MOUNTAINEERING
 Wyoming Weekend | Someother mountain trip | another trip again
Weaselette
Here Heather practices ice technique. Early the following morning she set out with the team to climb Mount Athabasca – 11,453′.
She was 13 years of age.
Summit of Mount Fay
At 10,610′, the north face of Mount Fay was a very enjoyable climb in perfect weather.
Summit of Mount Rainier – 14,411′
We started at 1 a.m. from the Muir Hut at 10,000′. After crossing the Cowlitz Glacier, we sat in awe of the Perseids meteor shower. As daylight started to brighten our route, a lenticular cloud descended upon the peak, limiting our visibility to a rope length. Good thing we took pictures.
Rick on Mount Temple
From Sentinel Pass, Mount Temple is a large arduous pile of talus and scree. With the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the background, Rick examines the route above.
Jim at the Muir Hut – Mount Rainier
We started the trek up to the Muir Hut in overcast conditions. As we gained altitude, a cloud enveloped us and the sky became brighter. We finally climbed through the cloud to an incredible vista below. Here, Jim relaxes as Mount Hood pokes up in the distance.
Morning in the Bugaboos
We had gone for a stroll to the base of Pigeon Spire the previous evening. To get a better view, we started to climb, then a little higher. Soon we were committed to the climb, reaching the summit at 10 p.m. On the descent we turned off our headlights and relied on the moon’s light, reaching the glacier below at midnight. In the morning, fog and low patches of cloud made for a moody photo opportunity.
The Approach to Mount Rainier
A long snowfield is the approach to the Muir Hut on Mount Rainier.
The Graham Cooper Hut – 9300′
The ‘Sardine Can’ sat at the edge of an ice gully leading to Moraine Lake 3000′ below. From here, it was an easy 1km walk to the base of Mount Fay – peak one of the ten peaks. The Chouinard Route on the north face was in perfect condition and we were at the summit in good time. From there we traversed the summit ridge to the top of a shorter gulley and plunge stepped and glissaded to the bottom.
Ihor climbs the Kain Face – Mount Robson
Using a pair of axes, Ihor front-points up the steep slope of the Kain Face on Mount Robson, at 12,972′ the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Mount Columbia – 12,293′
The approach to Mount Columbia via the Athabasca Glacier was two days at over 9000′. During the first night camped, a tremendous thunderstorm crashed all around us. We were tossing our ice axes and anything metal away from the tents. We survived the night but made a late start the next day. Here, Mount Columbia watches as we break camp. It is the second highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Characters in the Bugaboos
After a few days’ hiking in the backcountry, it is sometimes hard to distinguish between the animals in their natural habitat and other creatures.