Mt.James Walker 3035m

FA – J.Kuenzel, J.Martin, G.Rathbone, F.Williamson, Aug.1969

This high, distant peak sits behind a subsidiary peak but can be done in the same time as most scrambles near the road. Either go as the FA party did by starting from the Fortress Ski Road, getting above treeline, climbing the NE buttress (low 5th class), then bombing up the obvious slope above to the top of the peak. Cross down the other side, and scramble up to the summit. The other possibility is to gain the obvious slope by starting early along the Ski Road, trudging up an enormous fanning avalanche slope to the top, traversing north under the upper face to the same obvious slope. Expect car to summit to take 6 hours. The gully left of the FA’s may also be an equally feasible choice.

In the photo, ‘A’ is the line of first ascent, ‘B’ is the summit, and ‘C’ is an alternate approach up the bowl.