Mount Yarrow II
October 31, 2020
Mountain height: 2379 m
Elevation gain:
1078 m
Round-trip time: 6:30
Scrambling with Dave.
Although my first trip up Mount Yarrow did
not exactly “blow my mind”, I was totally up for a repeat ascent when Dave
suggested it. My appreciation for the Southern Alberta Rockies has increased
exponentially since that 2011 ascent and in general 
I have found 2nd and 3rd ascents (11th in the case of Prairie Bluff!) to be equally and
often more enjoyable than the initial trip.
You would think that after seven relatively recent
excursions up Yarrow Ridge (five of those in the present year), the approach
would be starting to get boring; exactly the opposite was true, as Dave and I
hiked the cutline over a small shoulder and down to the Yarrow Creek Valley,
taking in the colourful rock and noting innumerable routes begging for some
exploration. Interestingly, the day must have also been the first of the
hunting season. We encountered several very friendly hunters throughout the
day.
Once down in the valley, even hiking the long
gas road was enjoyable. Again, Dave and I spotted several potential routes up
Yarrow Ridge and a few very tempting ones on “Cloudowan Peak” and Mount
Glendowan. Upon reaching the end of the gas road, we decided immediately not to
follow the route in had used in 2011, the snow and ice probably rendering it a
death trap. Instead, we hiked the Yarrow Creek trail for about a kilometre,
before turning up a drainage heading towards the summit.
Lower down, this route worked very well, and
we made good progress up the mountain. Not so for the middle section. The deep,
unconsolidated snow meant that progress was anything but expedient. Steeper
terrain also presented a few challenges. Nevertheless, Dave was in his usual
fine trail-breaking form and I was in my fine “let the other break trail so I
don’t have to” form! Before long we reached the wind-blown upper slopes.
A labourious, foreshortened slog to the
ridge, preceded an easy and enjoyable ridgewalk to the summit. Unfortunately,
the vicious southern Alberta wind decided to make its presence known at this point. Temperatures,
with the wind chill, were downright nasty. After a few summit photos, we
started a hasty retreat, quickly throwing the idea of traversing over to Roche out
the window. Once sheltered from the wind we were able to enjoy a leisurely descent down
the mountain, plus another round of ogling at new, nearby routes and wishing summer
or fall were an extra month long!
An excellent return to an old friend. Although
I preferred the route I took on Yarrow I, the weather and company on Yarrow II
were both superior!
Click HERE to see Dave's terrific report.
Some early morning fog below The Eaglet
Off we go. Mount Dungarvan (centre) and Cloudy Ridge Junior (right of centre) in the distance (photo by Dave).
First encounter with a friendly hunter on horse (photo by Dave)
The Sun rises on the scary side of Mount Yarrow
A fire stack and Yarrow
The red argillite gully at the bottom looked mighty tempting!
The cool summit block of Mount Glendowan
Looking up the approximate ascent route I took on Yarrow I
Me, looking up the approximate ascent route I took on Yarrow I! (photo by Dave)
Approaching the drainage we used for the ascent (photo by Dave)
Up we go (photo by Dave)
Fascinating rock (photo by Dave)
And again (photo by Dave)
Side-sloping to avoid the thick forest at the left (photo by Dave)
Dave weaves through the trees
Excited to reach more open terrain (photo by Dave)
Out into the open and enjoying perfect weather (photo by Dave)
Dave approaches the first real obstacle of the ascent route
He wisely chooses the left side. I did not choose wisely and ended up on some dicey terrain around the right side.
It didn't look bad from this angle, but in fact is quite steep and very icy
So many outliers and potential routes
That's me, emerging from the unknown after I got stuck on a steep, icy, snow slope. Should have followed Dave! (photo by Dave)
Back into some fairly deep snow (photo by Dave)
Dave nears the first tricky section (second for me!)
Dave leads us up
My turn (photo by Dave)
Typical angle of the upper slopes
Finally above treeline and ready to enjoy the slog to the ridge (photo by Dave)
Steep and foreshortened (photo by Dave)
Still going up (photo by Dave)
Finally on the ridge, with the summit in the background (photo by Dave)
Mount Roche (Spread Eagle Mountain) at the right is an impressive beast
Dave takes the lead again
I cowered on the left side of the ridge to get some reprieve from the biting, cold wind
The view towards Roche was definitely the hit of the trip
Looking down the Yarrow's east ridge (photo by Dave)
Final few steps for me (photo by Dave)
Summit pose with every layer of clothing I have (photo by Dave)
Same for Dave
The view to the south includes distant Chief Mountain, Dungarvan, and both the Cloudy's (Sr.: I, II, Jr.: I, II)
Dave is being a good sport, posing for a photo while we freeze our butts off!
Loaf Mountain peaks over the long ridge of Spionkop (photo by Dave)
The summit of Spionkop - one of the best views in the Rockies (photo by Dave)
Newman Senior is nothing to sneeze at either! (photo by Dave)
Retreat (photo by Dave)
More Roche love
Looking back at the summit
Descending the tricky step (photo by Dave)
No-slip zone
Another little step to get down (photo by Dave)
Still enjoying the panoramic views to the west
Down to a more hospitable environment
Back at the end of the gas road looking up at Yarrow, with the Sun in a much better position
Dave and a very random cairn
The hike out featured great views of Yarrow's southeast side, with lots of potential routes to explore
At some point in the future, I WILL be going up this drainage!
Another hunter and his two horses
One the Yarrow Ridges' coolest features (Yarrow Ridge III, IV, V, VI, VII)
Not looking forward to regaining some elevation on the hike out (photo by Dave)
Pleasant sunset to end an excellent day
The End
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