As Marko and Heather work through the trees, we study our first view of the ascent ridge, angling left to right from the top tip of the scree cone.
Wow - looking back down the approach valley.
Getting closer to the ridge
Truding up the scree cone.
A good look at the bottom section of ridge - none of which is climbed for our route. We followed the staircase on the right edge of the gully
Almost to the staircase.
Walking up the staircase.
Heather, enjoying the stairs. See me in the reflection off her glasses?
Marko with Birdwood towering in the distance.
When you look to your left and you can see peaks instead of the ridge that blocks your view lower, you know you're getting close to the area where you need to tranistion to the ridge. See next photo.
Ah, now we can see the break in the wall on our right just up ahead.
Heather scrambling the last bit before the break in the wall.
This looks steeper than it is. We are now climbing to the ledge system - just above Heather - that brings you to the ridge by traversing them right.
After topping out on the ridge, climbing about 10m, then traversing towards the other side of the ridge, you see the smooth walled fin gully which is in the centre of the photo and the first of the 3 pitches of 5th class climbing. Best get out the rope and pro. Part way up it, a branch take off to the left which Marko opted for. I get the feeling from him that it is likely an slightly easier line, but cannot confirm because I didn't do both ;-)
We stop for a snack break with the second difficult step immediately above us (photo courtesy Marko)
Marko, with mighty Sir Douglas and it's glaciers on the left.
Looking east to the ascent gully - the one coming up the right of the summit block which is partially shaded by the finger - of The Fist.
Heather tying the boots up now that we've topped out on the summit ridge. Not far to go now.
Me at the summit, my 200th, with Mount Sir Douglas in the background (photo courtesy Marko)
A group shot with my 200th summit buddies (photo courtesy Marko)
Lowering off of the halfway pitons in the decent gully. It's worse than it looks.
Heather coming down the rope through the descent gully while I hug a block trying to stay out of range of the shooting gallery of rockfall (photo courtesy Marko)
Marko shooting, with the ridge leading to Mt. Shark behind him
Marko, engrossed with what he loves best.
I look back and the exit gully while Heather navigates the final bit. Um, looking left, what exactly is holding this whole mountain up? (photo courtesy Marko)
Out of the descent gully, we now move to the left on the exit ledge system.
Now out of the descent gully, we traverse left and make our way through the exit ledges.
Wow, the lake the Gilean Daffern has never seen free of ice, even in August, looks warm and inviting this year!
Double Wow - now we've got the two lakes. I stopped for a swim in the lower!
I just can't get enough of this view!
One more panorama of the lake area
I celebrate my 200th with a swim (photo courtesy Marko)
After winding around the mountain from the descent, we're now almost to the scree cone - on the left - where we started up the ridge of Smuts. A long walk down the valley takes us home.
Looking at the ascent ridge one last time during the walk out. You can see the break point to reach the ridge about 3/4 the way up.
And the token waterfall shot to end things off!
