Mount Ernest Ross - Job/Cline PLUZ & Kiska/Willson PLUZ, Alberta - Apr 5, 2025 скачать в хорошем качестве

Mount Ernest Ross - Job/Cline PLUZ & Kiska/Willson PLUZ, Alberta - Apr 5, 2025

Katie Heaven, Darren Korf, and Doug Lutz ascending to the Mount Ernest Ross East summit. After landing on going to Ram Mountain on Apr 5th, and sticking a general invite out on 2 FB groups, Blake Enns warned me that the North Fork Road access was a mud-pit that even 4x4s were having a challenge with... so, I needed to re-orient on something that I felt would satisfy my need to get out to the mountains given the stellar forecast... I pivoted after a late-day decision... decided to go up Mount Ernest Ross! I had been up the ascent a couple of times (once all the way to Two O'Clock Ridge), so I had a good idea of what the ascent would entail. I was expecting snow on the ascent after I encountered significant snow on Windy Point on a Mar 23 ascent... and we got it! Katie Heaven and Darren Korf joined me on this ascent - they had also been up Ernest Ross before during summer conditions. We started out at 8:30 from the trailhead (yeah, unheard of start time for me) - it was actually a really nice break from my usual drive to the trailhead in early, early mornings - I could see the mountains as I approached. On this day, they were glorious due to the backdrop of the blue sky. In the early morning temperature, the mud was frozen, so that was very helpful for the initial steep incline. Mud gave way to light ridge/forest travel, and then the snow was generally ankle-depth up to about the saddle. After this, the snow depth progressively got deeper. I always find the combination of snow with blue sky an uplifting view, and the combination of good company and the views made this ascend very enjoyable indeed! A note of warning: The last 30 meters elevation gain goes up a steep gully that is presently snow-filled. This snow will start melting, and will likely begin being more icy and treacherous as the snow disappears. We did not go to the true summit (west summit) - the col between the two summits has a fair bit of snow, and the access to the north summit is via scrambling up the north side of the summit block (also covered with snow). We felt that it was not worth the risk for us to continue past the east summit, and the views from the east summit I actually prefer anyway! I hope that you enjoy the photos. Thanks Katie and Darren Heaven for joining me!