| Via the Dogtooth-Moonraker Col, see directions for Dogtooth Peak. |
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Heading up Moonraker
Peak. |
| Scramble:
RT 18.25 (includes Dogtooth Peak); 0.5 up. Rejoined with Fabrice and
Sonny at the col after visiting Dogtooth Peak, we headed up short
but steep Moonraker Peak. Fabrice and Sonny had discussed a
possible route, I followed their lead. As we drew closer, the grade
seemed to lessen. We traversed below the summit block at the top of the
snowpatch and climbed steep rubble to the summit. On this small climb,
Fab managed to cut his hand and Sonny suffered a nosebleed. At the
top, I think we were all too tired to feel elated. I took a couple of
summit pictures and that's about it. Inspired by Sonny, I wrote a
limerick in the register while trying to eat my unpalatable sandwich;
it's fair to say we were knackered. We stayed for a somewhat pressed
break and left after 5:30. Back at the col, we strapped
on the
crampons again, even if we were on rock at first. The descent in the
shade was nice. We
continued to the outflow we'd crossed earlier; we filled our bottles
once more and had another well-deserved break. The sun was setting as
we
progressed back up Dawn Mountain, I was doubtful we would make it
around the
lake before dark. We negotiated the awkward traverse below the cornice
and carried on to the Gorman-Holt Col where we got out the
headlamps. The descent on snow was easy but finding the trail in the
boulders and rocks below proved slightly
challenging; we had a general idea of its location and eventually, we
stumbled
on it. Once on the trail, we hiked in cruise control mode making it
back to the truck in time to scare away a critter. As Fab reached for
the keys, he noticed pieces of wiring and
plastic on the ground; it was a quill pig feasting on our truck. Fab
did a quick check looking for leaks before driving off. It turns out
the porcupine had chewed transmission,
brake and 4X4 vacuum lines... We'll be jotting this under price of
admission as well! |
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Traversing below the
summit block.
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Last stretch. |
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View south. |
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Squeezing a smile
for a summit picture. |
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Backtracking. |
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A good view onto
Dogtooth Peak's easy connecting ridge. |
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With crampons back
on, we head down the bowl. |
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Last glimpse at
Moonraker Peak. |
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Crampons are
actually not too bad in the loose rubble. |
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Back on firm snow. |
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Dealing with
crampons balling up. |
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A short glissade. |
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Crossing the outflow
after filling our bottles again. |
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Dawn Mountain is
still in the sun. |
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Back to the valley
bottom. |
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Looking back as we
ascend Dawn Mountain for the second time today. |
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The west ridge is mercifully gentle. |
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The sun sets as we
near the highpoint. |
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Along the north
ridge, heading to the Gorman-Holt Col. |
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Down into Holt's
upper draw. |
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The col, our last
uphill. |
| Back to home page |
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