Drywood Mountain II, Victoria Ridge

July 8, 2009 

Mountain heights:                            2475 m, 2530 m
Total elevation gain:                        approx. 1780 m
Ascent time to Drywood:                  3:00
Traverse time to Drywood West:     1:40
Traverse time to Victoria Ridge:       1:30    
Descent time from Victoria Ridge:    2:30      

Scrambling with Amber, Janina, and Scott.

Originally we had planned to attempt a high-level traverse of Spionkop Ridge. However, given I had never scrambled with Amber, Janina, and Scott, something tired and tested seemed more appropriate. Fearing that the Spionkop route would have very little hands-on scrambling, we started up the south face of Drywood Mountain – a route that has more than its fair share of hands-on stuff.

I was immediately delighted to discover that not only are Amber, Janina, and Scott outstanding scramblers, but are also very adventurous. Initially, we followed the described route. However, when the suggested route goes left onto easier terrain, the trio opted to go straight up, route-finding their way up through the beautifully coloured rock of Drywood’s south face. I was more than happy to just follow, watching them tackle some fairly strenuous terrain.

At one point Amber and Scott ventured out onto a very exposed pinnacle of rock, where Amber demonstrated her freakish flexibility with a “needle” pose (see scary photo below). We continued up the face, enjoying moderate to difficult hands-on scrambling on generally very good rock. The ridge greeted us a fine view and the expected vicious southern Alberta west wind.

After a well-deserved food break, we continued easily to the summit, took the obligatory summit photos, and then started the long and easy, but scenic traverse to the southwest and slightly higher summit of Drywood. That traverse, which normally takes 2-3 hours, was completed in 1 hour, 40 minutes, thanks to neck-breaking pace, set by Scott. If Scott didn’t have to wait for rest of us (mostly me), I’m sure he would have completed it in 1 hour, 15 minutes (he must have at least 2 sets of lungs!)

Given that everyone seemed to have energy in abundance, I suggested a couple of potential extensions of the trip, from a highpoint above Bovin Lake: 1. northwest to the summit of Victoria Ridge; 2. south and then east to the summit of Loaf Mountain. It wasn’t hard to pick up on the fact that Amber is a highly motivated individual and very summit-driven (this girl often completes 4 scrambles per week and works full-time – that’s impressive!) I could see the wheels in her head turning, much the same as I experience when presented with options for multi-peak days. Amber immediately picked the Loaf Mountain extension for the good reasons that it provides an excellent loop route and it was unlikely that she would return to do Loaf as a separate trip (all the routes to its summit are pretty much long and tedious scree slogs). Janina and Scott agreed to accompany Amber to Loaf. I chose Victoria Ridge for the simple reason that although I’ve been on the Ridge twice, I’ve never actually stood on the official summit. We all agreed to meet back at the car.

Shortly after parting ways, the weather started to change. It was evident that a rather large storm system was rapidly coming in. In my usual state of delusional fervour, I increased my pace, thinking I could beat the storm to the summit. Needless to say, I lost that race hands down, arriving at the summit in blizzard conditions. Blowing snow, brutally cold temperatures (for July anyway), and a dismal summit view, prompted a very quick retreat. There was a small measure a clearing on descent, however, another system was coming in and I continued to descend. I surmised that Amber, Janina, and Scott would probably have abandoned the Loaf attempt because of the volatile weather conditions. The cloud-consumed and wind battered summit of Loaf would have been a very unfriendly place to be.

Although the ridgewalk to Victoria Ridge from Drywood was a decent one, with potentially great views in all directions, it was inferior to the route via Victoria Peak – in my opinion, one of the best ridgewalks in the Canadian Rockies.

The remainder of the descent was easy, but it seemed to go on forever, my sore legs and feet complaining for much of it. It was good to see the friendly faces of my scrambling companions again, back at the car.

A magnificent day with three wonderful scramblers.

Janina tackles typical terrain on the southeast side of Drywood

Amber checks out Loaf Mountain (photo by Janina or Scott)

Amber and Scott ascend the waterfall (minus the water)

Janina follows

Blue flowers

Scott (almost camouflaged near the top centre) and Amber in the ascent gully

The beautifully coloured upper section of the route (photo by Amber)

Amber leads us up a gully in between these two pinnacles

Argillite (photo by Amber)

Yellow lichen on igneous rock (photo by Amber)

Janina and me ascend the gully

Looking down the gully

Amber scrambles over to the top of the pinnacle (photo by Janina)

Amber's famous "needle" pose (photo by Janina)

Scott's simpler version of the "needle" pose 

Scrambling up to the ridge (photo by Amber)

Same as above (photo by Janina)

Scott and Janina make their way to the summit

A summit group shot  - the "lunge" pose

Part of the colourful traverse to the west summit (photo by Amber)

Same as above (photo by Amber)

The beautiful hanging valley, en route to the west summit (one of my favourite scenes in the Rockies)

Same as above with Janina

Looking back to the east summit; at this point, I was way behind the speedy trio (photo by Amber)

The slow-poke tries to catch up (photo by Amber)
    

Janina and me looking back to the east (photo by Amber)

Janina enjoying treats, with Pincher Ridge to the right

Some of the colours on Pincher Ridge

Scott and Janina at the far left; Loaf Mountain to the right

Trying to catch up with Amber, with the east summit at the right (photo by Amber)

Heading into some suspect weather  (photo by Janina)

Janina and Amber, with Victoria Ridge behind (photo by Scott)

Another demonstration of extraordinary flexibility; 
the only time I will be that flexible is after the rigor subsides! (photo by Scott)

Looking back along the west ridge (right), with Pincher Ridge at the left (photo by Janina)

Bovin Lake (photo by Amber)

Scott and Janina on the ridge between Drywood and Loaf

Yellow flowers (photo by Amber)

Scott on Bovin Lake (photo by Amber)

Victoria Ridge from the highpoint above Bovin Lake

The weather deteriorates

The dismal view from the summit of Victoria Ridge

Colourful layers of rock

The weather clears a little; both summits of Drywood are visible

The east summit of Drywood

Loaf Mountain  (background) and the highpoint above Bovin Lake

An interesting configuration of rocks and a tree (photo by Amber)

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