Bakery Peak IV
 


    
 
June 9, 2024
 
Mountain height: 2420 m
Elevation gain:    910 m
Ascent time:        3:20
Descent time:      1:45
 
Solo scramble.
 
Inspired by our recent ascent of Ciabatta Peak but uninspired by a lacklustre weather forecast, I set out to ascend Bakery Peak from the north side, as opposed to the wonderful east ridge route. I had completed an ascent from the north in 2006 but couldn’t remember any specifics.
 
After biking the approach, and then finding the trail Brad, Dave, and I had used for Ciabatta, I suddenly arrived at a barbed wire cattle fence. The fence must have been completely bridged by snow only 7 weeks before. As such I decided to go up alongside the fence and see where that led.
 
It led to a cool drainage that appeared to be easy to follow, at least halfway up the peak. Though hardly gushing, the drainage did contain enough running water to warrant a few long exposure photos! I was able to gain a fair amount of elevation before snow atop the running water made travel too precarious. At this point I left the drainage and weaved my way up, encountering easy and enjoyable hands-on scrambling along the way.
 
Eventually I arrived at the near vertical limestone rock band and was forced to traverse east, along its base. I thought I was generally following the 2006 route, but suddenly and to my surprise I ended up almost intercepting the aforementioned east ridge route. Of course, the remainder of the trip unfolded with relative ease, now on very familiar terrain.     
 
I didn’t stay at the summit for too long, the relatively cloudy skies detracting a fair bit from a usually magnificent view. For descent I was able to find an easy route down and around the east side of the peak, before returning to the drainage to finish.
 
Not the thrilling ride of the east ridge, but a good route and a good day out nonetheless.

The northeast end of Drywood Mountain unofficially goes by the name "Woody" and offers a smorgasbord of terrific routes: Woody I, Woody II, Woody III, Woody V, Woody VI, The Knot IV



Ciabatta at the right and the drainage I will soon ascend in the middle



Not much water, but it's better than zilch!



There were a few teasers for clearer skies



Needless to say, the drainage has a decent dose of red argillite











Starting to encounter some snow patches



So much for those clearer skies!


   
Continuing up the drainage



Looking down a section



Still going







End of the line for the drainage. Going up the snow was not an option.



Veered to the left and found some nice scrambling



Up and under this rock



The sky attempts to clear again



At the limestone wall. I traversed along the base until a weakness was found.



The wall is near vertical in places and quite smooth



Looking up it



Looking back



Climbers would love to climb that crack



The Breadsticks (just below the clouds, right of centre) make an appearance



Look who unexpectedly showed up? The Muffin and The Croissant



The clearest skies of the day over Drywood Mountain



The weakness that allows easy access to the ridge above







Above the weakness it's a straightforward ride to the ridge







Cool rock



Quick lichen fill



On familiar terrain - the east ridge of Bakery



The highpoint at the far east end. Dave  and I went straight up the rockband in May of 2018, the snow making things much easier. Today I will duck around the right side.



Another welcome lichen encounter



Commerce Peak perhaps?



At the end of the ridge



Bakery blends into Icing



Looking down on the terrain we used to get up to the hanging valley below Ciabatta



Approaching the summit block of Bakery



Looking down the descent route I used in 2006



Icing from the summit of Bakery



Mount Roche (Spread Eagle Mountain) to the south. If you are looking for amazing rock scenery, this is your peak!



View west, northwest, and north



Thank you Jafar for leaving a summit register



The scary south side of the mountain



East



Looking back while on my way down



Found these easy scree slopes for descent



Traversing back around the mountain to my ascent route







Almost back to the drainage



There it is



Another round of water scenery to end the descent



























The Sun halo here reminded me the final scene from John Carpenter's excellent 1984 movie Starman



























Leaving the drainage



Back at the end of the gas road. The route I took up went up the drainage near the left side.
Only a sweet 8-minute bike ride to the trailhead remains.

The End

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