Ref: Vern's Explo8ion website
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Mount Ishbel from Hillside
Meadows.
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Scramble:
RT 14.0;7.5 up. The first weekend back
from Colorado/Nanaimo saw me busy with a welding project and a
scramble. Marta contacted me during the week and suggested we attempt
Mount Ishbel. Gotta admit that I was apprehensive about that objective,
I honestly didn't think I had the skills to make it to the top after
reading existing trip reports. However, Marta didn't seem to care
whether we got
turned around so I decided to give it a go. We met at Castle Junction
and
drove to Hillside Meadows. We didn't get an early start so we hiked at
a good pace without many stops. At the cliff face, we went climber's
left and aimed for a far saddle on the west side of the mountain. Once
on the
saddle, we realized it wasn't the proper way. We turned around feeling
a
bit defeated right from the start, time was of the essence and we had
already lost an hour. As we backtracked, we scanned the cliff face for
a weakness; that's when we noticed a
gully that seemed to give
way to the ridge proper. The straightforward
gully delivered us on
Ishbel's south ridge. We followed the ridge crest all the
way to a highpoint. From there, a downclimb along the ridge would have been
possible partway but a bluff clearly barred the way to easier terrain
below. We elected to descend the eastern slopes until we could circumvent the bluff; we then climbed back to the ridge
following an easy grassy scree slope. Once on the ridge, we basically
stayed on the crest. The ridge narrows in places but it is easily
negotiable with good holds and foot placements. After some fine ridge
scrambling, we
reached tougher terrain about 700 meters from the summit. At
that point, we looked for the bypass ramp climber's right. We were
unsure where we should downclimb to connect to it, we just went on a
whim and descended sketchy terrain. Luckily, our chosen route appeared
promising. We carried on and came across a cairn shortly thereafter. The ramp is narrow and exposed in places. The
scrambling isn't
difficult but we agreed that route finding challenges paired with "no
slip zones" make this objective a difficult one! As we proceeded on the
continuous ramp, we saw more cairns; it's hard to believe this ledge
leads almost all the way to the top. When we reached the end of the
ramp, a short
scramble took us to the summit. It wasn't as windy as I thought it
would
be considering the ridge crest lower down had been quite breezy. Marta
and I were ecstatic, we
didn't expect to be successful; we figured it was more of an
exploratory
trip due to our late start and detour. I was proud of myself, I didn't
think I could attain this summit. I was also sad, this marked my last
scramble in the Rockies for an undetermined amount of time. We enjoy
the view and the feat before
carefully backtracking. We followed the numerous flagging tapes we left
along the way, this took thinking and error out of the
equation. We retrieved our flags and made it onto the ridge crest
without mishap. I did drop a pole down the abyss but it was a fair
trade. Walking the narrow ridge was unnerving the second time around,
the wind gusts had increased dramatically. We reached treeline and
flatter terrain before having to pull out our headlamps. All and all,
this was a fabulous scramble with Marta. Hoping to see you all
soon; happy and safe scrambling, over
and out!!
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Ascending
light timbered slopes.
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Sidehilling
towards the mountain
on a crude trail.
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We overshot
the ascent gully by
aiming for the saddle in the middle.
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After
backtracking and looking
carefully, we found the ascent gully.
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The south
ridge comes into view.
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Marta poses on a highpoint
before dropping down the eastern aspect to avoid difficulties.
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Looking back
at the highpoint
and the diversion.
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The ascent
ridge is
straightforward moderate scrambling.
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Pleasant
scrambling.
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Roughly
following the ridge
crest.
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A sheer slab on a narrow section
offers good picture opportunities.
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Nearing
tougher terrain we wonder where the infamous ramp is.
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We decide to
look for it at this
point.
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Not obvious
at first.
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We're embracing the challenge.
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We find the
odd cairns along our
chosen route.
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Looking back.
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Further
along, it becomes clear
we're on the infamous ramp.
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More of the
ramp.
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At the end
of the ramp, only a
short scramble up the summit block remains.
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Oh yeah,
kuddos to us!!
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View south towards the town of Banff.
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Pilot Mountain west of us.
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Northern view.
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Enjoying my last scramble for a long while.
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Leaving the
top.
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Carefully following the ramp.
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Backtracking
made easy by our
deligent flag placements. |
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Looking back.
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Somewhat
exposed in places.
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Scrambling
is never too
difficult but grants "no slip zones".
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Looking
back again, ummmm....
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Nearing the
exit onto the south
ridge.
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Here we go!
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Aesthetic
ridge.
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Fun
scrambling.
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Along the
sheer slab.
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Dropping off
the ridge to
circumvent difficulties and climb back to the highpoint (right center).
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Our traverse
ahead on the
eastern aspect.
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The
remainder of the ridge from
the highpoint.
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Down the
approach gully.
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Back at
treeline.
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Voila! Great "send off" with my friend
Marta.
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