Mount Haig, Gravenstafel Ridge – September 2, 2006          

Mountain height:           2618 m (Haig); 2394 m (Gravenstafel)
Total elevation gain:     approx. 1400 m
Roundtrip time:             9:30

Scrambling with Mark.

This trip didn’t exactly go as planned, but when all was said and done, it turned out to be a terrific ascent and great loop route. The goal was to ascend Mount Haig's east ridge and then traverse over to Gravenstafel Ridge and down to the parking lot, via the ski runs that make up Castle Mountain Ski Resort. Unfortunately, the bushwhacking to get to the east ridge was pretty nasty and so we ended taking the shortest possible route to “a” ridge, which actually put us closer to the northeast ridge. That ridge looked to provide a decent viewpoint, so we headed up to check it out, with the intention of traversing back over to the east ridge. The view was incredible, especially the northeast face of Mount Haig and its northeast ridge.

Of course, we then wanted to ascend the northeast east, since it was closer and looked a little more interesting. This started off as a good route, but eventually we ran into a rockband that we couldn’t ascend. This forced us to traverse alongside the band over to the east ridge. Once there, an enjoyable scramble took us easily to the summit and another fantastic view. 

The rest of the trip did go as planned. We descended to the Haig/Gravenstafel col and then 300 vertical metres to the summit of Gravenstafel Ridge. The descent, down a variety of ski runs and maintenance roads was quick and easy and had some of the best scree-surfing around. Almost down, we had a choice to take a “blue” run down or a “black”. We choose the “blue”, more in keeping with our skiing level. A short distance down, a black bear and her cub suddenly came running out of the bushes, thankfully away from us. We very quickly turned and headed for the “black” run. The sow kept turning around to see where we were and was on her hind legs when we disappeared out of her field of vision. A hasty descent down the “black” run completed a very interesting and thrilling day out.     

Leaving the trail and starting up towards the east ridge; Haig is the pyramidal shaped peak to the right

Heading up the northeast ridge; Haig behind

Autumn colours

A dead tree

More autumn colours and dead trees

Same as above

More dead trees and the northeast face of Mount Haig

Preparing to try the northeast ridge of Mount Haig

The first rockband of the northeast ridge

The second band and the one that prevented further travel up the northeast ridge

Typical scrambling on the east ridge

Mark tackles a short rockband

Approaching the summit

Same as above

At the summit

Mark at the top

Starting down the north ridge

Same as above

The spectacular northeast face of Haig

Near the Haig/Gravenstafel col, with Gravenstafel Ridge behind

Interesting terrain of Gravenstafel Ridge

At the summit, with the three summits of Syncline Mountain behind

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