North America, United States, Alaska, Brooks Range, Franklin Icefields, Traverse and Ascents

Publication Year: 1998.

Franklin Icefields, Traverse and Ascents. Craig Deutche and I established a new and fascinating route across the Franklin Icefields in late July. From a small shelf on the Sadlerochit River, we proceeded up Whistler Creek and over the pass that leads to the canyon of the Franklin Ramp. Crossing Franklin Creek, we continued up the adjacent drainage to the base of Peak 8270 (Igluvuk or Mansion Mountain). This very prominent peak is built of steep walls surmounted by an undulating ice-capped roof. This roof was reached from the northwest ridge. The summit, falling away to the Triumvirate Glacier system, affords one of the most remarkable alpine views in the Brooks Range. The glacier under the south face of 8270 leads to an icecap and trunk glacier at the western source of the Canning River. Peak 7200 at the top of the West Triumvirate Glacier was climbed late in the day and in variable weather, and camp was made on the Canning Glacier below. From the upper Canning, we were able to cross the southernmost divides of the Chamberlin Spur to reach a western tributary of the Hulahula, which we descended to the Patuk Region.

Dennis Schmidtt