Mount Porsild

Mt. Porsild is the tallest peak at the South end of Kusawa lake.  At around 8500', its one of the higher peaks outside of Kluane.
Malcolm and I had tried to bag it a few years ago, but were weathered off.
So, with a good weather forecast, we loaded up the boat and headed up Kusawa to give it a whirl, but this time to do it in a day, so that we didn't have to hump heavy packs up the miserable approach.

Getting into the alpine.

Following gully's make for the easiest way to access the plateau.

Porsild makes its first appearance.

We stayed right on the talus ridge, and thence to the summit via the snow fields.

Thunderstorms and rain threatened all the way to the top.

The sky cleared giving us some great views into the coast ranges.

Someone put some work into the summit cairn.

A fast and easy descent.

Nice.

Ski descent anyone?

A very cool little north face on it.

A last glimpse.  12 hours round trip with ~12000 feet of
elevation gain and loss made it feel like a fairly full day.

Loaded up and heading home.

Kusawa Lake Hiking

My old buddy Roger and his friend Dean from Kimberly BC arrived back from their motor bike trip through Alaska.
We had planned a trip up Kusawa lake to explore, hike, and give them a chance to have a look at one of the most incredible areas of a place loaded with incredible spots.
So off we went even though the forecast looked grim.
The weather turned out quite nice, and we had some great hikes.

The lads with Ark mountain behind.

Mt Porsild, a trip objective later  this summer

The Dall Sheep havens of GMZ 7-21

An idylic campsite.  Dean Chatterson photo.

The weather turned to what they predicted on Saturday morning, so we loaded up and headed back avoiding the wind and rain that followed us back down the lake.

Farewell to Ark mountain.  Dean gazing into the Coast Ranges.