Solo and Free on the Black Tusk

The outer peak of the Black Tusk, with the main peak on the right.

Subject Mountain: The Black Tusk
    Photo Value: 16 *R
Date: 2001.08.11
Vantage Point: 20 metres west of the main peak, looking northeast,   49:58:30 123:02:30
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 Photographer: Dave P. Inserted By: Reynold Schmidt

After 1st climbing the main peak in 1966 (age 8) with my brother Norm and father Sig, I finally got up the nerve to attempt the outer peak in 2001. With lots of encouragement from my partners Dave P. and Doug K., I was successful. The downclimb was quite interesting after an estimated 1/2 cubic metre of rock peeled off below me. Both myself and the peak were shaking a bit after this occurred. The outer peak, 10 or 20 feet higher than the main peak, was first climbed in 1920 by Tom Fyles, W. Wheatley and N. Carter or in 1917 by Tom Fyles(solo) depending on which edition of Dick Culbert's Climbing Guide you consult. In Mr. Culbert's 1st edition (if I may quote): "It is possible to jump to a gendarme straddling (the gap between main/outer peak), but a saner method is to rappel down and bypass gendarme to west." Any takers?