The trail ends above the treeline. We'll gain the ridge using the slope in the centre.
North End of Protection Mountain Dinah and I had the vague objective of either attempting Pulsatilla Mountain or scoping a route up it from Protection Mountain. Our plans were unfocused as I was uncertain if Pulsatilla was feasible as a day trip from Protection, at least for us: dropping down to the basin between Protection and Pulsatilla would incur hundreds of metres of elevation loss. As we hiked up Protection Mountain using the old mining trail, Dinah seemed low on energy and stopped frequently to catch her breath. By the time we crested Protection, we had lost a lot of time and I had misgivings about doing Pulsatilla. However, she felt better by then and in fact wanted to try it. We started down the other side of the ridge hoping to reach the basin directly, but we turned back because of steep, snow-covered slopes. To reach the basin we would have to follow the ridge south for another kilometre or so and then drop down, but I thought we had lost too much time. But we had a backup: we would traverse Protection Mountain while studying Pulsatilla. Although we've been on Protection a couple of times, we hadn't been to the highest point on the north end (the true summit lies south: Television Peak). The traverse to the North End was an enjoyable ridgewalk with magnificent alpine scenery; the immense basin below was especially captivating. Ahead, the ridge undulated before reaching the northern high point. We easily scrambled up to the summit. Fortunately, ascending the North End of Protection Mountain was a worthy alternative. And of course we can always return to climb Pulsatilla another time. And we'll be better prepared for it. |
The trail ends above the treeline. We'll gain the ridge using the slope in the centre.
Nearing the ridge crest
On the ridge, North End is centre.
Pulsatilla Mountain (mouse over for a close-up)
Dinah watches hikers on Television Peak (mouse over).
The ridge is mostly scree, but there are a few rocky sections.
At a couple of places, like here, we had to leave the ridge and drop down on the left side.
Still plenty of snow on some of the slopes.
Considerable drop on the left as we approach the North End.
Looking back: we lost nearly 100 m of elevation here.
Approaching the base of the North Summit
Another view of Pulsatilla Mountain
Easy scrambling
Almost on the summit
The summit
Summit cairn
The wing-shaped peak in the foreground is Bulwark Peak. Skoki Valley lies behind it.
The basin. Mouse over for a close-up of Muella Lake
Panorama from the North End
82 N/8 Lake Louise
