Mount Nelson
Mountain
height: 3315 m
Elevation gain:
1990 m
Ascent time:
6:45
Descent
time:
3:15
Scrambling
with Raff.
Like
Mount Fisher, four days earlier, I really didn’t know what to expect
from Mount
Nelson. With a height approaching 3353 m (11,000 feet), the summit view
was bound
to be pretty decent and with an elevation gain of almost 2000 m the
actual
ascent was bound to be pretty tiring! 
Those were given, everything else
was
TBA. Sonny, Kerry and Blanka had completed ascents of Nelson, but I
couldn’t
remember the details of their reports.
We
found out right away the other commonality Nelson shares with Fisher is
a good
trail right at the beginning that just goes straight up. This one was
even
better than the Fisher trail and within one and a quarter hours we had
already
gained 700 of the required 1990 metres of vertical elevation. 
The trail
then
dropped down a little into the valley between Nelson and Sultana Peak,
due west
of Nelson. This is where the trip, fairly dull up to that point, took
on a new
and wonderful life.
The
valley was very cool right from the start and only got better and
better in
terms of scenic opportunities as we made our way up. First came the
striking
and multi-coloured form of a southern outlier of Sultana. A lush, green
foreground and deep blue sky turned this into a totally killer view. A
little
further up the valley the foreground became red flowers and a small
stream.
This view was beyond killer! I must have taken as many photos of this
outlier
as of Nelson itself.
Next
up was the rocks. The variety of rock types and colours in the valley
was
absolutely staggering. Shales, dolomites, quartzites, volcanic
intrusions – you
name it this valley had it! Near the stream I encountered a magnificent
shale
(or maybe it was argillite) that was so vibrantly multi-coloured, it
defied
belief (although perhaps only in my small mind!). The rock continued to
be a
source of amazement throughout the trip.
Further
up the valley, enter snow and a variety and huge boulders, haphazardly
strewn
across the valley floor. For many of them you could see exactly where they
peeled of
the mountain high above. Nearing the end of the valley and the start of
the
Nelson ascent, the highly pinnacled and serrated-looking connecting
ridge
between Nelson and Sultana took centre stage, again with less than
subtle hues
aplenty to ogle at.
I,
for one (and I suspect Raff too), was completely mesmerized by this
remarkable
valley. I’m sure a geologist would have had a total meltdown!
The
actual ascent of Nelson, though mostly a scree slog, was enjoyable on
many
other levels. Foremost, the scenery and views were phenomenal
throughout. The
glacier on the east face of Sultana soon popped into view and would
become a
more than welcome sight when we stopped to catch our breath – which was
quite
often – for me anyway! 
Nelson is the gateway to “Glacier Heaven” –
everything
to the west of the mountain appears to be more or less glaciated, while
Nelson
itself and everything to the east is dry.
The
route was steeper than it appeared, especially near the bottom,
requiring some
route-finding skills. Of course, encountering a string
of cairns
wrapped in a light green flagging higher up ended that need.
Arriving
at the summit block, we were both surprised to find the route to the
top
lacking in both exposure and difficult scrambling. A few moderate
scrambling
moves on ledgey rock and then some easy slogging did the trick. And
then
paradise! A thoroughly engaging summit view kept our butts planted and
cameras
clicking for more than an hour. Even the clouds to the west weren’t
enough to
damper in any way our enjoyment of the marvelous vistas. Several of
the
Purcell’s 11,000ers, Delphine, Farnham, Jumbo, Commander and Karnak
stood close
by, while other notable peaks in the Bugaboos were some distance away.
Like
Fisher, my inability to identify most of the surrounding peaks was
actually a
good thing. It was great to see new mountains in such an awe-inspiring
setting.
Reluctantly,
after a wonderful stay at the top (the summit view may have actually
been more
enjoyable than consuming my ritual Tangerine Fanta!), we started down.
The
descent was very easy, taking less than half the time of the ascent and
barreling down the steep trail, a pretty decent way to end an
incredible day in
the Purcell Mountains.
Moss on trees
The first view of Nelson, just left of centre
The first view of the very impressive southern outlier of Sultana Peak
Flowers
The outlier and flowers
The "macro" version of the above
The outlier from a slightly different angle
Vegetated terrain gives way to colourful, rocky terrain
.... and of course a pleasant stream to complete the scenery
It's a fair distance to the end of the valley, where the ascent begins, but the scenery en route is OUTSTANDING!
A variety of rock types start to appear
Brilliant colours and shapes in the rock
Same as above
Same as above
This rock was totally mesmerizing!
More colours, different rock
A little bland compared with the previous photos, but still elevated my heart-rate!
blah, blah, blah
Same as above, with Raff just visible at the left
Same as above
Raff makes it onto the snow
.....and then more cool rocks
The south wing of Sultana garnered as much attention as Nelson itself
Raff is way ahead now, because I couldn't stop taking photos
He very patiently waited for me here!
Starting up the actual mountain; of course, a big, multi-coloured rock stopped my progress again!
The rockwall at the side of the ascent gully
Same as above
Raff leads the way
More varieties of rock higher up
The glacier on the east face of Sultana makes an appearance
Raff atop the scrambling section of the summit block
The view to the west
Same as above
A little further north; the big peak in the distant centre is Mount Farnham
The view to the southwest
The famous aluminum cross at the summit
The view to the northeast
Same as above
Raff and the west view
Unusual clouds, as we head down
LOG
