Mount Weed

Mount Weed

August 21, 2025

Mountain height: 3080 m
Elevation gain:    1340 m
Ascent time:        3:45
Descent time:      2:25

Solo scramble.

Back in the Stone Age (2005) Mark and I attempted Mount Weed as a mountaineering trip in winter conditions. We made it to within 90 vertical metres of the summit but backed down when we ran out of time and had already pushed our luck further than we should have regarding the snowy conditions. Redemption time and I wasn’t going any near Weed with even a flake of snow on the mountain – late August definitely did the trick on that score.

A good trail has developed for most of the trip and so route-finding was hardly an issue. Once above treeline, outstanding rock scenery became the theme of the ascent. The ascent gully was much steeper than I remembered, perhaps because ascending it wearing crampons and using an ice ace was far more aesthetic than this snowless, rubble slog (not that I’m complaining at all).

The upper section of the gully was still holding snow and ice and so I veered to the right, finding a nice route to the summit ridge. Upon reaching the ridge a quick detour over to a minor highpoint to the east seemed worthwhile and it was, boasting stunning views to the northeast, east and southeast.

The summit was then easily reached. My expectations for the summit view were very high and those expectation were thoroughly met. Wow! Lakes galore, huge striking peaks at every turn, and several glaciers - not to be missed!

The descent was fast and easy. I wish all descents followed suit! An outstanding day on a mountain everyone should check out.

Mount Weed from the start

Mount Patterson on the other side of the road

Patterson will get lots of attention

Same as above

Quick detour to check out this waterfall

Patterson again

The anemic Snowbird Glacier

First sign that there's some beautiful rock along the way

Breaker Mountain

Once above the treeline the route becomes fairly obvious

Lots of boulders and pinnacles to keep things interesting

Peyto Lake, with West Bow Peak (left) and Mount Jimmy Simpson (centre) towering over the lake

The view to the west is going to be magnificent

Howse Peak, White Pyramid, and Mount Chephren tower above the Waterfowl Lakes to the northwest

The route goes straight up and then veers to the left

Caldron Peak (just left of centre) is on the to-do list

The killer view to the west is getting more killer!

Improving views of one of the Waterfowl Lakes

One of many colourful tarns alongside the Mistaya River

White Pyramid and Chephren

Veering left towards the break in the upper cliffs

The upper cliffs and pinnacles are super impressive

As is much of the rock before the upper slopes are reached

Patterson, with Barbette Mountain in the distant centre

Barbette

???

Still tramping up scree and rubble slopes

The view to the west retracts a little as you move into the ascent gully

Crowfoot Mountain above Bow Lake

Rock on the left side

Rock on the right side

All of it

Both Bow and Peyto lakes are now visible

One of the coolest rock formations

Limited but very cool view from within the confines of the gully

Looking up the route. It's quite steep.

Exploring to the right to avoid an icy patch near the top of the gully

Near the south ridge looking south

Impressive balancing act on the ridge

On the south ridge looking east at the balancing act and a host of interesting peaks

The summit is over to the left

Second minor detour of the trip to check out the east side

Better view of the ridge to the south. Silverhorn Mountain and Observation Peak are part of the same massif.

More to the south-southwest

West

Heading to the summit

Pano to the east

The contours and colours to the east are always a source of amazement in this neck of the woods

Conical Peak in the foreground and Recondite Peak at the left

Quill Peak at the right

Northeast

Looking down to the intriguing valley to the east of Weed

Big snow bank and the complex Murchison massif to the north

Still not at the summit, but views are stunning and I can't help myself

Both Waterfowl lakes and Chephren Lake are now visible

Close-up

Another snow feature

Small glacier on the northeast side of Weed

Steps away from the top

At the true summit

Summit panos and views

Mount Forbes (just right of Howse at the left) has "entered the building"

Would be nice to see how the Waterfowl Lakes and Mistaya Lake connect

The south end of Mistaya Lake

Cool stuff to the east

Cool stuff to the north also. Mount Murchison near the left.

Mount Cline, just left of centre and Resolute Mountain to Cline's right

Distinctive Corona Ridge in the centre

Iceface Peak in the foreground

Quill Peak

The colourful Mistaya River

Descending the northwest side for a short distance to get a better views of some of the lakes

The stripes of burgundy and light brown rock that are a feature of Silverhorn Mountain also

All of northwestern lakes

ALL of the major lakes: Bow Peyto, Mistaya, Waterfowl

Closer look at the northwestern lakes

The southwestern lakes

There's even a small cairn here too

Mount Balfour

Mount Temple near the left

Peaks of the Waputik Mountain range

Howse and Forbes

Three of the five Lyells, between White Pyramid and Chephren

North Twin, just left of centre

Lyells 2, 3, and 4

Mount Columbia in the clouds

Back to the panoramic views

Watermelon Peak at the left

OXO Peak (left of centre), OX Peak (centre), and Noseeum Mountain (just right of centre)

Descending

Peyto Lake continues to shine

The bluest skies of the day

All those cool pinnacles again

Back to the big boulder section

Bye-bye Weed

Get to enjoy those sweet views all the way down

Another tarn alongside the Mistaya River

The river and a rock outcrop

Back in the ascent drainage

Another visit to the waterfall is going to happen, now that the Sun is in the west

The end of the day view of Weed looks considerably different than the start of the day version

The End

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