Home»All Photographs»2015 Hikes»Mt. Tyrwhitt 08-01-15

A solo adventure took me up the slopes of Mt. Tyrwhitt today.
The trail begins at Highwood Pass and ascends gently through forest before emerging in scenic Pocaterra Cirque. A 5 m-high window formed by a rock arch can be seen high up on Tyrwhitt from here.
A traverse of rocky slopes on a boot-beaten trail then takes you to Grizzly Col, from where there is a fine vantage of the ascent. The window is about two-thirds of the way up, and provides an interesting perspective along with the photo that every Tyrwhitt summiteer has taken.
Not far past, the steep slope quickly gives way to the summit. I thought I had at least 15 minutes to go, when I popped up over a knob and there was the summit cairn.
The view is truly fantastic, and was enhanced by the fine weather in all directions - no pesky thunderstorms building to the west. It was still only 10:30, so I took an hour and a half on top. After a nice snack, reading the summit register, taking some pictures and peering at other mountains with my binoculars, it was time to put my boots back on and descend.
The temperature gradient kicked in on the way down, and as mid-twenties became high-twenties, I was glad I was descending rather than those who were just now toiling up from Grizzly Col.
The descent revealed some interesting coal deposits, with samples strewn near the trail in areas. Lower down was the scent of cow parsnip blooms in the afternoon sun with about as many bumble bees on them as you can imagine.