| Ref: Drew
and Mark in the Canadian Rockies. |
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Kent North Outlier
(left) and Mount Kent North (right). |
| Snowshoe trip:
RT 7.75; 4.0 up. This outing is a popular snowshoeing objective; the
alpine is often wind-scoured, minimizing avalanche risk and easing
trail
breaking. We left Golden early and reached the
Sawmill Parking lot after a 3.5 hour drive. The sky was
cloudier than expected but the wind wasn't bad yet. We followed the
well-packed trail through the gate and went right of the marker. We
passed a
couple of junctions and recognized the proper turn-off leading to the
approach ridge. A recent post on Kent Outlier prompted a few people to
head up this way, the tight trail through the trees was easy to follow.
The alpine was stripped, we made it to the outlier in decent time. So
far, the weather had been fair but it deteriorated quickly. We
descended to the
saddle and started the long trudge to the highpoint of Mount Kent. It
took a lot of effort, the variable crust wasn't always supportive. At
the top, the view was greatly reduced. The wind was vicious,
blowing
snow in every nook and freezing exposed skin in no time. We didn't
linger and headed down after snapping some pictures. We took a nice break
at the saddle, the wind was calmer there. Although it is
possible to continue down to the James Walker Creek Trail from the
saddle,
we chose to return the way we came. We reached the truck as it
got dark. |
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Past the gate, we
went right of the red marker. |
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After 12 minutes, we
veered right at another junction. |
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The trail was
well-packed and easy to follow. |
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Treeline. |
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The wind-scoured
ridge leading to Kent North Outlier. |
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Looking back from
the top of the outlier. |
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Our objective is the
highpoint of Mount Kent. |
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Bluffs below the
outlier are easily circumvented. |
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The ascent is longer
than it looks... |
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Last steps to the
top. |
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Fab cheers but only
after putting on two extra layers! |
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Southern view along
Kent Ridge. |
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Hasty retreat. |
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The sun filters
through the storm clouds. |
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Kent Ridge from the
saddle. |
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The outlier is a
quick jaunt away. |
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The wind is fierce at the top of the
outlier. |
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Wind action. |
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Lotsa wind action!!! |
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