Prospectors’ Mountain, East Face. The east and especially the north faces of this sedimentary-capped peak have considerable exposures of excellent crystalline rock. On August 28, Ted Vaill and John Thomas worked out what will undoubtedly prove to be the first of many routes in this area. Four hours of scrambling up from the Phelps Lake moraine were required to reach the base of the east face, the route beginning from an inverted V some 200 feet to the left (south) of the huge couloir which cuts the face into unequal sections. Scrambling up on slabs above the top of the V, below an overhanging wall, they then worked up moderate rock for several pitches, meeting a short grassy slope near the top of the overhanging wall. A difficult lead up the center of the wall over this slope brought the party to a belay spot under a small tower. After climbing the tower they found that two more pitches took them to the top of the face. Almost a mile of walking on the sedimentary rubble was still required in order to reach the summit cairn.

Leigh Ortenburger