Where the trail peters out near a small waterfall, we turned left and settled into a long slog up a very large and obvious scree slope.  We later picked up a beaten path going up this slope and then scrambled through some easy cliff bands to reach a bench.  We traversed to climbers' right along this bench until it was feasible to gain another long rubble slope leading to the summit ridge.  We ran into the two men again on this slope as they were on their way down.  They appeared to be ill-equipped for the bitterly cold wind high on the mountain, but they nevertheless seemed to be in good spirits as they passed by us.  Upon reaching the summit ridge, we finished the ascent with an easy walk to the summit cairn.

After taking a break on the summit, we briefly considered extending the trip to the third peak, but incoming rainy weather dampened our desire to continue.  Instead, we simply backed out the way we came and enjoyed a long and uneventful return to the valley and subsequently the trailhead.

	The great wall of Mount Sparrowhawk's north face can be seen at distant right as Zosia enters the upper valley of Spencer Creek.
	Zosia comes up a washed out section of Spencer Creek.
	Spencer Creek appears to flow along a fault line at this point.
	Upon reaching a small waterfall, Zosia heads up the steep slope at left.
	The scree slope here is quite steep and loose.
	This large scree slope grants easy access to the upper mountain.
	The footing is no better or worse in the beaten path which runs all the way up to the lower cliff bands.
	Zosia ascends a weakness in the lower cliff bands.
	Zosia traverses eastward along this bench in order to circumvent the steep slabs to the left.

Sonny grinds up the final slope before the summit ridge.  Mount Sparrowhawk dominates the background.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

 

	Zosia gains the summit ridge.  The summit of Mount Lougheed's second peak is a short distance away.
	Zosia and Sonny stand on the summit of the second peak of Mount Lougheed (3098 metres).
	The first peak of Mount Lougheed looks impressive to the northwest.
	To the east are Mount Collembola (left) and Mount Allan (right).
	Mount Lougheed's third peak sits in front of the higher fourth peak (Wind Mountain) to the southeast.
	Mount Bogart (left) and Mount Sparrowhawk round out the view to the south.
	Sonny descends the weakness in the lower cliff bands. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The north face of Mount Sparrowhawk provides a dramatic backdrop as Zosia descends the large scree slope.
	Total Distance:  15.0 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  8 hours 54 minutes Net Elevation Gain:  1381 metres GPX Data