BradOrr

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  2. 2017

2017-05-12 East peak of Wendell

Leon, Rob and I ventured deep into the CMC valley to find the east peak of Wendell.
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  • Map

    Map

    Map of our route to the summit of EPOW! In the stats, the elevation gain is for the whole trip, We had to ascend Yam shoulder twice which added to the total elevation.

  • Rob in the CMC Valley

    Rob in the CMC Valley

    After hiking up the shoulder of Mt Yamnuska and down into the CMC Valley, following Ford creek and then gaining some altitude above the valley bottom, I finally started taking some photos.

  • Leon below the Mountain

    Leon below the Mountain

    in the CMC valley, a bit higher up along the lower slopes of Wendell, Leon makes his way up the slope.

  • Untitled photo
  • CMC Pillars

    CMC Pillars

    As we traversed below Wendell we came across some incredible pillars. We stopped for some photos and some food.. we were around 5-6 kms into our approach.

  • Another View of the pillars

    Another View of the pillars

    Wendell is on the right. the landscape was amazing.

  • Untitled photo
  • Rounded view

    Rounded view

    I shot a series of photos and made this vertical panorama of the pillars. Mt Yamnuska in the background.

  • Untitled photo
  • Leon on the trail

    Leon on the trail

    After leaving the pillars, we sidehilled towards the end of the valley. The trail to the summit rounds a corner on climbers right and starts up a steep scree slope. Sometimes when I shoot Leon he starts walking in slow motion and over animates his steps.. the challenge is to get a shot that doesn't look goofy.

  • Rob at the turn

    Rob at the turn

    We've made it to the corner and are starting up the scree slope. The MPOW (main peak of Wendell) in the background.

  • Steep Slopes

    Steep Slopes

    The slope steeper and the scree was loose. Our progress slowed quite a bit here.

  • Last stand slab.

    Last stand slab.

    This slab area is the last bit of the scree ascent before we got to the summit ridge. We ascended from the bottom right. Mt Yamnuska in the background, you can see the red streak coming off her summit which is an excellent scree run.

  • Cliffs.

    Cliffs.

    The scree slope ended just below some cliffs. The trail goes climbers right, but is exploring climbers left.

  • Scree ascent line.

    Scree ascent line.

    Looking back at the scree slope we ascended.. we were looking forward to a quick descent.

  • Peaking for the peak.

    Peaking for the peak.

    The main summit ridge was just around the corner. Here Rob is looking to see if we'd be able to scramble over this part of the trail.. I think we ended up going around on the right.

  • Untitled photo
  • Leon pointing the way.

    Leon pointing the way.

    On the summit ridge now. The massive pillars behind Leon are the same ones we passed earlier. just much lower down.

  • Summit ridge

    Summit ridge

    We're starting our way up the summit ridge. We thought the summit was close. It wasn't but the trail was good and the views were amazing. The weather was still holding for us.

  • Closer

    Closer

    Getting closer to the summit.. although the highpoint in the photo still isn't it.

  • Made it.

    Made it.

    Rob's first big mountain summit, looking north west. There was some gusty wind, but not enough to be an issue.

  • Leon making photos.

    Leon making photos.

    On the ridge just below the summit.

  • New Hat

    New Hat

    Leon picked up a new hat before this trip.. it makes him look more approachable and less ninja like.

  • One step forward.

    One step forward.

    same as the last photo, but one step closer.

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