Our first challenge of the day was to cross Heart creek which, unsurprisingly with the recent hot temperatures, was running fairly high. Michael found us a reasonable spot and then we were off up Heart mountain. Often a popular trail on this day we saw no one until we got to the summit of Grant Macewan peak where we had a short break.

Grant Macewan peak on left of photo "Twin towers" right of centre of photo

We decided to try the lower route below the ridge when we set off for our objective.

Fairly tedious side-hilling to avoid the steep down climb to the "Twin towers"

This route avoids the steep downclimb necessary if you stay on the ridge. The steep sidehilling was a bit tedious but after we got back up to the ridge there was pleasant ridge scrambling to the summit.

Michael and Clifton ascend the last bit of ridge to the west summit of the "Twin towers"

Looking to the south down the Kananaskis valley, as Clifton commented, the north faces still looked pretty snowy. We could even see the snowy crest of Mount Joffre. After a late lunch summit break we headed back and chose to try the scramble back up to the ridge and avoid the side hilling.

Michael and Clifton on the summit of the west peak of the "Twin towers"

There is a reasonable scramble route climbers left of the buttress where you climb up a 3-4 metres and then traverse climbers right. I found it still exposed and tricky but only for a couple of metres. I think a chimney / gulley a little to the right of our route might have been less exposed. If I were to do it again I think I would take a short rope and do the down climb (there is a convenient tree to belay off) to avoid the side hilling. Certainly the ridge walk back to Grant Macewan was more enjoyable than the side hilling. The rest of the descent was uneventful though it got hotter as we lost elevation and we could see the forecasted weather change to the north and west with what looked like rain bearing clouds though we had no rain. An enjoyable day doing a trip and peak I had not done. Thanks to Clifton for sharing his experience of earlier trips and Michael for help routefinding - and both for their good company from John.