Prairie Bluff XX









                                                                                    
February 1, 2026
 
Mountain height: 2258 m
Elevation gain:    558 m
Ascent time:       3:05
Descent time:     1:20
 
Solo scramble.
 
Inspired by Dave and Brad’s recent ascent of Prairie Bluff via a route they called “Frozen Princess”, I set out to do something similar. I say similar, because I had no intention of ascending that specific route. Wearing bulky winter hiking boots, with crampons and a single ice axe as accessories, I was not equipped to tackle some of the serious terrain on Frozen Princess; nor would I do a solo ascent of it.
 
Driving back and forth below the northeast face of the objective, I eventually picked out a shallow drainage to ascend and started up. The lack of snow for the first day of February was shocking, as were air temperatures in the high single digits (above zero, that is).
 
Eventually I arrived at the base of the mountain and had to decide on an ascent route. Although I intended to keep my crampons and ice axe holstered (I don’t actually carry them on a holster, but it sounded good at the time of writing!), the snow-filled gully in front of me was too tempting. The gully appeared to go most of the way up the mountain, cutting through several beautiful bands of exposed rock.
 
Unfortunately, I was surprised to find that the snow in the gully was rock hard - as in, concrete! My hiking boot crampons and single axe were no match for this terrain. I would have had to chop steps up the entire gully to ascend it. Instead, I stuck to the side of the gully where there were pockets of snow that I could actually sink my axe into. I also needed an escape route throughout, should those pockets disappear.
 
About a third of the way up I opted to abandon the snow gully. Even with mountaineering boots, ice-climbing crampons, and two ice tools, I would have been nervous about tackling the steep upper section. Onto the rock.
 
Good decision – a thoroughly enjoyable easy scramble up delightful terrain ensued, with lots of cool rock and lichen to keep me entertained. Above the cool rock lay a more tedious scree slope and then another rock band lining the summit ridge. I chose to traverse under that final rock band to a point directly under the summit before gaining the top, enjoying some of the best yellow and orange lichen scenery I’ve ever experienced. Unfortunately, the Sun was not going to be lighting that lichen up at this time of the year – a return trip in mid-June is already scheduled!  
 
A very strong wind curtailed my summit stay to not more than two minutes, at which point I took the fastest and easiest route down I know of, between the two ridges to the northwest. I didn’t set any speed records, however, as a pair of twisted, dead tree begging some photo attention, stopped me in my tracks. A relatively short walk back along the road to my car ended a terrific little trip with enough new and interesting scenery to inspire a repeat trip at some point.
 
Epilogue: After revisiting Dave’s Frozen Princess trip report, I realized I had basically ascended their descent route, except for the section where I had abandoned the snow gully. Nice work in that gully boys!

The objective, barely seen through the trees



A shocking lack of snow at the start of ascent



Sometime later and finally getting a look at some potential routes



There's one, right up the snow



A plane streaks through the sky



At the base of the snow gully. It's much steeper than it looks and the snow is rock hard.



Staying close to the rock in case I need to bail



The terrain I may need to bail off



Beautiful igneous rock



Looking down the route so far



Easy stretch ahead



Starting to feel apprehensive about staying in the snow gully



The rock to the left of the gully appears to offer easier travel



The colourful rock on the left side of the gully



Looking down again from the point where I left the gully



Some nice ice features







Still debating (half-heartedly) if I should continue up the snow



Decision made - onto the rock



Continually glancing over to the rock on the right side will become a thing for quite a while



The origin of one of the ice flows







The route ahead is fun and involves easy scrambling



The first of many, many lichen photos







The grade of the upper slopes in the snow gully becomes evident - glad I bailed



The right side again



Nearing a very cool band of argillite



At the base, looking right



Looking left



Looking up



Heading around the right side of the band



Easy route up at the left











The details of lichen are remarkable



Still a little obsessed with the snow gully



Back to the task at hand



More accurately, the lichen at hand







Another cool rock feature











Traversing left towards the next gully that splits the face



The snow gully is now a distant memory



The snowy peaks of the Flathead Range are not. McGladrey and Pengelly are seen here.



Ptolemy SE5, just left of centre



Crowsnest Mountain and The Seven Sisters



Distant Tornado Mountain



Centre Peak


I think that's Mount Coulthard



I considered going into the gully at the left, but the terrain straight up looked more interesting



Yes it is







Someone is watching me. Never get into a staring match with a sheep - you will lose!



The route up looks boring but there is some nice scrambling in front



Still watching my progress



A few of the hills to the east of Prairie Bluff



The animal disappeared shortly after



Table Mountain and Whitney Creek Mountain join the show



Same as above, with Mount Darrah (near the right) and many of Darrah's southern outliers



Table Top Peak and Whistler Mountain



Close-up



Close up of Table



Close up of Whitney



Mount Gladstone



Approaching the ridge



At the rock band that lines the ridge



Instead of gaining the ridge, I'll traverse under the rock band towards the summit


Endless photos of lichen-covered rock that I would love to see when the Sun shines upon it


































































































A lone tree and some clouds



Back to the amazing lichen



Looking down the approximate route we ascended about a year earlier



Finally making my way to the summit



The summit cairn (tree stump)



Clear and cloudy at the top



Interesting clouds over Victoria Peak


Close-up of Victoria



Windsor Mountain and Castle Peak



Descending



Much of the descent route



There are several ice formations along the way







The wall of rock on the west side of the valley is remarkable up close



Close-up of the colourful rock, but it needs the Sun's rays



The rock on the east side doesn't look to be as colourful but it is



A couple of run-ins with twisted dead trees







The west side also boasts a circuitous but awesome route to the summit



Tree close-up



Looking back at the descent route. Just an easy walk back to the vehicle from here.

The End

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