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over the hills and far away
Canada
709 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 4:08 PM
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This TR details a 3 day trip into the Siffleur Valley via Mosquito Cr north fork and Quartzite Col, and ascents of Clearwater Mtn (10,750ft), an unnamed gentle ridge, and an unnamed peak beside (east of) Quartzite Col.
 - Overall View of Route
 - View of Mosquito Cr, route to Col, and up an unnamed peak
 - View north from Quartzite Col
 - View from Clearwter Mtn
This is one of the prettiest places I've been in the Rockies. Shaun (nmcan84) and I had talked about trying Mt. Willingdon, but by the time we got into the Siffleur Valley we just wanted to drop our bags and relax, and therefore changed our objectives.
Thurs July 5
Started at the Mosquito Cr trailhead. At about 4km we crossed a bridge, left the main trail, and headed up the north fork, sometimes hiking beside the creek, other times following a faint trail on a bench above. After some debate about where exactly it was, we trudged up to Quartzite Col (8470ft), and got our first views of the Siffleur Valley and the Willingdon group. Descending the col was a steep bit of business on snow, and I asked Shaun to belay me before he downclimbed. We descended 1000ft to the valley bottom and made camp beside a tarn, content with the view.
(pics not all from same day...)
              
Views from Camp:
    
Fri July 6
On this day we crossed another branch of the Siffleur and headed NW toward the base of Clearwater Mtn. With no snow, this would be a moderate scree scramble requiring about 3600ft of elevation from valley floor. Some snow made the ascent a bit less brutal, and descent much quicker. The views were some of the best I've had.
     
Shaun's Pics:   
Summit Views, register frozen solid:                 
After the summit, we slid and plunged our way down into a bowl where we chilled for a while.  
We decided to part ways for the remainder of the day. I really wanted to see Devon Lakes, and Shaun wanted to taker easy. So he relaxed and meandered his way back to camp. I climbed an unnamed ridge to a bit over 9200ft (see maps above) and had a nice walk and great views of Devon Lakes-- they are real beauties! After descending the ridge I relaxed in Clearwater Pass, then too made my way back to camp.
              
Sat July 7
Today we had to climb back up to Quartzite Col, which was a hell of a way to start a day...>
          
Once at the col, Shaun was cool to wait while I tramped up an unnamed peak to the east of Quartzite Col. If anyone can fill me in if this is named, please do.
       
