I have mental blocks with the terrain in the Ghost - those darn canyons - Stan corrected me that it is 4 or 5 Kms from the big hill to the approach gully for Phantom and, of course, he was right. Fortunately we were able to drive to the bottom of the big hill and further on to the gully / drainage (avoiding the coordinator's speculated crossing of the Ghost). With an appropriate vehicle you can drive across the Transalta bridge and then head south on the west bank. From this point we set off up the drainage, on the map, immediately north of Phantom crag. I am sure later in the year there is little water in this drainage but it it was flowing pretty good this day. We followed the drainage and took the obvious climber's left fork at a creek split, found a good game trail skirting some cliff bands which were overrun with attractive waterfalls. We then ascended climbers left (east) of the drainage into the bowl north of our objective. We bushwhacked (... Rambler's trip!) on the climber's left side of the drainage through an old burn and then up to the cliff bands through intermittent very isothermal snow. We got nice views of Devil's Head and Black Rock.
Ascending Phantom crag
Black Rock
Devil's Head
Two of the party had done the peak before, on separate trips, and neither remembered any major problems. On this day we, however, struggled to find a scramble route through the lower cliff band and in the end pulled out a 30m scrambling rope. There was a gully further east but Sim and Bill described it as "slimey" so maybe when things dry off it might be the way. We used a less steep break that had a double crack in the steepest part that wasn't too bad but, in my mind, was definitely SC7+. After getting to the top of this crux you could see all around us thunderheads gathering though we were still dry. Most folks started putting on rain gear though .....
Difficult scrambling on Phantom crag.
Fortunately many Ramblers are sensitive, environmentally attuned people ... alas, in some aspects, not me ... as I was approaching the summit cairn Arnold yelled "we are getting electricity let's get down". So I ran back down. Interestingly, insensitive me, I could not feel anything. Stan and Damian also felt nothing. Bill and Arnold continued to feel electricity so we holed up below a rock until things relaxed. We did hear thunder and I am sure Bill was right to be cautious. We took a break and had some lunch looking west under the clouds to Lake Minnewanka. Once things settled down we took the opportunity to make a 2 minute dash to the summit, quick photos and a sign of the register. The register recorded no ascents in 2009 but an ascent in 2008. I recognised the names of Ben and Heather from Rambler's trips with two names I did n't recognize in the very unfilled register. In the register Heather had noted "moderate scramble!" as I recall ... moderate ...sigh .... I am (getting) old .... or we did n't find the right route.
Group on summit of Phantom crag
Descending Phantom crag
The scrambling rope was very useful (essential?) for the down climb of the lower cliff band. Stan and Bill worked an assuring belay. I appreciated having Stan along who was the "I'm fine" man at being the last man down the crux. Stan was able to improvise some rope protection for himself and safely negotiate the crux.
Stan descending crux cliff band on Phantom crag.
We decided to descend sticking to the drainage more than we did on our route up to try and minimize bushwhacking. As far as avoiding bushwhacking it did n't work 100% but it is always fun to come down a different way! The lower canyon is home to some sport climbing routes which a couple of groups were enjoying the challenge of as we splashed by. We were back at the cars around 4:30 pm after leaving just before 10:00 am. Despite the electrifying excitement near the summit we escaped any significant rain most of the day. An enjoyable day in the excellent and skilled company of Stan, Arnold, Bill, Sim and Damian. Thanks Stan for driving and the crux descent. Thanks Bill and Arnold for the photos. Thanks all for a good day in the mountains John