Seen from Highway 1, it presents an imposing image even at a distance.

From Hamilton Lake you scale the Southeast slope to gain the South Ridge. From there it's a straight-forward, if long, climb to the summit with a good bit of 3rd and 4th class scrambling mixed in.

We took piolets because we heard the summit was accessible only via a snow-filled couloir. There was indeed snow at the summit but nothing requiring technical skills as the couloirs were easily skirted.

On the way down John (Smith) was determined to use one though. The footing was OK for the first few feet onto the snow but the surface quickly became ice and he suddenly found himself taking the express down. Being unable to self-arrest because I thought he was done for but the fall line took him into a rocky moat instead of over the edge. He sustained bloody scrapes and bruises but was otherwise OK.