Day 2

The plan for day 2 was to work our way across the flats between Outcast Hill and Kuno Peak, cross the north fork of Tadekho Creek, and make the climb over Yagi Ridge (11.5 km and +754 m, -778 m). Unfortunately the ever-changing weather conditions would cut our day short (6.2 km and +101 m, -260 m, camp 1.5 in the route planning post).

Early morning at our camp beside the tarns - looking south west towards Wealth Ridge.

By morning the rain had stopped but the wind was still gusting. With temperatures hovering near zero we decided the best way to keep warm was to just get moving. The day looked somewhat promising with the clouds starting to break up. Or so we thought.

Don't let the bright sunshine fool you, it really was a very chilly morning (the small mound on the left was all we had to protect us from the wind).

Breaking camp with low hanging clouds still hovering over Kuno Peak.

Despite the chill, the contrasts surrounding our camp were nothing short of magnificent.

Looking north to where we were heading, and hoping the clear skies would spread in that direction before we get there.

The valley to the east beckoned exploration - if you had the time you could spend several weeks just wandering about.

About 20 minutes after we started hiking and things appeared to be improving to the north.

Today was Edziza at its most typical, with scudding clouds that seemed to shred and break apart in one part of the sky while just as quickly coalescing into low hanging gloominess elsewhere. Wait 10 minutes and the weather really does change. 

Kuno Peak shrouded in low hanging cloud.

When the clouds cleared the views across the plateau were crisp (looking towards Exile Hill).

No rain yet, but the rain gear helped to block out the biting wind.

Yeah, it felt like the season was heading for a change - you could smell winter in the air.

A brief patch of sunshine lighting up a beautifully clear stream.

Small patches of lichen that seem to compete with the surrounding topography for attention.

The north east side of Exile Hill.

Rounding the nose of Kuno Peak in a brief bout of sunshine.

A lone, stunted fir tree holding its own on the barren plateau.

As we cleared the nose of Kuno Peak our plans fell apart. With low clouds obscuring the view of Yagi Ridge, we were not sure how extensive the snow from last week's blizzard was higher on the slopes. With the lack of visibility, and in the interest of safety, we decided to set up camp along the north fork of Tadekho Creek and hope for better conditions tomorrow.

Of course once we had camp set up the clouds started to break. No worries though, the views from camp made for a wonderful backdrop to a relaxing evening.

The north face of Kuno Peak with Yeda Peak obscured by cloud in the center.

Looking up the valley to the east section of Yagi Ridge.

The view of Outcast Hill from camp.

With the clearing skies there was obviously a fair bit of snow still on the slopes of Yagi Ridge. Despite this, our proposed route to the top seemed clear enough to make the climb. Tomorrow we would make the ascent.

The last rays of sun kissing the top of the ridge and providing some spectacular contrast.

The evening ended in a mesmerizing display where the clouds briefly out shone the colors of Edziza.

Day 3

The goal for day 3 was simple; find a way up and over Yagi ridge. It would be a short 5.3 km, +640 m day (from camp 1.5 to camp 2 in the route planning post) starting with a crossing of the north fork of Tadekho creek (an early morning creek crossing followed by a climb out of a valley would be a common theme as we cross the Spectrum Range). If we could make Nagha creek by the end of the day, we would consider that a success.

A cold breakfast at the start of a frosty morning.

Getting ready for another chilly boots-off stream crossing.

Looking back at Kuno peak and last night's camp location at its base.

With the creek crossing out of the way it was a gentle climb to the start of the scree slopes fronting Yagi ridge. We worked or way west to the approach we had scouted using binoculars the day before. The path looked to be mostly clear of snow all the way to the top.

Looking east up the valley along Yagi ridge. A climb over this section would put you right on top of Nagha glacier.

Kuno peak with its receding glacier.

Christoph and Alejandra hiking along the low scree mounds that front Yagi Ridge (Outcast hill in the background).

The climb up Yagi ridge started out easy enough - lots of loose rock but not too steep. That would soon change.

High on the slope of Yagi ridge looking east (Kuno peak on the right and Yeda peak up the center).

We didn't take many pictures on the climb. There were few places to safely stop and rest on the ever steepening and loose scree. We would take a step and wait for the sliding to stop before advancing our poles and taking another short step. Slow and steady was the best approach here.

The higher we climbed, the steeper it got.

At this point I was glad we were going up and not climbing down from the other direction. The route we chose looked clear all the way to the top but we reached a point where we had to traverse the slope with some vertical drops above and beneath us - the exposure was certainly more that we expected to encounter. At one point we reached a particularly steep pitch where the loose scree turned to hard rock with some loose overlay. It looked all but impassable but Christoph took the lead and guided us up the worst of it.

Not quite at the top and with one more steep pitch to go, Alejandra takes a break on a small bench above the most difficult part of the climb.

Finally at the summit and relieved to put the climb behind us.

Looking west along Yagi ridge.

Looking back at where we started from in the morning.

Looking east along Yagi ridge.

Looking north to our first view of  snow-covered Mount Edziza, far in the distance on the left.

It was hard not to linger too long on Yagi ridge - the views were incredible in all directions.

Obsidian ridge still covered in a thick blanket of snow from last week's blizzard.

The descent down the north face of Yagi ridge was a lot more manageable. Patches of snow on the upper slopes added to the picturesque scene.

On the approach to Nagha creek our search for a suitable campsite commences.

Ptarmigan were common throughout Edziza. They had little fear of us and we were able to get quite close.

When we arrived at Nagha creek it was mid-afternoon with the temperature a respectable 16 C. The creek was quite high and although it was still crosssable, we decide to save it for the next morning when the level would be lower with the colder overnight temperatures.

Looking east from our campsite with Nagha glacier and the creek flowing straight out from underneath it.

Looking south towards the east end of Yagi ridge from our camp just above Nagha creek.

Nagha creek was running high and muddy so we pulled our drinking water from a small trickle running off the slope just east of our camp.

The view to the west down the Nagha creek drainage.

Every night the stars were out in full force, with the Milky Way dominating the skyline. We were hoping for some Northern Lights but they never materialized.