COMP: Evening Ridge Walk
Good Evening!
After an incomplete attempt on Larch Peak (Borr peak) on New Years Eve, I deciided to head up Evening Ridge on New Years Day.
Its challenging enough to find keen touring partners, let alone on New Years Day, so I decided on an easy tour of Evening Ridge Solo.
I parked for Hummingbird Pass on the Whitewater Access road. I descended to Apex Creek, following one of many well worn in skin tracks. Crossed Apex Creek, crossed cross country ski trails, steadily gaining elevation towards Hummingbird Pass.
Before actually reaching the pass, I ascended the first false bump on Evening Ridge. From this point on Navigation is very straight-forward. Option 1: Descend before the Whale Back for a safe old growth tree run back to the access road. Option 2: If conditions/stability permit, drop the whaleback in all its glory!
Or continue walking the ridge and drop one of many westerly runs. As far as the Easterly runs go, not many options without exposure to some serious avalanche terrain.This is how I came about walking Evening Ridge almost in its entirety. The summit south of the Whale Back is the high point of the ridge, I continued south to the next false summit via a steep, slighty exposed ridge.
There was evidence of natural and human initiated avalanches on north east to north west aspects. A crown of close to 80 cm deep by 200+ meters wide was observed on the back side of the ridge.
Ridge to southern most summit:
Nearing summit:
Looking back at Whitewater Slackcountry. White Queen in foreground, and right to left: Mount Enma, Mount Embla, and Larch Peak:
And finally, a look back at my run, lookers left of visible ridge, down the well treed ramp, avoiding avalanche slopes until the last possible moment, then some alder thrashing ensued:
I found a nicely gladed, somewhat safe 700 meter run down from the southern most summit of Evening Ridge. Good snow quality, no recent signs of instability, and a good leg burn! A quick cup of tea, change over, then I crossed the creek, and followed the road for about 1km+ back the the parking lot. Not a bad solo day.