This 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 stopped for a bit of food and enjoyed the view from the pass above the lakes before carrying on towards the summit. It's a straightforward scramble that requires only a hand or two along the obvious route.

With not a breath of wind at the top, we were the first hikers up for the day. It took us 3.5 hours. Shortly thereafter we were joined by two other parties and we enjoyed about an hour of conversation and drinking in the views. 

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.