Mount Howard: Southeast Ridge

We had a 9.15 am departure on a warm spring day and cycled the first few kilometres up the Little Elbow River to the Nihahi Creek trail. Although we attempted to cycle up the Nihahi Creek trail, at my insistence, the trail is way too steep. For the first couple of kilometres up Nihahi Creek, the trail climbs over a forested ridge to avoid a canyon. After a couple of kilometres, the trail drops into the Creek and soon disappears. Nihahi Creek is quite broad and travel is easy to the forks (about one hour). We took the left fork (west) and soon passed the ascent ridge for Mt. Fullerton (still a fair bit of snow). Two kilometres past the forks we gained a small subsidiary ridge running off the main south east ridge of Mt. Howard (GR433333). This is a bit steep and treed at first but soon climbs above treeline and gains a broad shoulder which is followed to the main south east ridge at GR436340. We followed the south east ridge (broad and easy going) to some easy scrambling a few hundred feet below the summit. When the terrain became too steep we contoured easily around to the south ridge which is followed on blocky talus to the final summit ridge and an easy stroll to the summit.

After spending an hour scanning nearby peaks for other climbers we headed off the west ridge to a col (GR418349) then gained the curving north ridge in a descending traverse down snow and easy scree. The north ridge soon turns to the east and we strolled along this pleasant broad ridge in increasing wind to a col at GR435361. At this point we had completed a U shape with the summit of Mt. Howard at the base of the U. The descent from the col into the valley was easy on our knees as it is not very steep. In the upper valley we found a seasonal tarn among pretty meadows. Nihahi Creek is then followed back to the forks. A canyon in the Creek just above the forks requires a traverse high along the east bank on an animal trail. The walk out down the creek bed seems long on tired feet. A pleasant rambling ridge traverse with a multiple of route possibilities. No crowds.