Smutwood PeakThis was a scramble I've wanted to do for quite some time, since completing the Birdwood Traverse several years ago. I managed to find a free day to coordinate with Tony, and we had the good fortune of warm temperatures, clear and calm skies, and golden larches. We started in the dark, around 6:30 am, whereafter the alpenglow greeted us in the valley of Commonwealth Creek.
Ascending the avalanche path was made easier by the early morning chill, and we pulled into the sunshine as we crested the top.
We took our time on the way down, after for a moment considering detouring over to Burstall Pass but not wanting to risk the hitchhike at the other end.
In September, this might be one of the finest in-out easy scrambles in the Rockies.
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