Prairie Bluff XV


  
 
July 2, 2021
 
Mountain height: 2258 m
Elevation gain:    558 m
Round-trip time:  4:30
 
Scrambling and a little climbing with Rogan, Kian, and Mark.
 
Both Mark and I were delighted when his boys (my nephews) asked to do a scramble. The north route of Prairie Bluff was the first objective that came to mind. For youngsters this is the perfect trip: short, minimal elevation gain, and tons of options to enjoy easy to difficult scrambling on generally good rock. We took climbing gear with us just in case.
 
Getting to the start of the scrambling section is really the crux of the trip. The ascent slope has good footing but is relentlessly steep. Rogan tore up the slope in no time, leaving us all in the dust. Once everyone had caught up with the speedster, we roped up, having decided to tackle a few challenging lines up the beautiful rock. This section proved to be super fun and both Rogan and Kian made the short sections of scrambling/climbing look easy.
 
Above the scrambling sections we continued up the easy ridge, enjoying beautiful weather and rock scenery. Eventually, Rogan and Mark decided to stop while Kian and I continued on to the summit. Kian made the summit in fine form, and we took a short break to enjoy the view and celebrate his achievement.
For descent, once reunited with Rogan and Mark, we took an easier, alternative route near the drainage that separates two and the three ridges on the north/northeast side of the mountain. Once again Rogan led the way and we followed, trying our best to keep up with him.
 
A super fun day with three of my favourite human beings!

Me, Rogan, and Kian are ready to go. The ascent route is right behind us.



Rogan leads the way up the crux of the trip: getting up the steep, grassy slopes to the rock above.
 


A rocky outcrop along the way provides a nice perch for the boys











Rogan is the first to reach the rock face



Looking over to the other ridge. There is tons of spectacular rock and room for exploration on this ridge: Prairie Bluff X, Prairie Bluff XI, Prairie Bluff XIII



Mount Gladstone



The yellow lichen on the dark rock looks spectacular late in the day when the Sun is shinning on it



Rogan explores a gap in the rock


  
Rogan (left) and Kian (right) tackle the first rock step


  
The next step



Happy little climber



Step 3 coming up


  
Step 3








Kian on the rubbly terrain between the climbing sections



Rogan tackles one of the harder steps



My turn to lead



Kian on the final rock step of the trip



Kian at the top of the climbing



Rogan takes the lead again



Kian poses, I'm trying to catch up with Rogan



Kian finds a nice chuck of ripple rock. He was quite surprised to learn that this rock once resided at the bottom of a sea.



Windsor Mountain (left) and striking Castle Peak



Fourteen or so visits to its summit and the view from Prairie Bluff never loses its cache!!



Kian approaches the summit stump



Great job big fella (the guy on the right); the guy on the left is just old.



Too bad all mountains didn't have a summit stump instead of a summit cairn - they are great to sit on!



Victoria Peak - always a pleasure: I, II, III



Heading down with the whole group



Rogan took the lead again



Typical terrain on the alternate descent route



Kian and Mark carefully make their way down



Heading down into the beautiful little valley that separates the ridges



Rogan waits for the slow-pokes



And he's off again



Kian and the other ridge



At the rocky outcrop again



Dad and sons back at the start. Great day with great people!

The End

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