Some trips feel like they came straight out of an ancient parable. This was one of them. Except instead of walking across parted seas, we bushwhacked through alder tunnels, dodged death boulders, and navigated a mountain range that sounds like it came from the Old Testament.
We began our alpine sermon by taking Van Horlick FSR, parking at the decommissioned bridge, and following the West Spur of Morris Trespass Road to its abrupt and underwhelming end. From there, the real fun began: full-contact bushwhacking up the north side of Saint Jacob to a lovely little lake, where we set up camp and promised to never speak of the alder again (we would, multiple times).
Despite already putting in a solid day of vertical, we pushed on to tag Median and Baal that same afternoon. This was less "afternoon stroll" and more "character development arc."
Day 2: Revelations and Rappel Slings
Feeling blessed (and slightly sore), we went for the summit of Saint Jacob via the East ridge, then carried on along the ridge to Mount Gideon. This section of the traverse was stunning... until the descent from Gideon, which was a bit biblical in the wrath-of-mountain kind of way.
Think:
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House-sized boulders just waiting to crush your dreams.
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Downclimbs where your poles are useless and dignity optional.
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Mysterious rappel slings dangling ominously, like relics from failed pilgrimages.
This is the kind of terrain where you thank your partners profusely for being patient while you mutter prayers under your breath and test each rock like it’s an egg on a wobbly table.
We managed to skirt the glacier on the east side, then descended to the Van Horlick / Scudamore divide, where the East Spur of Morris Trespass Road awaited us like a forgotten promise. Aside from the first kilometer of alder-based eye surgery, it was in decent shape.
Speaking of surgery, Ben took an alder branch to the eye, leaving him with a scratched cornea, which somehow didn’t stop him from finishing the exit like an absolute legend.
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