Mount Ernest Ross – May 16, 2009

Mountain height:         2454 m
Elevation gain:            1050 m
Ascent time:                3:35
Descent time:              2:00                

Scrambling with Raff and JP.

Mount Ernest Ross had been sitting on the back-burner, waiting for a day pretty much like this one – less than perfect weather, and tons of snow on the main ranges, but little to none further east. Also, given that neither Raff, nor JP, nor I had completed a trip near Lake Abraham, it seemed like a good objective. That assumption turned out to be correct.

The ascent route was very straightforward and almost completely snow-free. On the way up we enjoyed JP’s account of his recent ascent of Mount Columbia – a mountain that is only about 70 kilometres to the west of Ernest Ross, but a whopping 1300 vertical metres higher!

Views were pleasant throughout and only a short section near the first summit provided any scrambling. The traverse to the second peak looked a little more challenging and it was. There was plenty of snow on the route and so I put on crampons. JP led the descent to the col between the two peaks and the ascent of the second peak. The snow made for a couple of tricky moves, but nothing too nail-biting. After a short summit stay we returned the same way.   

The double-peaked objective from the first highpoint

Siffluer Mountain and Mount Peskett

Raff eyes the upper section of the mountain

JP and Raff

Whirlpool Ridge (?)

Interesting exposed rock; JP is just visible at the upper right

JP leads us up more interesting rock near the summit

JP approaches the summit cairn

Looking to the second summit (left)

Elliot Peak

JP at the first summit

One of innumerable unnamed peaks in the area

JP and Raff descend to the col

Same as above

The col is all snow

Heading for the second summit

JP at the second summit

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