I attempted Benign three times before attaining the summit. On my first try, I set out simply looking for a way through the brush and to the mountain's base. Surprisingly, I found a gully system fairly easily that went from the Ekultna valley floor to the the upper Serenity Creek drainage - very scrambly, some good exposure, LOTS of scree, but it went. I then spent the rest of the day poking around the Serenity Creek drainage and winding around the base of the peak. The clouds were at about 5000' so a summit push did not seem prudent (plus I had killed a bunch of time going up gullies before finding one that went).
On my return a week later, I had good weather but chose the wrong gully up high ! I made some phone calls and realized where my mistake was and returned a few weeks after that (Benign III).
The first look:
A cairn I placed (looking across Serenity Creek to the pass that leads to the base of Benign):
Looking down the descent gully:
Looking down on the Eklunta Glacier and Pitchler's Perch:
Looking into the clouds that shrouded Benign (and looking up what I thought was the right gully system but is not):
Looking over at the base of the right gulley system:
Looking over at Bellicose:
Looking up at the cirque at the head of Serenity Creek:
A boulder in upper Serenity Creek:
On the descent I came across some rope sheds (and I was kind of wondering if I should have brought a rope):
The second try:
I knew I could get to the base of the mountain without too much route finding and thought I knew the gully to take up from there. I was mistaken on the second part ! I had a good day, got in lots of vert, made many attempts up various gullies to the north of the summit, but would have to come back again another day (and with better beta) if I wanted to summit.
The lower route:
Looking up the left-hand gully (right where I exited it; I decided all three times to come down the gully in its entirety):
Looking over at Bold (and a cairn):
Most of the final climb was spent in the clouds:
The gully I took (which did not go to the summit; on the right):
Looking up at what I thought could be the peak (from about my high point):
How close I felt to the top (I was at about 7000' and the summit is under 7300'):
Typical scenery for the day (lots of clouds):
Looking over at Bellicose:
Looking out over Ekultna Glacier:
