Mount Cornwall

Mount Cornwall attempt

July 5, 2011

Solo scramble.

Given the complete absence of any reference material on Mount Cornwall’s east ridge, I probably should have surmised the route wouldn’t go.

The plan was to follow Gillean Daffern’s normal route, until I could find a way up to the far east end of the east ridge. A seemingly straightforward 5 km ridgewalk to the summit would ensue, whereupon I would smugly pat myself on the back!

About 1.5 hours into the trip I did see a potential route to the east end and embarked on a frustrating and tedious slog up treed slopes to a very impressive cliffband guarding the north side of the ridge. Here the scenery and views were excellent, thanks to the clear blue sky, some greenery and the beautiful, light grey limestone of the cliffband. After the usual barrage of photos I went around the south end of the band in search of a weakness up it. There was one and soon I was atop the first obstacle.

A second cliffband was more easily circumvented and then followed another gut-wrenching slog, this time up rubble and scree. I arrived to the top of the east end to the realization of several grim facts:
    1.   I was completely exhausted, having ferociously battled the steep, treed slopes for almost 2 hours;
    2.   I still had over 600 m of elevation to gain;
    3.   Making the summit would guarantee that I would miss a classic re-run episode of Seinfeld.
Nevertheless, I wasn’t about to accept that my “ferocious battle” was for naught, and the Seinfeld episode was bound to be re-aired at least 30 more times in my lifetime (unless of course I fell off Mount Cornwall and died!)

I continued on, half-hoping the ridge would suddenly drop off - and it did! A couple of kilometres along my progress ended when the ridge also ended. A very long rappel rope would have been required to descend the vertical step. Even if I had one, there were a couple of the sections further along with the same potential. Somewhat disappointed and somewhat relieved I turned around and followed my uptrack back to South Glasgow Creek and out.

And there it is! Let it be written, “East ridge of Mount Cornwall – no go!”