Created 18-Jun-23
Modified 20-Dec-23
2023-06-10 | Bryant Ridges 42 & 43 | 2347 max | TH | 13.0 km | 614m TA | w/ Peter
Stats on this one approximate as we were using Bob Spirko beta, Daffern beta, mapsME / Garmin on the phone, etc. Bob refers to these peaks as “Upper Canyon Creek Peaks 427439 and 436425”, Daffern just references their GR’s, and on MapsME and Gamin it was referencing Bryant Ridges (adjacent Mt Bryant / Bryant lake being the logic for that). So lacking clear names these fly somewhat under the radar. There are four of them – 40,41,42,43 so we shall return someday for the more westerly 40&41.
At any rate, the Trailhead is off Powderface Trail and shares part of its approach with the Bryant lake trail. For the most part there isn’t a trail – early going is a creek bed and then branches off up a side drainage where there was a trail for a while. We then branched off and aimed for the col between our two objectives. The ridge walk was lovely and soon we were on 42 for a snack break. We then continued along the ridge a ways to see the olistoliths. “Olistromes are formed by the slumping of unconsolidated material from the reef above” and not formed by erosion as it may appear. At any rate there is one that is called “the boxing glove” etc. I found a small cave and outside an olistolith that looked like a dragon.
After that break we traversed the ridge and down to the col, back up to 43 somewhat more easily than I expected (my fitness was a concern but going to the gym actually works – go figure). From there the route was unclear since we had seen a variety of clearings, cliff bands, and trees from below. As it turns out by dropping straight off the end and bearing right a little before taking a game trail through some trees dropped us back in the drainage.
By now I was dry having tried to lighten up as much as possible I was packing 1.8 l of water and it was hotter than expected. The highlight of the trek out was finding a fox skull in the drainage. Great day!
© Clayton Ditzler