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the Degree Confluence Project
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Canada : Alberta

8.8 km (5.5 miles) SW of Waterton Park, AB, Canada
Approx. altitude: 1581 m (5186 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo topo250 ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 49°S 66°E

Accuracy: 5 m (16 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View North #3: View East #4: View West #5: Ground cover at the confluence point #6: Almost all zeros! (GPS+Galileo+GLONASS) #7: Cameron Lake, at the start of my hike.  (Compare this photo to my comparable photo taken during my previous attempt, in June 2014.) #8: Summit Lake, at the high-point of the hike (about 2km from the point) #9: Looking East from the Boundary Trail along the Canada-US border cut towards the point, 727m away #10: The Canada-US border cut at 114 Degrees West, 135m South of the point

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  49°N 114°W (visit #4)  

#1: The confluence point lies in a forested slope.  (This is also a view to the South, towards the US border, 135m away.)

(visited by Ross Finlayson)

05-Aug-2024 -- I had first attempted to reach this Degree Confluence Point ten years ago, in June 2014. At that time, however, there was still deep snow covering much of the Summit Trail, and I had to abandon my attempt. I resolved to reattempt this point in some future year - but in July or August, instead of June.

Today, in August, conditions were much better; there was no snow at all on the Summit Trail. My goal was the same as before: From Cameron Lake, hike up the Summit Trail (switchbacks) to Summit Lake, then hike down the Boundary Trail (more switchbacks) past the Canada-US border, and then bushwhack to the point (which lies just North of the border). Because this is grizzly bear country, I made sure to wear a bear bell, and to carry bear spray. (I also found bug spray very useful, as I was accosted by very large biting flies throughout my hike.)

My hike went to according to plan (though parts of the Boundary Trail were very overgrown, and sometimes a bit hard to follow). After crossing the Canada-US border cut, the Boundary Trail turned Eastward and ran just South of the border (i.e., within the U.S.). At [48.99576,-114.00000], 470m South of the point, I left the trail and bushwhacked North towards the point. I soon passed through the border cut - about 135m South of the point - and then continued North (reentering Canada), where the terrain became a lot steeper. After a lot of scrambling, I eventually reached the point, which lies on a South-facing slope, among several downed trees.

Because I was close to the US border (and within a Canadian National Park), I didn’t fly my drone to get an overhead view, but instead I recorded a video from ground level.

I returned to Cameron Lake by retracing my steps - ending up with a total hike of 20.3km.


 All pictures
#1: The confluence point lies in a forested slope. (This is also a view to the South, towards the US border, 135m away.)
#2: View North
#3: View East
#4: View West
#5: Ground cover at the confluence point
#6: Almost all zeros! (GPS+Galileo+GLONASS)
#7: Cameron Lake, at the start of my hike. (Compare this photo to my comparable photo taken during my previous attempt, in June 2014.)
#8: Summit Lake, at the high-point of the hike (about 2km from the point)
#9: Looking East from the Boundary Trail along the Canada-US border cut towards the point, 727m away
#10: The Canada-US border cut at 114 Degrees West, 135m South of the point
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
In the Waterton Lakes National Park. The borderline with the U.S. is running about 150 m south of the Confluence.