Mount Galwey IV

     
 
August 7, 2012
 
Mountain height:                          2348 m
Total elevation gain:                    960 m
Ascent time:                                1:45
Traverse time to north summit:  1:15
Descent time:                              2:10
 
Solo scramble.
 
Eight years after completing this awesome loop route on Mount Galwey, I felt it was worth another run. Though I would have rather had the company of my brother for the trip, it appeared I would have to settle for stellar weather instead – both would have been awesome!
 
The trip unfolded without any surprises and was thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. Needless to say, the perfect weather added considerably to the experience.

The connecting ridge between Galwey and the slightly higher summit to the northwest was probably the highlight of the trip – tons of fantastic rock scenery, fun scrambling, and a few route-finding challenges. That part of the traverse also brought back a flood of great flashbacks from a superb day out with Kevin Barton in 2007, where we ascended Galwey, traversed all the way over to Mount Dungarvan {hitting an unnamed peak (later unofficially dubbed as “Rogan Peak”) along the way}, descended Dungarvan via Lost Horse Creek, and then walked back to the vehicle along the road – another super rewarding loop route but much longer!
 
Also enjoyable was the descent off the second and slightly higher summit, although as I worked my way down the ridge, I came to the conclusion that going up this ridge would be even more enjoyable. The day ended with a very pleasant hike along the Coppermine Creek, in all its glorious colours.   


Mount Blakiston appears over the Galwey loop descent ridge



Add the lush green slopes and the brilliant red argillite



The south side of Galwey



Note the trail that veers off to the left



Here Comes the Sun with two legends



Nice formation that could possibly be scrambled up



Already looking forward to traversing the connecting ridge between Galwey and the higher summit to the northwest



But first things first - the summit of Galwey. The little mushroom feature near the right is the key to the ascent.



Looking up the final section to the top



Looking back at the exposed traverse at the right




Near the infamous window (not shown). The mushroom is the second feature from the left.



Views from the summit of Galwey: Dungarvan (centre), Rogan Peak (right), and Cloudy Ridge (left)



Right to left: Blakiston, Lineham, Ruby Ridge, and a few distant giants in GNP (Kinnerly and Kintla)



Anderson Peak, at the left, is still one of my favourite scrambles in the Rockies



Closer look at the connecting ridge



Looking back at the exposed traverse and the window



No Waterton trip is complete without the classic lichen photo



......or two



.....or three!



Several huge pinnacles of rock line the ridge



Looking back at the summit block of Galwey



Love this section of fractured rock



The summit and the fractured rock



Continuing on the fascinating ridge



Some sections are fun to scramble up



Others must be circumvented



Either will work for others



But none are devoid of amazing, lichen-covered rock



Traversing on the right side of the ridge



Back on the ridge and looking back



Looking forward



Looking back again



The summit block of the northwest summit. It can be scrambled head-on or around the other side



Whatever route you take, the beautiful, lichen-covered rock is unavoidable!



Approaching the summit cairn. If the entire summit block of Galwey was not the distinctive and beautifully aesthetic spire that it is, it's possible that this point would be the true summit, as it is higher than Galwey.



Dungarvan and Rogan



The cairn, Blakiston and Anderson



Heading down the other ridge. It looks easy from here, but there are a few surprises along the way.



Fun terrain to descend, but would be even better to ascend







Still enjoying easy travel down the ridge







Good views of Dungarvan's outstanding south ridge - another of my favourite scrambles anywhere







One of several sections that were not downclimbable



Looking back at the ascent ridge (right), both summits, the connecting ridge, and the descent ridge



Still a some ridgewalking to go, but much easier



Anderson Peak again



Two of my favourite things in Waterton: lichen-covered rock and Mount Dungarvan



Rogan Peak, at the left, joins the show



Back to the red argillite layer of rock



The definition of "pleasant ridgewalking"











Last look at the route



Last look at Blakiston



Coppermine Creek



Maybe Red Argillite Creek would be a more appropriate name!



Or Red and Green Argillite Creek

The End

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