Ref: Dave's
Place
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Haffner Canyon in
2000 before the forest fire. |
| Scramble: RT
13.0 (car to bivy); 3.5 up from
bivy. This is a good scramble up an impressive peak. Unfortunately, the
approach is long and arduous and scramblers are most likely carrying a
heavy pack with overnight gear. Haffner Creek has changed since we
hiked through in 2000 to scramble up Mount Ball. The forest obstructed
the view but we can't recall as much deadfall. The forest fire that
engulfed the whole length of the drainage stripped the trees and shrubs
leaving a groundcover of fireweed. Although the hike in is more scenic,
we were mostly looking down to avoid hidden fallen trees. It took us 4
hours to reach the headwall and another hour to reach our bivy site.
After dropping all the extra gear and taking a good break, we started
the traverse towards Stanley. At the end of the ramp that
circumvents Beatrice's south-west ridge, we continued along a ledge and
down a weakness into the Stanley/Beatrice cirque. Upon looking back, we
noticed an easier way back up to the ramp; this line is not obvious
from above. We carried on with the ascent going wide climber's left to
avoid rockbands. Once on the ridge, we climbed blocky terrain to the
summit block. We thought we would ascend up the snow but the rock felt
safer. The scrambling is not difficult and there is room for variation.
Above the face, the final stretch of snow leads to the summit. Tucked
behind the cairn, it
wasn't that windy. We stayed to enjoy the
fantastic view, happy we didn't have to rush down to head out. After
well over an hour, we gradually retraced our steps back down the
mountain. We ascended back up to the ramp using the easier line we
spotted earlier. |
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The same location
since the devastation in 2003. |
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Lots of fireweed and
deadfall along the way. |
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Nearing the
headwall, we climb above cliffs and continue towards the talus slope. |
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Nice fossil of a
Trilobite. |
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Higher up, we have a
good view over Haffner Creek. |
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A look towards
Stanley Peak and its access ramp. |
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We find a flat spot
with a water source for our bivy site. |
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Travelling along the
ramp below a rockwall. |
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Traversing into
Stanley/Beatrice cirque. |
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We went wide
climber's left to avoid rockbands. |
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Looking back at the
ramp and the approach terraces. |
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The summit block
from the south-south-west ridge. |
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We aimed for the
diagonal snow patch in the center. |
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At the snow patch,
we start up the face (left). |
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Further up, we trade
snow for rock and ascend above Fab's head. |
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Blocky terrain on
the upper mountain. |
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Almost at the crest
of the face. |
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At the edge of a
vast snowy slope, we finally see the cairn! |
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Mount Ball from the
summit. |
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Awesome sights from
this lofty peak, well worth the effort. |
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The "Ten Peaks" Range
beyond Mount Whymper. |
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Getting ready to
leave. |
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Mount Drysdale and
Limestone Peak form the stunning northern section of The Rockwall. |
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Quickly back on rock. |
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Glancing down from
the top of the face, heading towards the dark bluff below. |
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Near the dark bluff
is the easiest way down. |
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Going down the gully
and scooting over the ridge on the right. |
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Stopping to
replenish our water bottles. |
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The lower slopes of
Stanley Peak. |
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Once on the ramp, we
are minutes away from our bivy. |
| Back
to home page |
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