The Fortress

There are two approaches to Fortress – via Chester Lake or via Headwall Lakes. Both lead to the col between Mount Chester and The Fortress from different sides, and then you hike up the southwest ridge all the way to the summit. There are multiple routes on the ridge but they all end up on the left side of the summit block where there is an easy scramble up to the top. If you see there a path with exposure, just take a breath, look around and you immediately will see another one without it much safer. It’s a scramble at the top, but easy one.

In our opinion, the Headwall Lakes approach is better for ascent, and Chester Lake is for descent with scree fun, i.e. if you want to do a loop, we suggest to go CCW. We met a couple on our way back who were about to climb up the losing rubble to the col from Chester Lake side and later saw them suffering in the middle of the gully. Compared to that, ascent from Headwall side is just piece of cake but it’s about 2km longer.

Here is our track

One important lesson learned this time: once on the summit, mark your entrance with a cairn, or a noticeable stone, or somehow else, so when you go back you can find it easily. Sometimes, like in this case, the summit block is plain and pretty spacious, and there are several descent exits, not all way down visible from the top, with different extent of exposure. You don’t want to end up on a wrong one. On our way up we found a safe scramble with practically no exposure, and thought we memorized it, but after spending an hour on the summit we totally forgot how it looked like and where it was exactly. It took a few minutes to find it. Alltrails track actually helped, but you need it turned on. Don’t make the same mistake.

More photos from Headwall Lakes, The Fortress and Chester Lake valley are here:

More information:
Bob Spirko’s blog – approach from Chester Lake.

YouTube:
Hiking Chariots – CCW route, worth to take a look.