Home»All Photographs»2019 Hikes»Mt. James Walker 07-23-19

With a week-long high pressure system settling in and bomber weather pretty much guaranteed, David, Clayton and Myself all took off work/school to go and get a big day in the mountains.
I had attempted Mt. James Walker solo via a different route back in October of 2010, but didn't make it quite to the top due to snow/ice and difficult terrain. This time, instead of the south ridge, we took the southeast gully.
After ascending through forest, past a tranquil pond and scenic waterfalls, we reached the upper valley. Here, a series of tarns lay, each one more stunning than the last. To top it all off, a little stream was running through a verdant patch of moss, way up here! After we took in all the beautiful scenery, it was time to get down to business and start the steep stuff.
A long scree slope ensued. We past snowpatches and scrambled up minor cliffbands as the terrain steepened. We all took different routes up this part of the mountain, following whatever line we were most comfortable with.
Once on the summit ridge proper, I realized that I had mistakenly gone to the wrong high point and that the summit was farther to the north toward Clayton. I was at the spot I was in back in 2010!
I called out to David to stop ascending toward me and stay put. He and I grouped up at this point and scrambled along the ridge together towards Clayton. The three of us met up at the top and had lunch at the very cramped summit.
On descent, we contemplated glissading a snowpatch until we threw a test rock and watched a wet snow avalanche unfold. It wouldn't have been enough to sweep us down, but not ideal conditions nonetheless.
A long and enjoyable walk back concluded a great day out in the mountains.