Dave_Jones

Mount Sir Sandford, 3519m; NTS Map sheet 1:50,000 Mount Sir Sandford, 82N12. Access: There is a variety of means of access of varying degrees of efficiency and ease as follows: 1. Helicopter. By far and away the most efficient for trips extending beyond more than one or two days. I highly recommend Don McTighe, Alpine Helicopters from Golden. I could provide you with some of Don’s flying schedule around the N. Selkirks this summer but that should be worth a beer or two.2. It is possible to climb Mt. Sir Sandford in approximately 24 hours return to your vehicle. Drive up Columbia West Forest Service Road (92.8km east of Revelstoke; 44.2km west of Golden) to Black Road (turnoff at km 39.4). At km10.5 on Black Road, take the right hand fork and drive another 8-10km on the road up Gold River. This requires a high clearance 4x4 vehicle. Ascend some bush and then alpine slopes to a col west of Vidette Peak and gain Sir Sandford Glacier. Travel northeast on the glacier around the north ridge of Vidette and gain the Sir Sandford-Ravelin col and the beginning of the standard route. (Alternately you could drive to the end of the road ~ 15km - and then bushwhack to Moberly Pass, thence up Goat Glacier to Sir Sandford Pass & Glacier) – a solid day approach.3. Drive north on Columbia West Forest Service Road 63.8km (road sign 111 km from Golden) to the Swan Creek logging road. Follow this road, taking the first spur road right (might be best to park here unless high clearance 4x4). Follow the spur road to the trail head. The Swan Creek trail was re-cut in the fall of 1998 and spring of 2000. Allow about 5 hours with full packs to Fairy Meadow. Allow another 5-7 hours from Fairy Meadow to Great Cairn – Ben Ferris hut via Friendship col – Gothics Glacier – Thor Pass – Adamant Glacier – Azimuth Notch.4. Accessing the Sir Sandford area from the south is a wee bit harder than it used to be years ago. It is quite a haul up Tangier River to Tangier Pass thence following the height of land to Great Cairn hut. I usually allow 5 days for this traverse. 5. It is also possible to drive up Columbia West FSR, thence up Black Road. Rather than take the road up Gold River, follow the left fork, which takes you up Bachelor Creek. At km 27 take the right fork for 2.7km to a high landing at about 1770m. From the landing a new well cut, flagged trail leads easily in about 1 hour to the alpine, whence it is a modest hike to Bachelor Pass and the beginning of Pyrite Ridge – should be able to easily make Great Cairn hut in 2 days via this route. This is a very scenic route with minimal gain and loss of elevation.6. If none of the above suit your needs, drive up Columbia West FSR to Gold River. Cross the bridge and park just off the road on the west side. An old logging road soon turns into an abandoned trail that leads in the general direction of Palmer Creek. Follow your nose through the wonderful Selkirk bush and cliffs along Palmer Creek directly to Great Cairn hut. Allow 5-7 days for this short approach.

quote: Originally posted by todd: sorry to single you guys out, but ive been trying to get info on mt sir. sandford and figured you guys would be the ones who might know about it. i tried a post titled "mt. sir sandford" and didnt get any responses. i have an old american alpine club "guide to the columbia mountains" and its description of the approach is kind of vague. do either of you (or anyone else) know if there is a newer guidebook available or have any experiences/tips that you could share? cheers.