Tiara Peak II – August 19, 2007
Mountain height:
2533 m
Total elevation gain: 800
m
Ascent time: 3:30
Descent time:
2:45
Scrambling with Mark.
Last year we ascended this peak via the easy southwest slopes. We tried a more difficult route but couldn’t get up the steep and loose gully. That failure has always bothered us and so we picked another gloomy Sunday to try again. We picked a slightly different ascent route to the ridge, enjoying some pleasant rock formations on the way up.
Back at the difficult gully and armed to the teeth with climbing gear, I started up again. The ascent was not easy on loose, exposed terrain with limited handholds – definitely on the difficult end of difficult scrambling. Above the first step, the rock improved slightly and the scrambling was a little more enjoyable. I didn’t use any of the climbing gear. The nice thing about this route is that it takes you right to the summit.
We arrived at the summit in a whiteout last year and so this year’s view was bound to be better, though far from perfect. We descended via the easy route.
It felt good to complete the ascent via the difficult gully, but we were both a little disappointed that the scrambling was more unnerving than fun.
On the way there; Tiara Peak is just right centre
Mark ascends easy slopes, with Belmore Browne behind
Mark scrambles up good rock
My turn
More good rock to ascend
The interesting rock near the ridge
On the ridge with Tiara behind
Ascending the difficult gully
Mark at the summit
Looking for alternate descent routes