Rowe East Minor

    


    


    
 
 
February 1, 2024
 
Mountain height: 2195 m
Elevation gain:    545 m
Ascent time:        3:40
Descent time:      1:20
 
Solo scramble.
 
I’m really Clutching at Straws by giving this peak (which really isn’t a peak) a name, but that has never stopped me in the past, so why should it now?!
 
With a late start time near noon, I decided that another run up Rowe East was a great way to kill a few hours. An ascent, a month earlier, had surpassed expectations by 1.6 kilometres (a mile), it’s a short trip, and snow conditions (that is, a lack of it) were favourable for minimal to no avalanche activity.

 
Following the route I used on December 30 did not last long. About 5 minutes in, I decided to try an ascending route on the southeast side of the peak. The line would traverse alongside several significant rock bands, but I thought there might be a weakness to get up to the ridge at the end of the bands.
 
And there was, but again, not really! I more or less traversed up and alongside the rock band until it disappeared at the far east end of Rowe East. Getting there required strenuous and at times challenging travel. When snow was encountered it was either deep and unsupportive or rock hard. Eventually the crampons and an ice axe came out.
 
 
I topped out on the ridge a few hundred meters east of the summit of Rowe East. Unfortunately, following the ridge west to the top looked near impossible in its present condition. I settled for a short break and then returned to the parking lot via a more direct route.
 
Not exactly what I planned, but a good day of exploration on a minor peak worthy of exploration.


Mount Rowe just left of centre. The route to Rowe East follows the ridge going right. I ended up going right, but below the rock at the right.



Yet again taking advantage of the easy travel through treed areas affected by the 2017 Kenow fire - it won't last!



The rock band I'm going to traverse under



It took considerable effort to make it to the base because of the unsupportive, deep snow



Along the way they appeared to be several scramble routes get above the first rock band, however there are a string of rock bands higher up and I didn't want it risk getting cliffed out or reaching an impasse



Looking down to the road and a huge avalanche event at the left



Some of the debris



Less snowy terrain past the avalanche slope



The red argillite, the peaks across the valley, and the high cloud layer provided cool views for much of the remainder of the ascent











The ridge appears to be guarded by big rock bands throughout



From left to right: Buchanan Northeast, "The Senator" (Buchanan, The Middle Child), Buchanan Ridge, and Mount Carthew



A bit of everything



Improving view of Cameron Lake and the surrounding peaks



Another round of burnt trees



Impressive rock band



Same as above



One of my favourite scenes of the day. Usually I dislike any clouds in the sky, but this one was kinda' cool.



Same as above



One more



One more snow slope to cross before the final ascent to the ridge



The cool clouds again



This chunk of rock had my phone camera overheating!















This one didn't but I still love it!



Back to hot



Same as above



Ditto



Approaching the ridge



On the ridge, looking west towards the summit of Rowe East







Mount Lineham



The ridge to the west looks more daunting the further east you go



"The Peak of Despair" in the centre



View to the east from the highpoint (which is not really a highpoint - just an open spot on the ridge!)



View to the west



Zoomed-in photo of the section that may or may not be a scramble, but certainly isn't in its present condition



Close-up of Cameron Lake



The two summits of Ruby Ridge - both fantastic trips



Parts of Piinaquiium overshadowing the lowly form of Igneous Peak, just right of centre



East again



Mount Crandell's west ridge route




Close-ups of Buchanan Northeast...



..."The Senator"...



... and Buchanan Ridge and Mount Carthew



Northeast and The Senator. Unfortunately, there is no scramble route between them.



Looking down the first part of the descent route



Enjoying the last of the red argillite scenery



Descended this snow slope directly down to the road instead of retracing my steps



Enjoying last views of all the Buchanan's and a big tree



Oops! One more but no big tree



The lower section was quite glissadeable



And then it wasn't



Looking back at the route from the parking lot: a left to right traverse, below the major rock band that lines the southeast face

The End

LOG