Buchannan
Ridg Run 8,415

This peak is usually done in conjecture with Mount Carthew. In this combination it is a straightforward ridge walk with little if any technical difficulty. Views up top are not especially great. Some 20-50 foot sinkholes just uphill from the Carthew-Alderson Summit do offer a potential distraction.

Most people make the trip starting up the Carthew-Alderston-Summit trail fro Cameron Lake. Once at the summit, follow a thin game trial up hill to the left (north). In about 300m a pair of small sinkholes can be found. Continue up this ridge to reach Mount Carthew. Instead of heading down the shale slope to reach lower Carthew Lakes, stick to the ridge, eventually cutting to the right (south) to reach the summit of Buchannan. Two minor peaks of similar elevation are respectively found one and two peaks past (north) of Carthew Peak. There is little to distinguish these two peaks.

From the peak there are two possibilities: immediately descend to the north to reach the Cameron Highway, or continue along the ridge to where it cuts back to the right (south east) before descending back down to the Cameron Highway.

Descending from the 1st (west) summit will put you above the rock climbs of Buchannon Gardens. This is a nice valley, but sticking to the west shoulder of the bowl is probably the most the most prudent option. From the 2nd summit a fairly steep shale face can be descended. This is along the side of the prominent Spring / Fall snow gully. Continuing along the ridge until it ends is the easiest of the three options. If you do this, you can descend back to the road on a relatively open slope, just above the bench by Trap Line.