Haldan Borglum | Peak by Peak

Anklebreaker Traverse
July 9 2023

With a goal of bagging Mount Townsend without having to do the creek trudge out, the idea for the Anklebreaker Traverse was born. Occasionally done linkups from Anklebiter Ridge to Gap Peak, Gap Peak to Mount Fable, Mount Fable to Mount Townsend, and the Mount Lady MacDonald to Princess Margaret Mountain Traverse were the initial inspiration for this idea but everything after Townsend until Mount Charles Stewart was in the realm of the unknown. Troy Martel was down to join me for the traverse until Townsend so I'd have some company for the first half!

The route all the way to Townsend was quite enjoyable with awesome long lasting ridge and plenty of hands-on terrain, especially with Epic Tower. After reaching Townsend the ridge leading NW was a mix of simple walking terrain, quite sporty 5th class moves, and exposed ridge until reaching an unnamed peak just south of Stanton Peak. From this section to Charles Stewart involved nasty large and loose boulder terrain, so with fatigue already quite high this was a mentally draining section where it would be easy to misstep and break an ankle, hence the name! Getting up the back (east) side of Charles Stewart ended up being a lot easier than I had expected, and after that the traverse to Charles Stewart South began. I had planned to go all the way to Mount Lady MacDonald but I had been running from a storm since Townsend and when my poles began buzzing on the summit ridge of Charles Stewart South and I got a zap of static electricity after touching the summit cairn I gtfo of there! A wild linkup all in all, thanks to Troy for keeping me company till Townsend!

links: STRAVA | GAIA
elapsed time: 15.5hrs
DIFFICULTY: climber's scramble

Other related trip reports: Cascade Traverse | Lady MacDonald to Princess Margaret Traverse || Goatview Traverse

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