| Mt.
Whyte - 2983m/9787' |
Scrambling with Ian Cameron
Height gain: 1266m/4156'
Ascent date: Aug 12, 2005
Ascent time: 1:00hr From Mt. Niblock
Descent time: 2:30hrs Via the Plain of Six Glaciers trail
Comment: Difficult scramble |
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This trip is part of
an awesome traverse with an exciting finish. We started with
Mt. Niblock, then a traverse
to Mt. Whyte. The weather was cloudy and cold
at first but clear blue sky turned to our favour when we reached
the col. Our overall roundtrip took 8:30hrs including lunch
at Mt. Niblock, a lengthy stay at Mt. Whyte and an aternate
descent via Plain of Six Glaciers.
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(1) Aug 12, 2005. Here's the beginning of the col from Mt.
Niblock. Mt. Whyte is visible on the left and the Outlier
on the right.
(2) This is from the top of the gully as Kane suggests. We
stayed on the right of the gully to avoid the drop, but then
it narrows-up at the top. The steps were pretty solid for
the most part. |
 
(1) The final ridge to the summit consists of these pinnacles.
Ian traversed the pinnacles on the left and I went on the right.
(2) 1:00hr traverse. The summit was narrow so it was hard for
me to find a spot for my tripod.
Looking back down below the col, we couldn't figure out how
we ascended Niblock. The route looked very steep. Then we doubted
the descent, is it really easier and faster to return the same
way? |
  (1)
It looked faster and more direct to descend via Plain of Six
Glaciers so we're off.
One more step and Ian would've plummeted at about 20' straight
down.
(2) This is the back side of the left photo. First of the many
crux we had to pass. Actually, it wasn't all bad. Everytime
we thought there might be a drop, Ian would go on the left and
I would be on the right. Both ways worked. |
  (1)
After the first crux, the next one up I had a hard time descending
was this part. We were close to the Plain of Six Glaciers trail
already at this point. People from below kept stopping and staring
at us. I felt so uncomfortable, I couldn't focus on my steps.
(2) The hike back to Lake Louise was long but we felt very much
at ease after 2:30hrs of long (longer than expected) and stressful
descent. |
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