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| Vancouver Island Alpine Guide |
Septimus is a long east-west ridge at the head of Price Creek just east of Cream Lake. As the name implies there are seven summits, 5 minor and 2 major, with the East being marginally higher than the West. This has caused considerable confusion as to which is the actual summit, particularly when the visibility is low. One reason for this is that most parties climb the mountain from the west by ascending the broad snow couloir rising from Cream Lake. The perspective at the top of the couloir incorrectly makes the West Summit appear substantially higher than the East. Another problem is that the current topographic map has the higher East Summit labeled as Rosseau, and the lower West Summit as Septimus. Rosseau is in fact the lower east most summit along the Septimus ridge.
There are thre ways of approaching the mountain:
From Cream Lake follow trails around the west side of the lake to reach the gravel flats at the south end of the lake. From here ascend the broad gently rising snow couloir to its top. Do not climb up the steep narrow gullies on the left, these only lead to the West Summit. From the top of the couloir descent 30m and then traverse across the steep snow and scree slopes on the south side of the mountain. After 500m of steep traversing a minor ridge coming down from the East Summit is crossed, the side slope will ease, and to continue traversing a left turn would have to be made. A 100m further on is the base of a large gully that heads slightly to the right and up to the top of the ridge. Ascend to where the gully narrows to pass though the cliffs. Climb out onto the ledges to the left, then up over a series of ledges to eventually reach the summit block. The true summit of Septimus is the top of a large boulder with room for only one person. In 1988 the CMDC placed a summit register.
From the top of snow couloir ascend a steep loose gully to reach the ridge crest to the west of the West Summit. Using cracks and ledges to the right of the crest work your way up the ridge. When the summit is in site cross the top of gully 20m bellow the ridge top on the right then climb up a shallow depression to me summit.
From a camp at the east end of Flower Ridge drop onto the divide between Price Creek and Margaret Lake. Diagonally ascend the snow slopes on the north face working towards the west, passing under the summit. Scramble to the ridge crest and head east back to the summit. This route is best done early in the year on snow.
Last Updated: Sept 13, 1997