Crystal Ridge II

April 24, 2011

Mountain height:    2590 m
Elevation gain:       640 m
Round-trip time:     4:25

Solo snowshoe.

After a billion year absence from the summit of a mountain, this trip felt particularly good, though some brotherly (or other) company would have been nice.

I didn’t have an objective as I drove to the mountains, but decided another ascent of Paget Peak might be rewarding. That plan was aborted, the trailhead being inaccessible because of excessive snow. Plan B, to snowshoe up Noseeum Creek, also met with a quick demise for the same reason. A repeat ascent of Crystal Ridge seemed like a good and it was.

This time I followed Bob Spirko’s route, which minimizes exposure to avalanche terrain. The route was terrific and the scenery and views above treeline expectedly magnificent. Arriving at the ridge, a significant cornice, overhanging the east face, provided more visual gratification.

After a short, but immensely satisfying summit stay, I decided to abandon a plan to follow the ridge to the northwest and go in the opposite direction. I had previously traversed this section of the ridge, southeast to a slightly lower highpoint to the southeast, but remembered it to be fairly interesting and worthy of another look.

With the addition of snow the descent to a col between the two summits was incredible – definitely the highlight of the day. More fantastic cornices, other cool snow scenery, and amazing views in all directions characterized the short section.

I decided to forgo the ascent to the lower summit and instead simply followed a previous party’s tracks down.

A thoroughly enjoyable trip.

Crowfoot Mountain from near the parking lot