Peak 5074
(Elevation 5074', Latitude/Longitude 59.9038° -63.9662°, Map 14L13, UTM 443295)

Peak 4900
(Elevation 4900+', Latitude/Longitude 59.9215° -63.9760°, Map 14L13, UTM 438315)

Topographic Map of Peak 5074 and Peak 4900: Click for map.

Route: From the East (from the Palmer River) Dartmouth College group (John Stix, Jill Fredston, Jim McIntyre and Steve Thompson), 1979, first ascent of both peaks. From the Palmer River the group scrambled up the steep western wall of the river valley up the stream gulley at 490333, about 1 mile upstream (south) of their base camp. After reaching the uplands at about 2500', they circled around several small ponds to the north and then approached the ridge leading to Peak 4900 by scrambling up a snow gulley and a talus slope. Heading due west along the broad ridge they encountered a huge ice field which they then crossed. Above the ice field they attained the broad summit of peak 4900 heading slightly south of west from the top of the ice field. A quick lunch was taken as the weather was thickening. Their altimeter read in excess of 5000'. Peak 5074 was about a mile due south, separated from Preak 4900 by about a 400' drop to a col. They traversed this ridge in steadily worsening conditions of wet snow and near zero visibility and reached the summit of 5074 where they broke out the Dartmouth Outing Club Flag and took the obligatory summit shots. They headed back across the col towards 4900 and, turning east, recrossed the icefield. Looking for a better route than the snow and talus gulley they had ascended, they found a long 1000' vertical drop snowfield which they glissaded down on their boots and rear ends. After a long day in miserable weather, they found their reward at the end. (Stix, John, "Northern Labrador Expedition", Explorers Journal, December 1981) John Stix writes: "I strongly suggest you AVOID this route (from the Palmer River up the steep stream gully to the uplands). Probably the best route route would be to go up along the west shore of the Tallek Arm (do this at low tide) and enter the broad river valley that joins the Arm on the west (at 480390) about 3 miles north of the mouth of the Palmer River. Follow the valley southwest about 4 miles and approach 4900 from the north." (John Stix, private communication, 2004)