Home»All Photographs»2018 Hikes»Association Peak 07-07-18

Association Peak was a big day. It was a 13.5 hour hike for Clayton, David and Myself, in which we covered 26 km and gained 2200 meters of elevation. Indeed, it was around three hours in before we got our first real look at the mountain.
The approach goes over three successive forested ridges, each with their own river ford separating the ridges (I stashed a big bottle of lemon/lime Gatorade here for the return - so refreshing!).
Contrary to most peaks, the scrambling crux was down low on the mountain, and involved an awkward little move up a ledge underneath an overhanging bulge.
Higher up, we ascended scree slopes toward a black cliffband, all while having an awesome view to the east over the precipice.
Once at the cliffband, we contoured along the base of it, past two small waterfalls, until a scree pile allowed access higher. A short ridgewalk to the east, and we were on the summit of Association Peak, 7 hours after setting out.
We descended to the cliffband waterfall for a proper lunch out of the wind. We then continued down off the mountain and arrived at Association Pass, which leads the other way to Association Hill. "Why not make a huge day even bigger?" (may as well leave no unfinished business way back here on this trail - much of it a muddy horsetrack that I wouldn't rush to repeat).
A verdant ridge led the way up to Association Hill, where we had a second lunchbreak. The direct descent from this position back to the trail took us through an amazing wildflower display that may show up in my pictures, but can be done no justice with a camera.
On one of the several re-ascents of forested ridges furnished with a muddy horsetrack that peeled skyward through the trees, David gleefully asked "Who's ready to suffer?". I smiled, Clayton grimaced, David nodded, and we continued on.
This was a great day out, where the weather held nicely, optimism reigned, and we successfully tagged a remote summit.