An easy scramble up the northernmost peak in the Glasgow massif. Gives great views of Nihahi Ridge and the scrambling route up Mount Remus.
Start at Little Elbow Recreation Area, preferably from the parking area near the suspension bridge. Cross the suspension bridge over the Little Elbow, then immediately turn right onto the equestrian trail shortcut. Keep right and down to the flats alongside the river. Follow Little Elbow equestrian trail to Glasgow Creek. From here there are two ways of getting onto the bottom of the northeast ridge. Either cross Glasgow Creek on the “bridge”, then not too far along the trail start heading up left in the forest. Or, and this is what we did, take the usual route into Glasgow Creek (see previous write-up) and on reaching the dry valley above all the springs and soggy ground head right into the forest. As we hoped, the forest was fairly open on this aspect and the going easy. Where the terrain steepened up, we veered right and intersected a trail on the ridge. This was intriguing! Had the trail just developed on the defined part of the ridge, as trails are wont to do, or did it extend all the way down to wherever? We resolved to return the same way and follow it down. This never happened, so if anyone can shed any light on where this trail ends up/starts, please reply to this blog.
View from Nihahi Creek trail of Peak 466270 showing the NE ridge.
The trail continued up the ridge, often at the edge of cliffs. At the base of a rocky tower, the main trail went left and circled around the crags on the left (south slope). It was a bit vague on open ground where it climbed back up to the ridge beyond the tower. In trees it was again clear, soon taking to a swath of grass and scree to the right of the forest edge. Last trees marked End of Trail, from now on there were just signs here and there of people passing.
The open ridge was interesting. First off we climbed over a top circled by crags. Going up, found a very convenient ledge heading left. Going down, we (like others) descended rubble on the left side in preference to the scramble off the end. Then ascended a tapering grass/scree ridge, the kind that usually ends in a drop-off. It, too, ended in a drop-off , but luckily, there’s a very convenient descent gully with all the loose rocks kicked out of it. Straightaway the ridge rose like a roller coaster track, then promenaded along to another drop-off. Getting off was easy via a wide ledge with jugholds. All that remained was to plod up scree to the summit. A lower grassy top to the right made a better R & R spot. Just watch out for wolf spiders after your lunch.
Our next idea, to go and look at the connecting ridge to Peak 461258, came undone when the ridge top became knife edge and the prospect of scrambling down steep loose rubble on the left side was deemed “unappealing.” “Doesn’t appeal to me, does it appeal to you?” “No.” However, we WERE close enough to look at that intriguing bite out of the ridge and ascertain that while the ridge at this point is hanging in there on a thread (the rest having collapsed), it is certainly wide enough to cross without having to look down the cliff on the west side.
More pictures
By this time black clouds were gathering and the wind gusting. We traversed across to our ascent ridge, at a streak of trees and vegetation descending into the valley head between the two peaks and had a confab. Despite the threatening weather, Tony was all for returning the same way. I was now wondering about the valley. I knew what the ridge was like. Would the valley have water? Would there be a good trail? As it happened there was neither, but the going was reasonable on grass under the trees.
ps. You get a really good view of this ridge from Nihahi Ridge and from Nihahi Creek trail at the viewpoint above the canyon.
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