Fairview Mountain IV
    
 
January 18, 2025
 
Mountain height: 2744 m
Elevation gain:    1000 m
Ascent time:        4:00
Descent time:      2:25
 
Snowshoeing with Mark. 
 
Almost 22 years had past since Mark and I snowshoed up Fairview Mountain and Crazy Carpetted down. We experienced some very cool and atmospheric views from the summit, but cloud obscured much of what is one of the finest views in the Rockies. This would be our chance to see that view.
 
We started the trip under clearing skies and an air temperature of -26-degrees Celsius – downright balmy compared to a -35-degree Celsius starting temperature for nearby Saddle Mountain in 2018! Upon reaching the sublime environs of Saddleback Pass we had a route decision to make. Initially, we thought a direct attack up the southeast face would be our best bet. However, after discussing other options with a super friendly and knowledgeable skier, we decided to snowshoe up the valley and try a less steep line that followed a line of rocks protruding from the snow.
 
The new route started with an increasingly steep grind up a snow slope. The snow here was very hard-packed and although our snowshoe crampons were up for the task, at one point I took out my ice axe as an extra precaution. Mark led this section in fine style. Once onto the rocks, we were able to switch to microspikes and continue up to the summit. This section of the ascent was foreshortened and gruelling – at least for me anyway! Thank you to a group of four beautiful mountain goats, who were kind enough to distract me every now and then so I could catch my breath. And of course, throughout, the scenery was breath-taking.
 
4 hours, to the minute, after leaving the parking lot we reached the top. The view was expectedly stunning in every direction. Unfortunately, our summit stay was curtailed by brutally cold conditions, very similar to our day on Saddle.
 
Since our Crazy Carpet days are a thing of the past, we chose to retrace our steps down the peak. We did manage to avoid that steep snow slope, choosing instead to wallow through a short section of insanely deep snow.   
 
An outstanding day! We could have not asked for a more rewarding and nostalgic return to an old favourite.



Early morning light



The steep east face of Fairview



  A layer of low-lying cloud provided some cool views to the east



Mount Hector towers above the cloud layer



  Modeling my new orange Baerskin Hoodie. I recently said I would wait until they made it in yellow, but this bright orange was obtrusive enough for me!



Richardson, Pika, and Ptarmigan to the east



The famous Chateau Lake Louise below the cloud and Hector



Finally moving into the Sun



Though considerably smaller than Fairview Saddle Mountain is still a very worthwhile trip. Easy to see how the mountain gets its name from this angle.



Solitary tree and the last look at the cloud layer



I stand corrected



The southeast side of Fairview starts to appear



The wonderful environs of Saddleback Pass



Mark and Saddle Mountain



Fairview. Initially we were going to ascend the rocky section just right of centre



Sometime later, eyeing up a potential line



Haddo Peak (left) and a cool outlier of Fairview at the right



Haddo alone. We failed to complete a direct route up the south side of the peak in 2021.



The two summits of Little Temple - another super trip in the area that I would like to repeat



Mark leads us up the snow slope. It is much steeper than it looks and gets very steep higher up.



Approaching the really steep part and some stunning quartzite rock, characteristic of the mountain



There's the quartzite



Took out the ice axe here, just in case



Onto easier terrain



We are not alone. Two of the four mountain goats appear above us.



  They kept their distance but never bolted



Neither did I! I was winded throughout.



Three of Four - good Borg designation!



Near the start of a foreshortened slog to the top



One of Four and Victoria North



Aberdeen joins Haddo at the left. Still one of our more memorable days out.



That's one ruler-straight slope!



The thin snow meant we could go on foot from here to the top, but microspikes were welcome



Saddle Mountain is getting very small



The view to the southwest keeps on giving



Still a long way to go and getting stepper



Cool rock at the right and that outlier (centre) looks most impressive



Cool rock in the other direction



Mark's reaches the summit first



Last few steps for me. Of course, Mount Temple dominates the view.



Mark checks out the view to the west



Cheesy summit pose with an ice axe



Mounts Whyte, Niblock, and St. Piran lie immediately north of Lake Louise



Peaks above the deservedly popular Plain Of Six Glaciers Trail include Victoria North, Collier Peak, Unnamed, and Popes Peak



Trying to recreate an ancient photo



This one, from our ascent on May 17, 2003



Summit pano



Same as above with Mark



More importantly, how did the new Baerskin Hoodie perform on its maiden voyage? Excellent! With wind chills well into the -30's, I needed only the hoodie and one thin layer of clothing underneath - I was toasty warm throughout!



Interesting conglomeration of rocks at the top



There's our buddy again



The descent was initially a slow one because of some precarious footing



Three of Four again at the lower right



  Saying Bye to Fairview until next time



Last look at Sheol and Haddo



Super easy from here to the bottom



Quick stop at the lake before the drive home



Mark checks out the ice castle



Fairview's imposing north face



All of the above

The End

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