Armchair Traverse | Other Sends

The Armchair Traverse
August 31 2022

Just north of Wedgemount Lake and towering high above Whistler are Mount Cook and Mount Weart, the glaciated peaks that make up the Armchair Traverse. Once high on the ridge the vast amount of glacier in the surrounding area is quite impressive and Wedge Mountain serves as a scenic backdrop for the duration of the route. The trip involves some low 5th class climbing once on the ridge between the two peaks but for the competent scrambler or novice climber it is quite manageable and a highly enjoyable outing.

A climber doing the Armchair Traverse on the way towards Mount Weart with Wedgemount Lake and glacier visible far below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @haldan.borglum

links: STRAVA | GAIA
elapsed time: 12.5hrs
DIFFICULTY: climber's scramble / climb - low 5th class

With a bit of freedom in my schedule while in Whistler for a biathlon camp I decided to go for this linkup, deciding later while I was out to add on Parkhurst and Rethel Mountain. All in all this was quite an enjoyable trip that I'll definitely do again minus the bonus peaks which weren't nearly as pleasant due to loose terrain. There's a lot of time spent in treeline working up switchbacks compared to places like Canmore but the payoff is worth it with the dramatic glaciated terrain high above!

Looking up towards Mount Cook and Mount Weart

Quite high up the scree slog portion of Mount Cook now

Close up view of Wedge Mountain, I'd like to do it one day!

Pano near the summit of Mount Cook after some scrambling

A closeup of the Armchair Traverse route, getting excited!

The Black Tusk visible in the distance despite the smoke

Another pano on the way towards the technical ridge ahead

Nearing a high point on the ridge between Mount Cook and Mount Weart

Mount Weart with the Armchair Glacier below

Looking back, Mount Cook is the distant bump with snowalong the ridge

The final technical section of ridge leading to the summit of Mount Weart

Looking down, the descent route for the Armchair Traverse and the easier Mount Weart ascent route to the left

A few hundred meters lower, looking towards The Owls

Looking back towards Mount Weart and The Owls

Looking out onto the Weart Glacier towards a couple unnamed high points

Wedge Mountain in the distance, the descent route turns right here

The break in the cliffy terrain that I ascended after crossing a shallow section of Tupper Lake

Parkhurst Mountain summit, not sure the views of Wedge Mountain get any
better than this

Summit pano showing more of the Wedgemount Glacier

Part way up Rethel Mountain, the view down towards Wedgemount Lake

Close up of some of the difficulties to navigate on the way up here

Other related trip reports: Mount Robertson | Wetterspitze | Cima del Tempo | Chancellor Peak || Mount French | Mount Vaux

Other Sends