Mount Chesmill







 
July 10, 2024
 
Mountain height:          2834 m
Total elevation gain:     1000 m
Ascent time:                 3:20
Descent time:               2:00
 
Solo scramble.
 
In a tour de force of blunders and terrible navigation, Mark and I inadvertently ended up on the western outlier of Mount Chesmill many years ago but didn’t continue to the summit. Since then, the unofficial peak has gained a measure of popularity, courtesy of Soistheman, and also a place on my “if I can’t think of anything else to do” list. On July 10, 2024, I couldn’t think of anything else to do and therefore Mount Chesmill was put on the docket.

  
Starting from the Sawmill parking lot, I biked the approach and then bushwhacked down to James Walker Creek. A huge tree spanning the waterway allowed me to keep my feet dry when confronted with the creek crossing. From the other side I decided that gaining the south ridge of the outlier as early as possible would be the best strategy for tackling the peak. The other route, via a steep drainage east of the ridge appeared to be holding a fair amount of snow that could make for a problematic ascent.
 

 
Though much steeper than I remembered, this route worked very well, featuring beautiful grassy slopes, some wildflowers, and lots of grizzly diggings! Only the slightly hazy skies were a little disappointing. The terrain from the summit of the outlier to the col was perhaps the highlight of the day, a tenacious snowbank providing plenty of interest and photo ops.


 
I can’t say the same for the ascent of Chesmill – quite foreshortened and mostly on steep, loose terrain. While the ascent was far from aesthetic, the wonderful summit view did justify the tedium of getting there. Unfortunately, travel to the next highpoint, described as the South Peak of Headwall Peak in David Jones’ guidebook, was not feasible as a scramble. After enjoying the view, I followed my ascent route back to the start, although in retrospect the drainage may have been a faster option.

 
In some ways, Chesmill exceeded my expectations and in other ways not so much. Doubtful that I would repeat the trip, but instead try to get up the South Peak of Headwall – a trip that will probably also sit comfortably on the “if I can’t think of anything else to do” list!




James Walker Creek











Easy crossing using this tree



The tree and Kent Ridge North at the left



These green slopes were highlight #1



We'll call the wildflowers #2







The path up to the ridge







The snowy drainage I could have used for ascent or descent



The view to the southwest starts to open up. Mount Murray at the right.



Typical grade of the ascent



Grizzly diggings everywhere



More flowers







On the south ridge



Summit of the outlier at the left and Chesmill to the right







Congrats to these guys, surviving on a rocky ridge



Mount Chester looked great throughout



Looking back down the ridge



Zoomed-in shot of highlight #3



Approaching the summit of the outlier



Glimpse of the magnificent Headwall Lakes and The Fortress above them



The snowbank and Chesmill's obvious ascent route



Little Chester to the left of Mount Chester



View to the north and east from the outlier



South and west



Mount Birdwood, Pig's Tail, and Commonwealth Peak


Hazy views of Eon, Smuts, and Assiniboine



Heading down to the col
The snowbank is speckled with small pieces of scree



A little lichen is never a bad thing, especially when the backdrop is Mount Chester







Looking back to the outlier



Looking forward to the snow scenery ahead



The snowbank and Kent North



Chesmill looking very innocuous



The outlier of North Kent (right) is a great trip in itself



The snow scenery































On Chesmill's lower slopes







The South Peak of Headwall Peak connects to Chesmill but the ridge it's not a scramble



Grinding up the west ridge



The south side of the ridge is very steep



Nearing the summit



A little hazy to the southwest



Kent North again. Odd that this summit is unofficial. The official summit of Mount Kent is lower and further south.



At the summit, looking at the continuation of the ridge and higher Headwall South (left).



View to the east and much more



Northwest



Southwest



Tons of familiar mountains in this view. Again, too bad it's a little hazy.



Murray and CEFNS in the foreground, Sir Douglas and others in the background



Mount Joffre



The Inflexible/North Kent col (foreground), Little Lawson (midground), and peaks of the Opal Range in the background, including Packenham, Hood, Brock, and Blane.



Chester, Galatea, and Gusty



Close-up of Galatea



A cool cloud forms over Chester



Back near the col to find a very random rock covered in bright orange lichen



Round 2 of the snow scenery; this time it's the "dirty snow".



So much geometry in melting patterns and other nature-related stuff



Back to clean snow























Traversing back to the ridge, although I should have descended the drainage near the left



Parting views of Chesmill and others



Clouds started to build during the descent



More wildflowers



Descending the steep, grassy slopes



Mount Inflexible - there's a route up to the summit on the west face, but no one has ever raved about it!



The photos end with more wildflower beauty












The End

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