The top ridge is dangerous. I made a mistake not bringing my helmet. The snow is soft, crampons don't bite at all.
2 of us climbed Jim Hill, via Lanham Lake trail. I was only following, still my heart skipped a few beats on the top ridge. It's just snow dumped on rocks. Very narrow. Each step has to be stable. At times, I was on all 4s.
The trail to the lake is straightforward. It was icy, especially in the beginning. Spkes are useful.
At the lake, we switched to snowshoes. Here is a photo of the lake on our way out, when a ptamigan was postholing in the snow.
Then, it's steep ascent in the trees. However, it's reasonably open, and soft snow. Zigzag makes the slope not so bad.
Once reached the ridge, we followed it, mostly on the right side. It's not steep. Again powdery snow. Here is the photo of the ridge.
We ditched snowshoes and hiking poles at the bottom of the final ascent.
Switched to crampons and ice axe, but they don't bite, just made me feel better to have them on.
Photos: Towards the ascent Exposed top ridge.
zhong - Apr 23, 2023 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2023
Jim Hill winter scrambleThe top ridge is dangerous. I made a mistake not bringing my helmet. The snow is soft, crampons don't bite at all.
2 of us climbed Jim Hill, via Lanham Lake trail. I was only following, still my heart skipped a few beats on the top ridge. It's just snow dumped on rocks. Very narrow. Each step has to be stable. At times, I was on all 4s.
The trail to the lake is straightforward. It was icy, especially in the beginning. Spkes are useful.
At the lake, we switched to snowshoes. Here is a photo of the lake on our way out, when a ptamigan was postholing in the snow.
Then, it's steep ascent in the trees. However, it's reasonably open, and soft snow. Zigzag makes the slope not so bad.
Once reached the ridge, we followed it, mostly on the right side. It's not steep. Again powdery snow. Here is the photo of the ridge.
We ditched snowshoes and hiking poles at the bottom of the final ascent.
Switched to crampons and ice axe, but they don't bite, just made me feel better to have them on.
Photos:
Towards the ascent
Exposed top ridge.
Back the same way.