Another New Route up Colonel Foster is Northwest Arete

Mount Colonel Foster is a popular peak this summer, as there have been big solo pushes and new routes and it’s only the end of July. Guidebook author and local developer Philip Stone joined Hunter Lee and Garner Bergeron for a new route to the top of the Northwest Peak. Their new 14-pitch line combines fourth and fifth class terrain with difficulties up to 5.9. “For a few minutes the rain began to sprinkle on us but it was short-lived and the day got better and better,” said Stone.

The climbers weaved their way up around pinnacles, linking good crack systems. The arete narrowed at the top and offered exposed positions with great views.

“We joined the well established summit traverse route at the peak and continued along it traversing the spire with the regular descent (10 rappels) down the northeast side,” said Stone. Earlier this year, Marc Andre Leclerc and Brette Harrington soloed the 1,200-metre 5.10 called Into the Mystic. More recently, Ryan Van Horne soloed a new 5.8 up the west facing walls of Foster.