I left Victoria just after 8:00am and reached Jacks trailhead four hours later. About 15 minutes up the trail I realized I had left my inreach device in the car. This was problematic for several reasons, as I was going solo and needed the insurance policy, the fact that it was fully visible in the car and I’ve been hearing about recent break-ins in Strathcona, and finally without it I wouldn’t be able to get a message to my partner to let her know I was okay. And so I dropped my bag and went back down the mountain to get my inreach device, a bit of a false start. Nonetheless I was on my way at about 12:40 to climb this grueling, never-ending, trail into the alpine.
I reached the first set of tarns just under Jacks Fell in about four hours and took a good long break. I then soldiered on for about another hour to find a spot on the ridge in the shadow of Augerpoint mountain. Great views all around, The Golden Hinde, Augerpoint, Sid Williams, Sid Watts, and a peek at Mount Albert Edward. I chose my spot because of water but also for a good amount of evening and morning sun.
The following day I made tracks for Augerpoint Mountain. This is a beautiful ridge to walk so I took my time. Climbing Augerpoint was pretty straightforward from the col above Ruth Masters Lake, a little steep at times but a basic scramble. I enjoyed the views from the summit and made my way back down. I had considered trying for Syd Watts on this day, but the weather and time were not on my side. I opted to head back to camp, take a break, then head up Jack’s Fell that was bathed in the afternoon sun.
Final day, I woke to fog, and made tracks back down to Buttle Lake.
Leave a Reply