The Croissant VI
The Muffin V


 
December 6, 2020
 
Mountain heights: 2037 m and 2000 m  
Elevation gain:      approximately 400 m
Round-trip time:    3:30
 
Solo scramble.
 
The Muffin and The Croissant are quickly asserting themselves as my favourite “go-to” destinations when a short day is required. The 1 km approach takes you to a drainage with a frozen waterfall, at which point you have several amazing ascent options to either summit. Above the waterfall, the drainage splits. Having taken the right fork on two occasions, this was a perfect opportunity to check out the left fork. The other goal here was to more fully explore the stunning rock bands that line the southeast face of The Croissant.
 
Without going into the all the steamy details, the trip was a rousing success, and the rock scenery exceeded my already high expectations in spades. In addition, a couple of fortuitous encounters with remaining ice on the slopes provided some stunning close-up ice scenery.
 
After quick stops at both summits, I returned to the southeast face of The Croissant to relive the red argillite rock band experience Mark and I enjoyed early in the year. Back down near the gas road a quick visit to the frozen waterfall was pretty much mandatory. Some of the ice had collapsed, bringing down a significant amount of rock with it – perhaps I’ll think twice about ever trying to ice climb this one!   
 
Even with the extra to time to explore, there were still several gullies and routes I bypassed that looked like a treat to ascend. As long as I remain healthy, I can definitely see The Muffin X, if not XX in my future!

Nothing like an early morning start for cool colours



Approaching the ascent drainage. Not much light in that direction.



Ascending steep terrain on the right side of the frozen waterfall



The start of the left drainage above the fall



The Sun finally shows its face, just in time to light up this poor lone tree



Leaving the drainage to check out some random ice



This ice



Close-up



Resuming travel alongside the drainage. The Moon, at the left, continued to be visible for most of the trip.
 


Passing by the wind-affected trees in the previous photo



A small taste of the red argillite scenery yet to come



Approaching the rock bands that line the southeast face of The Croissant



The Moon again



Someone else is enjoying The Croissant



At the base of the rock bands. I traversed below them at this point. Crampons and an ice axe were very much needed. The rock band has numerous gullies cutting through it that grant access to the summit ridge of The Croissant.   



Near the first gully



The first gully on the left - a very steep one



More great rock and potential ascent routes. In fact, I used the one on the left on a previous trip.



Close-up of the layers of colourful rock



Closer look at the gully I went up already



Another run-in with some super cool ice formations






Another sentinel of awesome rock
 


This rock, near the end of traverse was one of the scenic highlights of the trip










  







     












On the ridge and heading up to the summit of The Croissant. Drywood Mountain at the right.



At the summit, looking towards Bakery Peak



The west summit of Drywood



Close-up of Bakery



A long shadow in a pano



The distant Livingstone massif that includes, Livingstone South, Centre Peak, and Thunder Mountain



Another look at Drywood and it's outlier, "Woody"



Another area that provided amazing rock scenery



















Beats me how this rock ended up there!!



More red argillite to further whet the appetite!











Back on the ridge and that great view of Drywood's northeast ridge and Woody


Looking back to The Croissant and Bakery, en route to The Muffin
 


Summit of The Muffin



Love The Muffin cairn



The Muffin pano



The Moon is still visible?



Yep!



And it's that time again - red argillite magic!



















Last ice shot







Time to leave this beautiful area



Looking back up the route







I traversed back onto the lower southwest slopes of The Muffin to complete the descent. My ascent route basically went up the left side, traversed over to the right, then left up to The Croissant (just left of centre), then right, over to The Muffin. Descent line was right down the centre.







Some of the rock seen while detouring to see the frozen waterfall











The fall



Great to be back here, although earlier in the day when the Sun shines on all of it is better



Huge chunk of the ice had fallen











Regrettably leaving. I also decided to follow the drainage back to the road, which was, likewise, a regrettable choice!



Last look at The Muffin



The Eaglet, The Raptor, and Mount Roche

The End

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