Storm Mountain North Ridge

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Got idea from Bob Spirko's attempt to north ridge of Storm Mountain (Banff). I want to put a link but the darn Internet is down right now... SHAW!!

Like Emerald Peak I have done a day earlier, rating of this summit changes bit in dry and snow condition. This trip is hike in summer time, however in winter time, I don't think you can get away with one spot where you have to traverse avalanche slope for total of 30 m (page 7). So be aware of that. Maybe this is better to do it in February when there is less snow than after spring snow storm. (Or do it in summer and enjoy detour to the lakes down below.)

Approach:
From Continental Divide Parking, I bushwhacked towards the ridge. Face of the ridge looked questionably manageable to go straight up from parking lot but it was way steeper (page 2), so I had to go around little bit to get on the ridge. Since all the dead trees were covered by snow, it was easier to walk than when I came here in last fall. Once on higher part of the ridge, snow was blown that I didn't need snowshoes anymore. I guess it's something to do with geographical feature that this ridge get wind blow all the time, because all other peaks around still had snow on them.

False Summit:
Bob was mentioning about narrow ridge near summit. I was wondering where that was and I couldn't see it even when I was almost at the narrow section (page 6). It got narrow suddenly. So I decided to get off the ridge and went around. Unfortunately despite of snowless ridge, this particular part had lots of snow on steep slope, but that where I had to traverse to go around the ridge (page 7). I didn't bother to stay on the ridge, but later I found that it is not possible to stay on the narrow ridge since it ends with a huge cornice and vertical rocks at the end. Once this is over, the rest of the way is easy hike to the summit.