Tag: Headwall Lakes

The Fortress-Mount Chester Col Loop: In Photos

We were pretty sure The Fortress/Chester col was ahead in the cloud somewhere...
We were pretty sure The Fortress/Chester col was ahead in the cloud somewhere…
Crossing over Headwall Creek and turning left at the well marked ribbon and cairn
Crossing over Headwall Creek and turning left at the well marked ribbon and cairn

So the plan was to hike to The Fortress, which has been on my list for a long time. Mother Nature, however, had a different plan. Shrouded in a dense cloud, it was impossible to see The Fortress or Mount Chester from the col. I suppose I could have climbed to the summit regardless, but since there was a high risk of bear activity in the area, I opted to choose safety in numbers over crossing this peak off the list. Also, there are no views to be seen when you’re in a cloud! Next time…

The hike to the col via Headwall Lakes with a return via Chester Lake made for a super nice day hike of 8.25 hours. Long, yes, but with varied scenery between the two valleys, and gorgeous lakes and meadows along the way, the loop is definitely worthwhile. Continue reading “The Fortress-Mount Chester Col Loop: In Photos”