Grotto Mountain Traverse Scramble on 16-May-2025

What a great day out on my first trip as a probationary coordinator. Thanks to everyone who joined and what a great day it was.

Rather than doing the traditional ACC route, the Ramblers did an East to West traverse, with the guidance of Jack and Sim, who had completed the trip in the fall. I think this is many peoples new favourite way to go up Grotto mountain. Although 2 cars are required, as it is a point-to-point hike.

There was lots of different terrain to keep everyone happy. The recent snowfall, made the terrain in the trees fairly muddy and slippery, and we were all grateful to be out of the trees and on to the rock. The ridge offered some easy scrambling and a new way to access the summit of Grotto.

On the way down from the summit we walked the ridge out, and it was a lovely way to get some great views of the surrounding peaks and with almost no wind, it made for a very enjoyable ridge walk.

We made a quick stop on a small outlier peak, which offered us a different view of the surrounding peaks, and we could see the fracture line of a recent avalanche that had occurred.

Making our way up to the summit of Grotto and contending with the fresh snowfall.

The Ramblers on the summit of Grotto. Everyone, except the photographer Sim

Sim making her way down the ridge, look at the cornices on the left of Sim

Ramblers on the summit of a small outlier peak coming down from Grotto peak

Heading back down into the trees, when the weather turn a little snowy.

Participants: Sim, Jack, Jane, Ulrike, Gary, Ingrid, Peter, Stephanie, John