Last Updated: May 17, 2013
   |         |       |       |       |   



***
Use links and shortcuts below or menu above to navigate this site. Recent content updates are viewable in the blog area.

Database:

Query my reports database, selecting from criteria which include peak names, location, climb type, season etc.

Quick Links:

Some essential links I can't do without:


Jump To:

Select from drop-down list below to jump to a specific area on this site.


All photos and text for sverdina.com are Copyright © 2002-2013. Please ask before using any part of these pages. Terimah Kasih!



    


| Latest Posts |

Add to Google


Monday, August 9, 2010

Face Mountain (BC) - East Route, July 2010

North Face of Face Mountain as seen from the Hurley River Road.

Not even an hour into the approach, and badly blistered feet (not mine) put the kibosh on our Mount Samson climb. While the North Face would definitely have to wait for another day, the alternative south-side route also seemed too remote and isolated for me to do as solo-overnighter. My comrades, whom I’d met only hours earlier returned to Squamish leaving me to salvage the weekend with a nearby scramble of some sort. Fortunately, just a couple miles back up the forest road at Railroad Pass is the popular Semaphore Lakes trailhead. A short hike leads to a very scenic basin below the Train Glacier with peaks of the Railroad Group towering above. From a camp in the still completely snowed-in basin my plan was to climb Face Mountain the following day and return to North Vancouver later that evening.

This is what's left of the bridge over Donelly Creek. Sorry, there would be no ATV-assisted approach today. Hiking along the overgrown logging road en route to the trail below the glacier moraines.  Thanks to already blistered feet, we would turn back a short while later. View of Railroad Group (Face Mtn at right) from Semaphore Lakes Basin. Waterfall below Train Glacier emerging from beneath the snow and disappearing back beneath the snow.
A stretch of easy hiking along Face's East Ridge. The gully I ascended to gain the summit snow slopes. The correct/standard route apparently follows ledges just out of view to the left of the gully. South Face of Mount Samson as seen from Face's summit. Close-up of Locomotive Mountain with Pemberton River Valley in distance.
View down Hurley River Valley towards Goldbridge. Panorama looking SSE from Face's summit.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Spontaneity Arete - Le Petit Cheval, July 2010

Spontenaety Arete (at left) as seen from hwy 20.

As is tradition around these parts, the forecast for the July 4th long weekend called for clouds with a chance of showers. The obvious thing to do was to head east into 509 country where the odds of precipitation would be less. Jerry and Annette answered the call with an invitation to stay with them at their lovely little cabin in Mazama. While there, Agata and I preoccupied ourselves by doing a mix of mountain biking, cragging and alpine climbing. For me the highlight of the weekend was climbing Le Petit Cheval on Spontaneity Arete. I would characterize it as a ‘friendly’ route with relatively short-lived difficulties (the crux supposedly goes at 5.7). It makes for a short but fun climb ideal for marginal weather days. For approach beta and a route topo check out the North Cascades Mountain Guides homepage.

Climbing at Sun Rock just a short walk from Fun Rock. Climbing a new bolted route Jerry put up in the Chewuch Valley. Following the trail as described in the approach notes we encountered two seprate sections with fixed ropes to be used as a handline. Here Agata starts up the second of the two handlines. Looking down from about midway on the route. Looking back from the next step in the arete. Easy scrambling on the upper part of the route.
Agata on the summit with Washington Pass in background. View down Early Winters Valley with The Needles in background.

*Master list of trip reports and photos here: climbing or snowboarding.

*To search this site, enter criteria in the text box below.
©2013 sverdina.com |       RSS feed