We also used Dow's route description for a climb mid July 2008 and had no troubles at all (6hrs up, 4hrs back) -- very detailed and overal great info!! Thanks Dow!
The current situation for chicken wire is that there is roughly enough for 3 cars, no more. I bought some at Home Depot to bring just in case, but fortunatly didn't have to use it so I returned it. Note that this seems to be an increasingly popular approach (for good reason). Upon arriving at the parking spot there were 4 other cars (only 1 used chicken wire). When we returned there were 7, with only 3 using chicken wire.
One other update to the route description: once at Assiniboine lake, take the lowest possible route (lake level) around the right side of the lake until the back side and the scree slope (ie. don't be tempted to shortcut/contour up and around on the ankle jarring scree bordering the lake).
Lastly, once actually on the mountain (N Ridge route) our group of 3 took about 13 hours return to the hut (ie. 6hrs up / 7hrs down). Yes, much much longer than we had anticipated based on other reports! A couple reasons:
1) the bands were icy/snowy in places,
2) we short roped with running belays on the upper ridge (ie. no soloing like Dow did), and
3) the time to descend/rap/downclimb is highly dependant on your comfort downclimbing loose rock and very loose scree covering downsloping rock (ie. not so simple as Yamnuska ski scree descents).
So, if any one member of your group is more tentative climbing/descending or less experienced, then anticipant much longer than Dow's 8hrs or the 'book of lies' 6-8hr time estimates. The Hind Hut log book was full of 10-13+ hr climbing times. Congrats to the fellow who has apparently done a 4hr up/down... wow!!!
Overall the mountain is a decaying choss pile and climber's scramble. The descent takes a lot away from the 'fun' factor. The best part was really only the upper bands and ridge climbing, which had great exposure and views to the east/west. I'm happy to have done it, but I'm certainly not planning a return trip anytime soon, if ever.
Sorry for the long update... hope some of the details help others planning a trip.
Anton
Dow Williams - Aug 6, 2008 11:34 am - Hasn't voted
Re: N. Rdige (via BC)
sweet, glad you used the backdoor...very scenic and quiet approach....when we did it, never saw another human, even at the hut...it was Sept...the "fellow who has apparently done a 4hr up/down" was me mate...don't know where you got the 8hr from or where you saw the 4hr..however my wife kept me timed and filled the register at the hut with my time if that is where you saw it...when you are going solo, there is not a whole lot holding you back...Sara's dad thought it was too icy when I went up (he has been up and down well over a 100 times I believe), but I thought it was pretty good in comparison to alot of mountains that time of year....I think Sept is the new August in the Rockies...nice trip report, cheers
reboyles - Aug 1, 2007 6:38 pm - Voted 10/10
N. Rdige (via BC)We followed your most excellent description of the BC approach. Well done in every way.
Bazehead - Aug 5, 2008 2:45 pm - Voted 9/10
Re: N. Rdige (via BC)We also used Dow's route description for a climb mid July 2008 and had no troubles at all (6hrs up, 4hrs back) -- very detailed and overal great info!! Thanks Dow!
The current situation for chicken wire is that there is roughly enough for 3 cars, no more. I bought some at Home Depot to bring just in case, but fortunatly didn't have to use it so I returned it. Note that this seems to be an increasingly popular approach (for good reason). Upon arriving at the parking spot there were 4 other cars (only 1 used chicken wire). When we returned there were 7, with only 3 using chicken wire.
One other update to the route description: once at Assiniboine lake, take the lowest possible route (lake level) around the right side of the lake until the back side and the scree slope (ie. don't be tempted to shortcut/contour up and around on the ankle jarring scree bordering the lake).
Lastly, once actually on the mountain (N Ridge route) our group of 3 took about 13 hours return to the hut (ie. 6hrs up / 7hrs down). Yes, much much longer than we had anticipated based on other reports! A couple reasons:
1) the bands were icy/snowy in places,
2) we short roped with running belays on the upper ridge (ie. no soloing like Dow did), and
3) the time to descend/rap/downclimb is highly dependant on your comfort downclimbing loose rock and very loose scree covering downsloping rock (ie. not so simple as Yamnuska ski scree descents).
So, if any one member of your group is more tentative climbing/descending or less experienced, then anticipant much longer than Dow's 8hrs or the 'book of lies' 6-8hr time estimates. The Hind Hut log book was full of 10-13+ hr climbing times. Congrats to the fellow who has apparently done a 4hr up/down... wow!!!
Overall the mountain is a decaying choss pile and climber's scramble. The descent takes a lot away from the 'fun' factor. The best part was really only the upper bands and ridge climbing, which had great exposure and views to the east/west. I'm happy to have done it, but I'm certainly not planning a return trip anytime soon, if ever.
Sorry for the long update... hope some of the details help others planning a trip.
Anton
Dow Williams - Aug 6, 2008 11:34 am - Hasn't voted
Re: N. Rdige (via BC)sweet, glad you used the backdoor...very scenic and quiet approach....when we did it, never saw another human, even at the hut...it was Sept...the "fellow who has apparently done a 4hr up/down" was me mate...don't know where you got the 8hr from or where you saw the 4hr..however my wife kept me timed and filled the register at the hut with my time if that is where you saw it...when you are going solo, there is not a whole lot holding you back...Sara's dad thought it was too icy when I went up (he has been up and down well over a 100 times I believe), but I thought it was pretty good in comparison to alot of mountains that time of year....I think Sept is the new August in the Rockies...nice trip report, cheers