Bellevue Drainage #3
August 3, 2025
Highpoint: 2025
m
Elevation gain: 700 m
Round-trip
time: 4:25
Solo scramble.
Several
drainages up the west side of Bellevue Hill have provided entertaining routes up
the mountain and it was time to check out a third route.
Without
going
into a detailed play-by-play, this drainage was hit and miss all the
way up.
Many sections of the drainage were too bushy to allow progress directly
in it. However, there were several cascades and small waterfalls to
provide
scenic interest.
Higher up,
wickedly colorful rock bands were cause for a haphazard path of
exploration.
Upon reaching a highpoint between Bellevue Hill and Mount Galwey I took a short
break, before following the ridge towards Galwey, and then descending an
adjacent drainage – might as well explore on descent too.
Not a route I’m
likely to repeat, but and cool water scenery at the beginning and the terrific rock near the ridge salvaged what could have
been a dud route.
At the start. I went up one of those drainages and down another.
They look delicious but without knowing what they are I wouldn't risk eating one
On the left side of the drainage because it's too bushy to be directly in it
Now on the right side
In the drainage
Out again
In...you get the picture!
The north side of Mount Crandell. Another route I would be unlikely to repeat.
Too bushy
But managed to get in further up
A rare non-long exposure photo of flowing water
Lots of red argillite on both sides of the drainage
Out of the drainage for good. The terrain on the left looked awful so I went right.
A burgundy band of rock provides some scenic interest
Creepy dead tree, but it's a good creepy!
Beautiful rock and Mount Galwey
Ditto
Ruby Ridge, with Mount Blakiston in the clouds
Often better to traverse below these rock bands than to gain the terrain above them right away
Close-up of Galwey
Low-lying clouds up the valley
The exciting southeast ridge of Buchanan Northeast - a route I would repeat
Still enamoured by the burgundy rock, Galwey, and the spooky trees
Now above the rock band and looking at less appealing terrain
At least the flowers add some colour
The summit of Bellevue Hill near the left
A little foreshadowing of things to come
More foreshadowing
Crandell and red argillite
Doesn't look like much from afar, but the upcoming section of terrain is one amazing scene after another
Not yet
Warming up
And blast-off!
Loved this rock especially
A little break from the up-close views
And then back to them
Time for some really up-close views
A very distinctive formation
Finally on the ridge
Bellevue at the left but I'm going to the highpoint at the right
Panos from the highpoint of the day
Lakeview Ridge through the dead trees
The summit of Bellevue Hill - not in the cards for this day
Continued good views of Galwey while traversing the ridge towards the descent route
Looking back
Lakeview Ridge again
The first part of the descent involves traversing down to the right where the interesting rock sits
And here it is
Eventually, gaining the ridge to the right seemed to be the best route
On the ridge
Changed my mind later on and descended back into the drainage
Relatively easy travel down this
Those look delicious too
The clouds have finally lifted over Mount Blakiston
Very similar scenes of red rock on this route
Back down to the road
The End
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