Our route (photo taken from the NE Ridge of Goat Mountain)
East
Peak of Wendell
Mountain Dinah and I had some unfinished business on the East Peak of Wendell Mountain. After a thorough route-finding search amid fascinating scenery on our February attempt, we wanted to return to bag this peak. As before, we took the trail up to the east ridge of Mount Yamuska and the horse trail down to the CMC Valley logging road. We hiked up the road for about 500 m where the slope on the right opens up and we headed to the pinnacles. We made poor time however. Dinah was slow and she required frequent rests. She was recovering from the flu and was still weak and nauseous. She wasn't sure how far she would be able to go. But it was a beautiful day and we were in no hurry to get back. After resting at the pinnacles we continued on to the lower slopes of the east peak. Eventually we made it to our turn-around point on our attempt. The way up from here seemed uncertain, but we soon caught a trail in the scree that headed towards a daunting rock wall. Dinah was now on an "adrenaline rush." Her symptoms anesthetized in the bid to reach the summit. Her problems would return on the descent, but for now she was eager to push on. Before we reached the rock wall we found a break that led to the ridge. From there it was a gentle grade to the summit. Despite the altitude and a breeze, we were comfortable lounging on the summit without jackets. We spent half an hour studying our surroundings. Wendell Mountain looked rugged while Association appeared benign save for an extended approach. We were glad to summit of course, but it seemed anticlimactic. The real excitement was on our attempt when we explored the canyons and searched for a way up. I returned in December and discovered that the East Peak can also be reached by ascending the east slopes via a route that offers interesting scrambling. |
Our route (photo taken from the NE Ridge of Goat Mountain)
Harbingers of spring in the mountains. Mouse over to see another flower.
We head to an animal trail on the scree slope below the pinnacles.
The pinnacles never fail to impress. We still haven't regained the elevation
lost from
coming down the east ridge of Yam.
View ahead from the pinnacles.
Hiking around to the SW slopes below the summit.
Ascending the lower slopes.
Much of the terrain is scree mixed with slabs, with emphasis on the scree!
Looking for a way up through these rocks. We could have walked around
them but
we
wanted to scramble up.
We find a break and take it.
Before reaching the rock wall, we would find a weakness on our right that took
us to
the ridge.
Looking back at Goat Mountain.
\
On the ridge where it meets the rock wall. From here it's a walk to the top.
Looking back at Mount Yamnuska.
The summit is on the left.
View of the east ridge of Yam where we were a few hours ealier.
Epic Tower (mouse
over for a close-up) and Mount Townsend to the northwest
On the summit. Association Peak in the distance.
360° view from the top
82 O/3 Canmore