Ramp Peak

Quartzite Peak  

The first open view of the trip features one of the unnamed outliers of unofficial OXO Peak. I call it "O Peak".



Close-up of O Peak - definitely one of the best winter-like ascents I've ever done



The familiar trio of Quartzite, Ramp, and Mosquito



Gaining elevation on the south ridge of Mosquito Mountain and looking back to the "interesting" clouds forming to the west



Same as above



The trio again



The clouds on O Peak



Mosquito - a great trip winter or summer



The clouds are looking less interesting over The Fang (left) and Molar Mountain (right)



But I'm still optimistic that they haven't inundated skies to the west (yet!)



Still gaining elevation on Mosquito's south ridge



Gained too much! Had to lose elevation here to the left.



Down into the correct valley for Ramp and Quartzite



Quartzite is a very colourful mountain



Ramp is not as colourful not still looks intriguing (until you start the ascent!)



Looking down the ascent valley



Looking up Ramp Peak



Same as above. The intrigue is gone!



The north side of Mosquito



View to the north, northeast, east, and southeast from near the summit



Summit is a few steps away



View to the southeast



View to the northeast. Devon Mountain at the right.



Two fantastic trips farther north: Watermelon Peak (centre) and Bobac Mountain (right)



Beautiful, unnamed tarn in the valley below



Close-up



Looking depressingly ominous to the southwest now. So much for my optimism!



The summit view is still pretty remarkable even with the clouds



Similar view as I descend Ramp's northwest ridge



There's the next objective - Quartzite Peak



Obviously, a direct scrambling route to Quartzite does not exist



OXO



OX


O



Still losing elevation on Ramp



The striking southeast side of Quartzite



Almost on the southeast ridge



Looking back at Ramp and Mosquito



The slog up the southeast side (left) is exactly that - a slog!! And where's all the quartzite???




View from the summit ridge



Precipitous views over the east side



There is a glacier still hanging onto life on the northeast side of Ramp



The hike to the summit was very enjoyable



And had several interesting features, like this gap



The Willingdons and the tarn can be seen through the gap



And not through the gap



Would have loved to see all this with clear skies



Summit view 1



Summit view 2



Summit view 3



The summit of Mount Hector is hidden in the clouds



An array of intriguing peaks to the northwest







And northeast




The Willingdons



Deluc Peak



Cataract Peak



Molar Mountain



Looking northwest along the ridge



Another pano



And one while descending



Decided to run up this little bump on descent



The light-coloured slopes of Quartzite, Ramp, and Mosquito



The bump has lots of interesting terrain (but all extremely loose)



Very loose!



Approaching the summit of the bump. Some exposed scrambling required to get up.



Good views en route



Looking back to to Quartzite from the summit



The valley to the northwest looks very interesting



So does southwest, for that matter



Bitter/sweet views again



More ominous clouds over ramp and Mosquito



The trio from one angle....



...and from a slightly different one, farther down the valley



Time to lose elevation down to the valley far below



Losing It - still one of my favourite songs of all-time, and increasingly poignant as one ages



Following a dried-up drainage down to the valley. O Peak is visible throughout.



Crossed this subsidiary creek of Mosquito Creek using the fallen tree. A good trail lies on the other side, that eventually joins up with the Mosquito Creek Trail.

The End

LOG