Summit Elevation (m): 2271
Elevation Gain (m): 1700
Trip Time (hr): 10
Total Trip Distance (km): 18
Quick ‘n Dirty Rating: Class 2 – you fall, you might sprain something
Difficulty Notes: Easy scrambling and hiking on loose scree with some route finding. Note: This peak and the stats above are part of the 5 peak Livingstone Traverse.
Technical Rating: OT3; YDS (Hiking)
GPS Track: Gaia
Map: Google Maps
Due to route choices, JW, Keith and I actually did about 75-100 extra meters of height gain on this small peak. Ironically we were trying to avoid bushwhacking and JW and I ended up in some very thick and thorny trees! We dipped all the way down to the col between Windy Peak and Hornecker, instead of cutting climber’s left much earlier. Wietse and Naomi were smart and ended up saving themselves a lot of time and more importantly, effort. Oh well. We needed bushwhacking experience anyway. No?
Hornecker produced no issues, we contoured around to climber’s right and Keith found an interesting cave. Wietse and Naomi went climber’s left and they managed to get up too, so pick your line and go for it.
We once again enjoyed great views from the top, but the stay was again, short due to a stiff, cool wind.
On the way back down there was a great opportunity to boot-ski but JW and I somehow missed out on yet another shortcut and were on scree the whole way. We were all starting to feel the elevation gains and distance but everyone was in good spirits for the final ascent of the day, Windy Peak.