Red Ridge III
May 2, 2010
Mountain height:
2635
m
Elevation gain:
930
m
Ascent time:
4:30
Descent time:
2:30
Snowshoeing with Mark.
Having
not been to the mountains in an
eternity (actually it was only three weeks, but it seemed like an
eternity!) Mark and I headed to Kananaskis, even though the weather was
looking
to be just plain ugly. Inspired by So’s December, 2009 ascent
of Red
Ridge, we set out to do the same. Unfortunately we
wouldn’t be getting the
beautiful blue skies So and company had enjoyed, but it felt good just
to be in
the mountains again.
Hoping to find the summer trail, we opted to take Gillean Daffern ascent route. The previous week’s snowstorm not only ensured that we wouldn’t find it, but that the entire ascent was far more work than anticipated. The snowshoes were on our feet within the first 30 minutes of the trip and stayed there for the remainder of the ascent and the entire descent.
We were pleasantly surprised to arrive at
treeline to experience
a few sunny breaks in the weather. The surrounding scenery was
fantastic, so
this was a very favourable turn of events. The ridge was much longer
and more
challenging than I remembered from our first ascent in 2003,
though that
day was no cakewalk either! This was also due to the huge snowstorm
of the
previous week. Of course, that new snow made the upper ridge one of the
most
stunning we’ve ever seen. The cornices overhanging the steep,
north face were
absolutely massive and the occasional sunny break would light up the
ridge
brilliantly. Blowing snow added to the very cool scenery.
By the time we reached the summit, heavy clouds had started to roll in from the west and it appeared our luck with the weather was over. We stayed at the top only for a couple of minutes, due to fairly cold temperatures and then started down. That lasted about three minutes. Apparently we were wrong about the weather. Several huge patches of blue sky suddenly opened up and so we returned to the summit for another look at the magnificent panorama.
The descent was the highlight of the trip. More clear sky and phenomenal scenery along the ridge was cause for a slow descent and many photos. An unexpectedly outstanding day out.
Above treeline
...well, not quite above treeline
Mount Sparrowhawk just right of centre
Read's Tower (left) and the summit block of Sparrowhawk
More Sun than we were expecting
Mark comes up the lower part of the ridge; the classic view of Spray Lake, Nestor and Old Goat
More of the lower ridge
Mount Buller and the North Ridge of Buller
The north face of Red Ridge starts to become steep
Even steeper
The ridge scenery gets better
and better
The wind picks up
Read's Tower does a pretty decent impression of Ramp Peak
The upper section of the ridge
At the summit, looking towards Mount Bogart (left) and North Buller Pass Peak (right)
A really big cornice
Same as above
