Fairview Mountain III
Saddle Mountain III
February 26, 2022
Mountain heights: 2744 m, 2433 m
Elevation gain:
approximately 1200 m
Round-trip
time: 7:05
Solo snowshoe.
Repeating a snowy ascent of Fairview Mountain
has been on my do-to list for some time. A winter-like ascent (and thrilling
Crazy Carpet descent) with Mark, in May of 2003, still providing enough
motivation to do a repeat trip, 19 years after the fact.
I was waiting for a clear weather day and
thought I had one. Unfortunately, I decided to ignore a tiny little bump from 8
am to noon on the cloud cover section of the Spot Wx forecast. The forecast was
bang-on. The cloud cover was never thick but overcast enough to “rain on my
parade”. As such, instead of rushing up to the summit of Fairview I decided to
explore the area a little. This led to an unexpected ascent to the col southwest
of Fairview. The peak southwest of col looked incredibly inviting but
incredibly dangerous. Instead, I settled for a minor summit northwest of the
col and then an easy hike to the summit of Fairview.
By this time, a clearing trend was in the works.
Unfortunately, neither time nor the summit conditions were on my side. Cold, blustery
weather forced me to leave after only a 5-minute summit stay.
No Crazy Carpet this time, but I did manage
to glissade a significant portion of the descent. By the time I was down to the
Fairview/Saddle col the clearing trend had fully materialized and the wind had
settled down. Given those facts and the minimal effort required to ascend Saddle
Mountain, I was helpless to resist a third ascent of the diminutive peak. Of
course, it yielded the same amazing views I had seen twice before, but every bit
as enthralling. As usual, the descent was an all-downhill breeze – my favourite
kind!
Not quite the glorious and triumphant return to
this wonderful mountain I was hoping for, but gratifying, nonetheless.
Mount Hector is one of the first amazing sights on the Saddleback Pass Trail
The south side of Fairview
Saddle Mountain is the third
Disappointing view at Saddleback Pass. Fairview Mountain at the right.
The beautiful duo of Haddo Peak and Mount Aberdeen
Sheol Mountain
Gaining elevation towards the col southwest of Fairview
The southwest outlier of Fairview
Trying to get a decent view of Aberdeen's famous north glacier route
It's a very steep and very icy one!
At the col
The outlier to the southwest that initially looked inviting but got scarier and scarier
Two far less intimidating objectives: a minor outlier (left) and Fairview Mountain
The scary outlier between Haddo and Aberdeen
Atop the minor outlier
Small, but nice cairn
The big quartzite boulders are one of the best features of mountains in this area
...but look much better when not snow-covered and with completely clear skies
Improving view to the south and west as I head towards the summit of Fairview
There's some cool quartzite!
View with quartzite
Without
Mount Temple now towers over Sheol
Like Fairview, Mount St. Piran (foreground) is a small peak (compared to its neighbours), but its summit is easily achieved has awesome views
Fairview summit only steps away
At the top
One of the best summit views in the area
Same as above
Closer look at Haddo and Aberdeen
Massive Mount Victoria
The North Summit of Victoria
Unnamed (left) and Popes Peak. Failed twice to reach the summit of Unnamed.
Mount Niblock - terrific Kane scramble
Two giants: Mount Douglas (left) and one of the most challenging mountains in the Canadian Rockies, Mount St. Bride.
At the opposite end of "challenging" is lowly and super easy Saddle Mountain, far below Fairview
More summit views
The wind picks up and the snow gets picked up
Calm again for a final look at Haddo, Aberdeen, Lefroy, and Victoria...
...and then Victoria North, Collier, Unnamed, Popes, and Whyte
Typical angle of the descent route
Typical views on descent
More quartzite
My glissade track
Saddle Mountain
Looking back at Fairview
The Fairview outlier is an impressive sight
Actually, it's all impressive from Saddleback Pass!
Heading for the ridge of Saddle
Evidence that "Avalanche Sharks" was filmed here - makes Jaws look like Sesame Street!
No Aberdeen anymore, but Sheol from this angle is a pretty good substitute
The view that gets better with each metre of elevation gained
See!
Molar Mountain, with Molar Tower in front and slightly right
I think that's Cataract Peak at the right but don't quote me
Three popular Kane scrambles to the east in the Skoki area: Richardson, Pika, and Ptarmigan
Another - Fossil Mountain
More snow cover here would be nice
Bet it's chilly atop Temple!
All of the Temple's wicked north face
An imposing view of Sheol and Haddo
Pinnacle, Eiffel, and some the of the peaks of The Valley of Ten Peaks can be seen to the south
View from the first highpoint. I love the symmetry of this view with
Aberdeen in the centre and Temple and Fairview on either side. Of
course appearances are deceiving here, as Temple is significantly
higher than the others.
Closer - impossible not to take a million photos of the same thing here - the view is just that good!
Heading to the big summit cairn
The cairn and Fairview
View from the true summit
Mount Temple and Little Temple at the left
Last look before the wonderfully easy descent
The End
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