Anderson’s Southeast Shoulder



    
  
June 21, 2024
 
Highpoint:           2220 m
Elevation gain:    745 m
Round-trip time:  3:50
 
Solo scramble.
 
With all forecasts pointing towards cloudy skies and possible thunderstorms around noon, a quick trip was on the morning menu. Arriving at the Red Rock Canyon parking lot, with the intention of completing another trip up Dundy Junior, I changed my mind upon seeing a minor bump on Anderson Peak’s southeast side. The alluring swath of red argillite across its face was all the motivation I needed!
 
After hiking about a kilometre past Blakiston Falls, I left the trail, heading up to the lowest section of red rock. The goal was to gain the base of the rock and then traverse under the band heading northeast, eventually gaining the ridge above. However, once at the base it became clear that going southwest would lead me into a drainage that of course was also comprised of red argillite. Ascending a red argillite drainage won out the “appeal” battle and that’s the way I went.
 
The drainage did not disappoint, featuring a wide variety of rock and improving views as I gained elevation. Eventually the ascent came to its logical end. The southeast side of Anderson is not scrambling terrain. Perhaps a good thing, as clearly (and right on schedule) the weather was changing for the worse. Instead of retracing my ascent route, I followed the ridge easily down to the Blakiston Falls Trail, thankfully avoiding the incoming rain.
 
A good morning out and a trip I can safely add to the “If you have a few hours to kill” list.

Looking up the drainage I ascended 6 days earlier



Anderson's southeast peak and the Southeast Shoulder in front



Same as above from near Blakiston Falls



I managed to skip a visit to Blakiston Falls but had to see this little guy up-close



Up-close



Zoomed-in shot of the southeast peak and the red argillite rock band I will aim for



Heading up to the band



There it is



A taste of things to come



The drainage to the left



The rock band in front



Traversing left, towards the drainage



Almost there



In it



Of course the drainage is littered with interesting rock



Looking over to a drainage I ascended in wintry conditions in May of 2022



The highlight section of the drainage























I thought this was the end of the red argillite



But no!



















Distant Mount Galwey and Galwey North



The drainage was completely dry except for this one and a few other sections



Definitely the end of the red rock



But there is some nice dolostone to replace it



And others




Aiming for the base of that rock



But that was a zoomed-in shot - it's still quite far



Looking over to some of the route Jodi and I tried in 2005



Clouds building over part of the Hawkins Horseshoe



Zoomed-in shot of the steep southeast side of Anderson



Zoomed-out



Add Rogan, Dungarvan, and Dundy to the view to the east



The terrain that stopped progress on our first attempt



Looking down a similar route we took to bail on that first attempt



Some easy scrambling ahead







Passing a cool lichen-covered pinnacle



More scrambling



Approaching the end of the line



Glendowan and Cloudy Ridge



The end of the line



Mount Blakiston



Not scrambling terrain



A little exploring before the descent



All the peaks to the northeast



Threatening clouds are building to the north also



The impressive northeast side of Anderson



Typical terrain on descent



The race to beat the incoming storm is on



Heading down the easy east ridge











Looking down the route, all the way to the parking lot



Gotta' stop to photograph the flowers



Looking back at the Shoulder



Crossing Bauerman Creek under gloomy skies. The Shoulder in front.

The End

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