Welcome to Robert Bolton's Pictures / Mt. Spickard

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Welcome to Robert Bolton's Pictures

Duane Gilliland, Edward Earl, and yours truly summited Mt. Spickard on September 3, 2011, thereby being the first to complete the list of 100 most topographically prominent mountains in the 48 states.

The beginning of the infamous Chilliwack Lake road, dubbed "pothole hell" for very good reason. This road led to the Depot Creek road and our trailhead.

The beginning o

After 2+ miles of hiking along the old Depot Creek logging road we came to the international border. Mind you, we're crossing into the US from Canada.

Yours truly at Monument 65 along the US/Canada border.

Edward ascends the smooth rocks of the famous Depot Creek "unforgettable waterfall". These rocks are often wet with spray from the waterfall, making them treacherous to climb. Two fixed ropes have been placed to help with that problem. We were lucky on our way in because the rocks were dry, but on our way out two days later they were wet and as slick as grease.

It is utterly impossible to do justice to the Depot Creek waterfall. It is a truly amazing phenomenon.

It is utterly i

After laboring up the mountaineers tread straight up the steep mountainside beside the waterfall for over an hour with our overnight packs, we were treated with this view of the top of the falls.

Upon our late-afternoon arrival in the Depot Creek basin, this was the view we were greeted with. That is Mt. Redoubt, which is 10 feet lower than Mt. Spickard, for which we are grateful. Reason: Spickard is much easier to climb than Redoubt, and the higher of the two claims the greatest prominence. Since we were working on a prominence-based list, and on the 100 most prominent in the 48 states, the lower peak simply has too little prominence to compete.

Upon our late-a

Mt. Redoubt is admittedly more picturesque than Mt. Spickard, but we were climbing for prominence, not for aesthetics. This is the view early on summit day.

Another view of Redoubt from the slopes of Spickard.

Another view of

The Redoubt Glacier and Mt. Redoubt.

The Redoubt Gla

A portion of the Depot Creek cirque.

A portion of th

From the summit of Spickard we looked down the opposite side of the mountain from our ascent route. It was my first time to lay eyes on the famously beautiful Silver Lake below.

From the summit

Silver Lake with some Canadian peaks beyond.

Silver Lake wit

Looking west from the summit we identified Tomyhoi Peak (climbed in '96), Mt. Larrabee, American Border Peak, Canadian Border Peak, and Mt. Slesse, the famously difficult to climb dark tower right of center.

Looking west fr

Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker are at the far left edge with Mt. Redoubt left of center.

Mt. Shuksan and

Zooming in on the three Washington giants.

Zooming in on t

The famous Picket Range seen from Spickard's summit. Why did it take until 1968 to make a National Park out of this region? Two of the famous Mox Peaks are in the foreground to the right.

The famous Pick

All three of the Mox Peaks are in the foreground with the Northern Pickets on the left behind. Mt. Challenger and the Challenger Glacier are prominent.

All three of th

The Mox Peaks and the Pickets.

The Mox Peaks a

OK, so I couldn't take my eyes off the Pickets and Moxes.

OK, so I couldn

Mt. Rainier looms above the Southern Pickets. Luna Peak is in the foreground on the left.

Mt. Rainier loo

Jack Mountain is on the left. After Edward and Duane plus our friend Greg Slayden attempted Jack back in August but didn't give themselves enough time on summit day, Edward commented to some climbers who were on their way up while my friends were retreating, "I can't climb Jack".

Jack Mountain i

Ross Lake is seen below, with Hozomeen Mtn beyond.

Ross Lake is se

Jack Mountain on the left, with a cluster of peaks including Black Peak on the right.

Jack Mountain o

Many familiar peaks are seen on the horizon in this photo, including Glacier Peak on the right.

Many familiar p

The summit register after we had signed it. Note Edward's comments about completing the 100 most prominent peaks in the lower 48.

The summit regi

Challenger Peak and Glacier to the left. I'll have to study the maps to figure out the other tall ones.

Challenger Peak

Two of my very favorite mountains, Shuksan on the left and Baker on the right.

The western wall of Spickard, showing our ascent route on the snow below.

The western wal

Looking down our route from the high col.

Looking down ou

Spickard's impressive western wall.

Spickard's impr

Alpenglo from our camp after our very satisfying day on Mt. Spickard.

Alpenglo from o