• October 20, 2001

Failed scramble with Mark.

The hike to Grizzly col was very scenic and enjoyable. From there, we made it about halfway up, but the snowy and icy conditions made travel too dangerous and the dark clouds rolling in helped us to make a quick decision to retreat.

    
Mark, heading towards Grizzly col; the snowy mountain, just left of center, is the south peak of Tombstone Mountain

    
Mount Pocaterra as seen from the ascent slopes of Mount Tyrwhitt

    
Ascending steep, snowy and icy terrain

    
Mount Elpoca and Tombstone Mountain

Without the snow and ice, Tyrwhitt is an easy and enjoyable scramble. The scenery of Pocaterra Cirque is wonderful, the scrambling is very straightforward, and the summit view is fantastic, to say the least! The rock arch, near the sumit, is a pleasant surprise (although, a wide-angle camera lens would have been nice). For descent, I took the alternate and extended return via Highwood Ridge. It means some extra elevation gain, but since Tyrwhitt is a mere 650 vertical meters above your starting elevation, so should have plenty of energy to spare.   

    
The rock arch, near the Tyrwhitt summit

    
A north view from the ascent slopes; Pocaterra Ridge is in the foreground; behind, from left to right, are diminutive Gap Mountain, Elpoca Mountain, and Tombstone South

    
Mount Arethusa

    
A wonderful view to the west