After suffering through hours of trail finding in the forest over fresh snow, fierce bushwhacking across acres of slide alder, steep snow slopes on head walls and straight-up crampon-walking on the glacier our Mountaineers group made it to the summit block of Silver Star, the ultimate prize.
However it was late, the summit scramble was a mess of rock, snow and ice and the group’s strength was uneven. The leader rightfully decided to call off the summit attempt. I didn’t make it to the top, but I have no regrets or unfinished business as I had already climbed this mountain solo a few years back.
One thing I know though is that I’m never subjecting myself to the torture of attempting the Silver Start Creek route again (or at least not for a long time). The valley is incredibly beautiful but there’s just too much bushwhacking. The Burgundy Col route is much more direct and clear - no bushwhacking, no sketchy head walls, and no side alder, this botanical horror!
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