Since my 2001 Pilot Mountain attempt, I wanted to return and use our descent route on the approach. Taking the second drainage, instead of Kane's suggested route, would be more direct and would avoid the slog across the scree slope.

Cycling up the trail I passed the first drainage and continued until I reached the second one. The second drainage can be seen from the trail although its partially obscured by trees. There was no obvious trail so I continued up the trail 100 metres where I noticed a cairn. There appeared to be a trail so after stashing my bike I started up it. I was 1.1 km past the first drainage and 4.9 km from the trailhead.

The trail disappeared after 100 metres so I angled left until I reached the edge of the drainage. Here I found an animal trail which apparently starts at this point and follows the right side of the drainage.

As I hiked up the trail, the edge of the drainage became more pronounced, dropping well down a steep slope on my left. Occasionally I lost the trail but I always quickly found it by seeking the edge of the drainage.

Despite its lapses, this is a great trail. It rises steeply but always follows the drainage. After crossing a rockslide, however, the trail became sketchy so I pieced one together using flagging.

Soon I crossed a steep, narrow rock gully and continued a short way before breaking out of the trees. Ahead was an enormous rock wall that spanned the drainage except for a treed break that I could bushwhack through.

Beyond that, I had to bushwhack a short way to reach rock ledges cut by running water. I climbed to a low ledge, crossed the stream, and scrambled up the left side. Climbing up the left side proved to be more difficult and exposed than I expected. Only when I was partway up where I could easily study the ledges on the other side, did I realize I should have climbed higher on the ledges. (On my return, though, I found descending the ledges more difficult than I expected.)

After scrambling up above the ledges, the view opened up. Above was the the rock band that Kane suggests scrambling up. After reaching the end of the rock band, I circumvented a pinnacle on the right side and soon gained the broad slope that leads to the rock flake with the chimney.

After that, trails and numerous cairns led me to the summit. Indeed, the sense of solitude was lost to me with so much human impact below the summit.

All that hard work did not pay off in summit views. A thick haze from a forest fire obscured all but the closest mountain, Copper Mountain.

I returned the same way except that I crossed the stream near the top of the ledges and then climbed down the ledges. The flagging I had set up led me to the animal trail and I was soon back at my bike.

I was looking forward to a fast ride down but twice I had to stop for grouse on the trail. The first time, I encountered three chicks on the path while the mother remained hidden on the side. A few minutes later, I encountered five immature grouse near the trail. Watching these birds was a delightful way to finish my trip.

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