Although I have climbed Cantada numerous times I have rarely ever brought a camera along. It is one of my favorite climbs ... mostly due to the fact that I can leave right from my house and have a 5 1/2 hour trip that includes an easy trail run, fun in the tundra, and an enjoyable climb. So here are some photos of the climb...
Cantada and Caliope:
Looking down the tundra slope onto Symphony Lake.
The West Ridge of Cantada:
The start of the climb up the ridge:
Oddly, this is my most favorite part of the climb. It is early on the ridge but just reminds me where I am:
A typical spot on the ridge:
This is the only spot where I have had trouble with a dog - and it was my dog who had already climbed through this spot on TWO other occasions (and the one time he needed a push up this spot there was another dog on the trip, Berryl, who made it through here fine - in fact, I down climbed and reclimbed the spot with Berryl at least three times before finally giving Arc a shove):
Looking down the ridge:
The key move of the climb. Once you get to this low saddle (obvious by the change in rock quality and color - there is a section of crumbly, black rock here) the easist route leaves the ridge and traverses to an open scree gully system that will take you back to the ridge and on to the summit. This is what the saddle looks like with Hurdy Gurdy in the background:
Looking back at the saddle from the edge of the scree gully. Once I tried heading up too early (and you will know it - the climbing gets 5th class quickly). It is worth being patient and spending the time to traverse all the way to the gully:
Looking up the final scree gully:
The summit cairn (with Icicle, Eagle, and Yukla Peaks in the background):
Looking down at Triangle and into Ship Lake valley (the lake is barely visible just above Triangle's summit):
Polar Bear:
The route I have always taken up Calliope:
