Pincher Ridge Centre V
October 1, 2022
Mountain height: 2290 m
Elevation gain: 800 m
Round-trip time: 5:45
Solo scramble.
A fifth ascent
of the centre peak of Pincher Ridge was not on the day’s agenda. I was all set
to try another experimental route on Avion Ridge. However, a couple of unforced
errors on my part would dictate a change in plans. 
First, I left my ebike
battery charger in Calgary. This was not a huge deal as the bike had some
charge left in it and of course all ebikes are totally useable without electricity
– they are just much harder to pedal! I then arrived at the Red Rock Canyon
Parking lot to discover I had left the keys to unlock my bike back at the
cabin. I could have driven back to retrieve them, but I interpreted my second careless
act as the universe telling me not to try Avion. Better to try something tried
and tested and the Centre Peak of Pincher Ridge came to mind immediately. This
trip can be especially rewarding in larch season and October 1 of any year fits the
bill!
After biking the
approach, I started up the drainage that has become my favourite route for this
mountain. 
The route avoids any bushwhacking, grants relatively easy access to
the summit ridge, and is replete with amazing rock scenery. Unfortunately, the
waterfall that provided a “Wow!” experience in 2018 was noticeably missing,
however, the fall colours were in full force, and more than adequately
compensated.
Nearing the
ridge, I decided to traverse below it (like the October 2018 ascent), but this
time stayed low until I reached the steep loose gully I had descended on August
5, 2018. Going up this gully was pleasantly nostalgic and of course much easier than
going down it.
Upon reaching
the ridge, a stiff traverse across lichen-covered boulders was required to get
to the col between the true summit and the Centre Peak, where all the larches
sat. While the larches were in better form than on the October 20 trip, the sky
was not a clear, deep blue I was hoping for. Still, the scenery and views were
fantastic, prompting a barrage of photos from the summit of the Centre Peak.
For descent, I
lost enough elevation to get beyond the significant rock bands lining the south
side of the massif and then traversed below then, back to the ascent route.
This route, yet again, offers stunning rock scenery, and avoids some potentially
fierce bushwhacking below.
Not the day I
was expecting when I departed in the morning, but an outstanding day,
nevertheless. You simply can’t go wrong with the Centre Peak of Pincher Ridge
during larch season.
Pincher Ridge and it's eastern outliers (Cinch Hill and Bridle Peak)
The mandatory stop at Butcher Lake
With the mandatory lake reflections of Victoria Peak, Prairie Storm, and Prairie Sky
The pointy true summit of Pincher Ridge
Where the ascent starts
Close-up of the colourful southeast side of the summit
Beautiful autumn colours are going dominate the ascent
And, of course, beautiful, colourful rock
And dead trees
And combinations
And all of the above
The southwest summit of Drywood Mountain
The waterfall: dried up on this day (left), but not so on October 20, 2018 (right)
Approaching the main rock face
The terrain is quite steep here
At the base and going around this gem of a rock band
All colours accounted for!
Around the corner and ready to traverse below the south ridge
If you gain the ridge right away you miss this
...and this
Love the argillite stripes
Nearing the gully that grants access to the south ridge
There it is
Going up
Lots of cool rock in the gully, but lots of loose stuff too
Back to the stripes
On the ridge - not half as visually interesting as being below it
Looking over to Pincher Centre (just right of centre). From this point
I traversed across a large boulder field to get close to the
Pincher/Centre col.
On the west ridge of Pincher
Looking back to the true summit
Castle Peak and Windsor Mountain always get more than a sideways glance from this ridge
Pretty terrific view looking west, soon to be one-upped by the view to the east
Larch time
View to the east is slowing starting to improve
There were quite a few striking, lone larches along the ridge
The northern outlier of Pincher that I reached three times so far (I, II, III ). A fourth is unlikely, but never say never!
Another lone larch and the amazing ridgewalk from Victoria Peak and Victoria Ridge in front of Castle and Windsor
The view I came to see - almost!
Hiking through a luxurious path of larches
I always get fixated on the stunning red of the northern outlier
The view I came to see - for real this time!
Pincher Ridge to the east
Victoria Peak again
An old, distant friend - Jake Smith Peak - in the distant centre
Big blocks near the summit
I only went over to the big blocks so I could return to the summit and be blown away by this view again - Feels Like the First Time!
Back through the larches
Lots of side-sloping in my very near future
...but side-sloping across this colourful terrain is not the worst thing in the world - could be Mount Farqhar!!!
The scenic rock band that lines the south face
Looking back. The Southwest summit of Pincher Ridge is behind the tree, first reached by me 11 years earlier, to the date .
Hoping for an appearance by the Sun
There it is!
Almost back to the ascent route. The dried up waterfall is in the centre.
Enjoying the last of the autumn colours
Nostalgic look up the ascent route and south face of Pincher Ridge
The End
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