Quartzite Ridge was a new area for all 4 of us but it turned out to be an impressive area on a great day. We headed up Mosquito Creek and then followed a faint trail on the west side of the North Fork of the creek. We could follow the trail reasonably well, but lost it when we reached the escarpment well up into the valley. We headed up to the base of the rocks below the escarpment and found a narrow but lush meadow that we could follow the full length below the escarpment.


Long, thin strip of meadows below escarpment with Watermelon Peak in the background

. As we emerged above treeline, the meadows had even more flowers and the views back the valley became more impressive the higher we got.


Some of the lush meadows near the upper end of North Fork

Climbing to the upper end of the North Fork of Mosquito Creek, looking south

After a relaxing lunch, we headed east to go over a moraine and get to the floor of the ramp heading up to the glacier below Watermelon. We got a little too high and had to backtrack, but finally reached the area in front of the glacier.


Doug near the glacier at the foot of Watermelon Peak

Then it was a climb over a combination of snow and various types of scree and rocks to Quartzite Ridge itself. We were rewarded with impressive views in all directions.


View from Quartzite Ridge towards Pipestone Pass

Gerry and Jeanne on Quartzite Ridge with Watermelon Peak and its glacier in the background

Alda pausing along Quartzite Ridge with Molar in the distance

The ridge walk south towards Quartzite Col was very pleasant with a cooling breeze that kept away all the bugs. The ridge ended in a sharp cliff near Quartzite Col and so we decided to leave the ridge and start our return as it was getting late. The descent off the ridge was straightforward and we enjoyed following narrow paths through some areas of giant boulders. After crossing the plateau, we dropped down a steep slope through some glades back to the North Fork of Mosquito Creek. The trip took longer than expected but was very enjoyable. Gerry, Jeanne, Alda and Doug (C/S/P)