| Ref: Sonny Bou's website |
|
 |
|
|
Parked next to the north-west ascent ridge.
|
| Scramble: RT
6.0; 3.0 up. This small outlier is a
good outing for this time of the year. It is a short trip granting
shelter from the wind for most of the way. Our intent was to ascend the
north-west ridge that comes right down to the highway; we parked north
of the bluff that runs along the road. We chose to follow a beaten path
along an old road, thinking it might lead to the ascent ridge further.
It soon veered in the light timber heading
towards the ridge but instead of climbing, the trail
parallels the ridge
heading in the draw; we got suspicious this
wasn't going where we wanted to go... but as it started to ascend
towards the
ridge again, we followed. After a steep climb, a nice wall of ice
revealed
itself; this is a trail for ice climbers. We continued and
tried to reach the crest of the ridge. We skirted the rockband
climber's right and
picked our way up some steep treed terrain through deep snow. This
grueling effort quickly leads to the ridge, little over half way.
Travelling was better, from knee-deep drifts to bare rock. Without
snowshoes, we made our way to the summit mound. The last 200 meters of
elevation were wind scoured, it looked more challenging. With
enthusiasm,
we
proceeded on grippy textured rock. We enjoyed some sections of easy
scrambling
despite the wind. At the top, we carefully put on extra layers, trying
to avoid losing items to the strong wind gusts. After
a quick rest and taking pictures, we started descending. Beyond
the summit mound, our return was sheltered. We followed our
bushwhack back down to the wall of ice, now occupied by some climbers. |
|
 |
| We followed a beaten path starting on an old road. |
|  |
|
| We skirted the rockband past the wall of ice. |
|
|
 |
|
| Shortly after, the rockband dwindles to steep treed terrain. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Midway on the ascent ridge, snow depth is variable. |
|
|
 |
|
|
The summit mound. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Ahead, we went climber's left to gain the crest of the ridge. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Looking back along the north-west ridge. |
|
|
 |
|
|
It's much windier on the summit mound. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Almost there. |
|
|  |
|
| Sticking to the windward side where the rock is bare. |
|
|  |
|
| Stumbling sideways up the last bit. |
|
|  |
|
| The summit cairn is visible, The Wedge in the background. |
|
|  |
|
| Mount Kidd, one of my favorites. |
|
|  |
|
| Prepared for the mild blustery wind at the top. |
|
|  |
|
| Heading down. |
|
|  |
|
| Below the summit mound, the wind is greatly reduced. |
|
|  |
|
| Backtracking down our bushwhack, much easier. |
|
|  |
|
| The wall of ice. |
| Back to home page |
|
|