Some mistakes are burned on the memory cells forever. Whenever it`s needed thereafter, the subconscious mind steps in to remind you not to repeat it again. Considering the size of my slide collection, it feels rather trivial looking back. But it sure hurt at the time. You walk 72 miles (115 kilometres) to get to and from the base of a mountain, glow with pride for weeks after, having soloed its north ridge, and then you go and make the first howler in the whole affair. In Juneau Alaska, you post (unregistered) three rolls of exposed film, depicting your ascent, and optimistically hope they will arrive at Fuji`s developing lab in the U.K. Which of course they never do.
It wouldn`t be so bad, but the mountain in question is the most beautiful in North America outside of Alaska. And even up there, only a few compete with her for ruggedness. Almost none do for elegance of form. Mount Assiniboine, the "Matterhorn of the Rockies" is the lady in question.
The hut at the base of the north ridge is eighteen miles from the trailhead. Multiply that eighteen by four, as the first attempt with Colin Cameron was scuppered by heavy snowfalls. Flat-topped neighbour, Mount Strom, was claimed instead. But really, in August, there should not be enough fresh snow on its summit to build a snowman.
The photos from line three onwards are of more genteel excursions with my wife during a visit to Canada several years later,
including a wonderful scenic flight over Mount Waddington.