And...... then we hiked out.... I was really glad to do this trip. Maybe next time we'll try for Willingdon, or plod up Devon Mtn. Really, I was just happy to be there- it was so nice. I wouldn't want to pass through Quartzite Col or climb Clearwater in dry conditions though, as the scree and boulders would be brutal. Thanks Shaun for joining me and for all the other BS. |
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 Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 4:15 PM
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| I love that area. We did Quartzite when dry - yes the boulders and scree are awful. We also did it with just a dust of snow - which made it even more awful. But, the area back there is so beautiful. Thanks for the TR. |
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155 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 5:21 PM
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| Thanks for the TR from a seldom visited area. Looks like you guys had an amazing trip and great weather, too. How was the mosquitos in the Clearwater valley? |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
840 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 7:10 PM
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| Fantastic photos! Thanks for posting this TR. I may head up to Devon Lakes soon and scale Devon or Clearwater Mountain. BTW, do you have GPS coordinates of Quatzite Col? Is the route up there obvious or some routefinding required? |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 7:31 PM
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Quartzite is at GR475283(NAD83). It's not that obvious when coming from the south - or really from the north for that matter. I've also been over the col at GR522257 (NAD83) which is a bit longer, but easier terrain than Quartzite col. Both are way quicker routes to Devon Lakes than taking the trail.
Here's a picture of Quartzite Col from the north:
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
840 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 7:58 PM
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| Thanks Sandy! |
Edited by - Engor on 07/16/2012 7:58 PM |
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over the hills and far away
Canada
709 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 8:51 PM
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Put another way....
Quartzite Col (WGS 84): N51 42.129 W116 18.633
Engor: I wouldn't say the route up is obvious. Shaun and I spent some time talking about the right way to go. I thought it was further up-valley.... You can't see the col from the valley bottom, but GoogleEarth shows a couple huge gullies/drainages coming down from the north. If you can spot those, they might be a good reference for when to head on up. Once you leave the north Mosquito fork valley to gain elevation, you'd look for a big rocky ampitheatre with a lot of grey rock at the top of a ridge- that's the col.
  -- notice the grey rock at the top of the ridge- the col and notch is to the right of it.
We trended a bit right and reached a notch. The north side is much steeper. Some people even rappel, and I got Shaun to belay me as I downclimbed part of the snowslope. So, yes, routefinding involved. Maybe Shaun has some input.
MtnNinja: Honestly the bugs were not bad at all. It was very pleasant in the evenings. Weird because I few days later in the Mt.Hector area the skeeters were just brutal. |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 9:08 PM
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| Much better photos than my crappy one. |
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972 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 10:27 PM
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nice report!! great pictures!
thanks for a good time. Glad we were able to get up hector.
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287 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 08:26 AM
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| Great TR! I backpacked the Fish Lakes/Devon Lakes/Dolomite circuit in 2009 with the plan of ascending Clearwater Mountain. After making it up Mosquito and Devon Mountain, I was too exhausted to try Clearwater but I'm glad to see someone give it a go and make it. Devon Mountain had some great views and is seldom climbed as well. I'd like to give Willingdon a try someday so perhaps I will attempt Clearwater too. The Siffleur Valley and the Devon Lakes area are such gems! Good job! |
Edited by - jeffs78 on 07/17/2012 08:27 AM |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
840 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 3:32 PM
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Thank you guys for your input on Quartzite Col. I'm surprised it involves some Class 2 to Class 3 scrambling. I expected it to be much easier based on a TR of a hiker who did it with his two kids aged 9 and 13:
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/4996/index.html |
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Edmonton, AB
89 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 6:12 PM
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| Wow! That is really fantastic. Thanks for the report. |
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13 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 8:59 PM
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| Great pictures, looks like you guys had an amazing time. Maybe someday I can get there too and join my helmet. |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 3:11 PM
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| Quartzite col is probably class 2. It's really just a talus/boulder slope. The nasty thing about it is that the north side is typical Rockies choss. |
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over the hills and far away
Canada
709 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 8:18 PM
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Way to make me feel like a wimp, Engor....
Jeffs78: Ya I looked at your report before we went- was very nice. |
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Calgary, AB
52 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 9:22 PM
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Willingdon took me 2 tries. To be honest, crossing Quartzite Col and the scenery in the Clearwater/Devon Lakes/Siffleur River Valley were much more interesting than the climb itself.
Even the descent/ascent on the North side of Quartzite Col was much more interesting from a mountaineering perspective (we all wore crampons the second time):
 
We took the notch just right of where we're standing in the second pic both times - it looks really steep from above, but we measured it at 45 degrees at the steepest spot. The second time around, we took the direct line straight down: the rest of the group faced into the slope the whole way while I faced out or sideways for about 2/3 then glissaded.
Be careful though, on our first attempt, just as we were about to get back to the notch on the way out, we were hit by an incredible wind blast that literally knocked one woman off her feet. I watched her execute a perfect self arrest position, but the axe just sliced through the slushy snow like butter. She lost control as the slope rolled over and tumbled into the rocks below. Thankfully, she was OK because she slowed down enough before hitting the rocks and her backpack took the brunt of the blow that she did take.
More pics here:
Trip #1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/powrider_kevsauer/sets/72157624606099722/
Trip #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/powrider_kevsauer/sets/72157627242351659/ |
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Siffleur Valley,Clearwater Mtn, 3 Day July 5-7 BNP
