Climbed by: me solo.
This was my second ascent of Mount Rae. The first time, the views were obscured by smoke from forest fires in BC or Montana.
This time, the views were obscured by water vapour in the air!
I just can't win! 2008 will probably show a 3rd ascent, as I've heard the views are excellent and would like to prove it with nice photos!
This time, after gaining the col, I went "high" as soon as I passed the spine under the gendarme. I thought about going over the top of it instead, but since I was by myself I thought it unwise to do anything too "interesting".
Once again, the hardest part of this scramble was the final approach to the col. It gets steeper the higher you go, until the end when it gets REALLY steep. Good thing I ate my wheaties that morning.
On the way up, at the bottom of the col, I saw that someone had left their trekking poles behind a rock. Not sure how someone could have forgotten them. I had intended to pick them up on the way down and post a 'found' item on Live The Vision or somewhere like it. But by the time I remembered on the way down, I was way below them, and there was no way in hell I was turning around and climbing a couple hundred meters to go back for them! To whoever they belong(ed) to: sorry!