I had done this trip ( see trip report) in mid November 14 years ago with Alistair and, I suspect, David was also on that trip . I think based on that outing the trip was put in the database and given an OT4 rating. The only navigational challenge is figuring out which scree gully to take above the Picklejar lakes ... of which more later. Heading west the day looked promising with much less smoke than recently I think. Of note the northern end of 37st SW is closed now as you are heading to the 22X, but there is a new access road to the southern end built as part of the ring road construction.

Your scribe had no difficulty finding the trail from the Lantern creek trailhead to Picklejar lakes (!) but then had to decide which scree gully to head up. You can probably guess it was probably not the best one as it turned out! I was fortunate, and knew, that all the group were competent managing the loose rock. The group split up a bit so not everyone was below each other. By consensus the route was not OT4 but SC5 and most of us, if we had taken helmets, I think would have put them on. Once up the gully we dropped down a little into a large bowl feature then headed up to the ridge the other side which was the east ridge of our objective on nice solid OT4 terrain! We were on the summit around 12:30 for lunch with the views, while not fantastic, seemed better than recent ones, though the smoke seemed to be returning, especially to the south. A lot of snow on Junction mountain to the east and some snow on the summit ribs of Mist We returned by a different gully which I recognised as the one used 14 years ago. This one would have been slightly shorter on our ascent and, I think, easier but still OT5 and some in the group suggested still an SC5. Here also loose rock needed to be managed in the scree and helmets would be a good idea I think (on the trip in mid November 2014 the scree was frozen in place). Back at the cars just before 4:00 pm.

Wildlife were deer at the trailhead in the morning and a few sheep in Eyrie gap .

Thanks to David,Jack,Brian,Bruce,Bill,Gary, Ulli and Michael for managing the unplanned additional challenge / false advertisng on this trip from John. Thanks also to David for the photos as my camera is still busted (if anyone else has any photos of the trip send them to me or upload then to the web site and let me know).

David's brand new boots after one OT4 trip with John

Bruce, Brian, John, Ulli, Bill, Gary, Jack and Michael on summit GR 571003.