Read’s Tower
March 28, 2010
Ascent time: 3:00
Descent time: 1:15
Solo snowshoe and scramble.
Gillean Daffern describes
Read’s Ridge as a “fantastic
viewpoint” and she couldn’t be more right. Having
completed similar trips on either
side of Read’s Ridge (Red Ridge and Little Lougheed), and
Read’s Ridge itself
on the way to Mount Sparrowhawk, I wasn’t expecting this trip
to be that
exciting, but once out of the trees, the snowy views were terrific.
Aside
from some brutal trail-breaking on the lower
slopes, the ascent was pretty straightforward. The classic view of
Read’s Tower,
with Sparrowhawk higher above to the north, was splendid and worth
every second
of the trail-breaking drudgery. I then continued the trip to the summit
of
Read’s Tower, for an even better view. The weather held,
although a system
approaching from the west was soon going to change that. An effortless
ascent
ended a terrific day out.
The south end of Spray Lake; Mount Shark at the left
Mount Nestor
The classic view of Read's Tower and Mount Sparrowhawk
Snow scenery
The steep north side of Read's Tower
More of Read's Tower ridge and Sparrowhawk
Patterns in the snow
Same as above
The view of Spray Lake, Nestor, and Old Goat that you never get tired of
More patterns in the snow
Same as above
The summit cairn
Sparrowhawk again
Sparrowhawk and a cloud
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