88.89744
Date Summited: August 24, 2009 (Only reached the highest point on the trail)
Overview:
The Sleeping Giant is a formation of mesas and sills on Sibley Peninsula which resembles a giant lying on its back when viewed from the West to North-Northwest section of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. When measured from the elevation at Lake Superior (600 feet) to the highest point (1847 feet), The Sleeping Giant has the highest vertical rise in Ontario (1247 feet). The most popular destination on the Sleeping Giant is the Chimney Lookout on the Knees which overlooks Lake Superior and spectacular rock formations. The highest point is on the Chest and it is 600 m away from the Chest Trail which leads to the Nanabosho Lookout. The highest point along the trail system is along this trail, just a 100 m from the lookout.
Carson Creek Peak
Posted by Derek on Sep 3, 2009
Aldina fire tower atop Carson Creek Peak from the Boreal Road
Rank: 4
Height: 2198 feet / 670 m
GPS recorded height: 2217 feet / 675 m
Lat/Lon: N48 21.283 W90 00.793
Line Parent: Tower Mountain
Key Col: N48 20.675 W90 01.146 (1969ft / 600m)
Clean Prominence: 229ft / 70m
Date Summited: August 20, 2009
Overview:
Carson Creek Peak is the name given by Brian Back of OtterTooth.com to the fourth highest summit in Ontario. The peak is the second highest point atop a ridge which runs northeast from beyond Tower Mt. and the summit is marked by the Aldina fire tower. Carson Creek Peak is the highest road accessed peak in Ontario.
Tower Mountain
Posted by Derek on Sep 2, 2009
Tower Mt as seen from the road to Head Lake Peak East
Rank: 2
Height: 2228 feet / 679 m
GPS recorded height: 2260 feet / 689 m
Lat/Lon: N48 18.444 W90 05.667
Line Parent: Ishpatina Ridge (Tower Summit)
Key Col: N49 35.298 W85 41.667 (997ft / 299m)
Clean Prominence: 1247ft / 380m
Date Summited: August 21, 2009
Overview:
Taken from www.peakbagger.com:
Tower Mountain is the second highest peak in Ontario. The peak is part of the range of hills on the northwest shore of Lake Superior, not far from the city of Thunder Bay.
The name “Tower Mountain” is relatively new. For many years this summit was just known as a unnamed spot elevation in the “Thunder Bay Hills”. But the recent Ontario Base Map (1:20,000) published by the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) clearly labels the summit with its name and elevation. Ironically, the MNR seems to have forgotten that a tower was ever constructed here.
The peak is a broad, flat-topped ridge, with steep slopes and cliffs surrounding the central plateau. The summit is a very broad flat area, and it is marked by clearings with lots of debris from an old tower. You can see the tower footings, the wreckage of the wooden observation box, old cables, and electrical junk lying around. A rise to the north of the tower area may be the actual highpoint, but it’s hard to tell. There are no views, but if you bushwhack to the west for a tenth of a mile you will come to the top of the cliffs, where a nice vista of clear-cut forests extends for miles.
Batchawana Mt.
Posted by Derek on Sep 1, 2009
Batchewana Mt. from Griffin Lake Peak
Rank: NA (below 2100 feet)
Height: 2054 feet / 626 m
GPS recorded height: 2063 feet / 629 m
Lat/Lon: N47 03.907 W84 24.652
Date Summited: August 19th, 2009
Updated: November 7, 2015
Overview:
Batchawana Mountain, often confused with it’s higher, north-eastern neighbour, Griffin Lake Peak, is a partially open summit in the Algoma highlands, north of Sault Ste. Marie. Given it’s name, due to the close proximity with the Batchawana River (which empties into Batchawana Bay on Lake Superior), Batchawana or Badjiwanung is the Ojibwe term for ‘water that bubbles up’. Although there are no maintained trails to the summit, it is a short bushwhack to the top from a nearby overgrown road. The peak’s close proximity to an access road, it’s notable vertical rise and outstanding views to the north, south, and west make this mountain a rewarding day hike. Batchawana Mt. could be combined with a hike up Griffin Lake Peak for a full day’s outing.
Head Lake Peak East
Posted by Derek on Aug 29, 2009
Head Lake Peak East as seen from the approach to Tower Mt
Head Lake Peak East
Rank: 5
Height: 2188 feet / 667 m
GPS recorded height: 2207 feet / 673 m
Lat/Lon: N48 17.780 W90 07.312
Line Parent: Tower Mountain
Key Col: N48 17.766 W90 05.883 (1772 ft / 540m)
Clean Prominence: 416ft / 127m
Date Summited: August 23, 2009
Overview:
The Head Lake Peaks are a group of peaks north of Head Lake in the hills 65 km West of Thunder Bay. Head Lake Peak East is the highest of the mountain group and shares its ridge with the lower but equally prominent South Peak. It is also only 2.5 km southwest from the highest peak in the region, Tower Mt. Head Lake Peak East is a trailless peak and the closest trail is 500 meters northwest of the summit. The mountain has impressive cliff faces on its southeastern slopes.
Prelate Lake Peak
Posted by Derek on Aug 28, 2009
Prelate Lake Peak
Prelate Lake Peak
Rank: 8
Height: 2152 feet / 656 m
GPS recorded height: 2158 feet / 658 m
Lat/Lon: N48 10.330/W90 22.027
Line Parent: Head Lake Peak East
Key Col: N48 15.771 W90 12.396 (1608ft / 490m)
Clean Prominence: 544ft / 166m
Date Summited: August 21, 2009
Overview:
Prelate Lake Peak is a trailless peak in the hills west of Thunder Bay. It’s namesake lake is a popular lake for fishing located northwest of the summit. The peak is a short distance from route 588 and there is a trail for more than half of the distance to the summit.
Maple Mountain
Posted by Derek on Jul 18, 2009
Maple Mountain from Sucker Gut Lake
Rank: 18
Height: 2106 feet / 642 m
GPS recorded height: 2116 feet / 645 m
Lat/Lon: N47 23.225/W80 20.097
Line Parent: Ishpatina Ridge (Tower Summit)
Key Col: N47 28.178 W80 23.024 (1211ft / 369m)
Clean Prominence: 895ft / 273m
Date Summited: July 13, 2009
Overview:
Maple Mountain is located within the Temagami region’s Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park. One of the best known mountains in Ontario, it’s vertical rise over the surrounding landscape: approximately 1150 feet is one of the highest in the province. Because of this, it is often mistaken as being the highest mountain in Ontario, however Maple Mountain is actually ranked seventeenth. A 100 foot intact fire tower stands on the summit and can be reached via A 3.3 km long hiking trail.
The indigenous Temagami First Nation called the mountain Chee-bay-jing, which means “the place where the spirits go” and considered it a sacred site. The mountain was named by Dr. Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1888. Bell was the first known non-aboriginal to scale the mountain.
