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Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Mount Daniel & Pender Hill, November 2023
With continued fair weather into November, Agata, Pepper and I set out for a day exploring some of the "bumps" on the Sunshine Coast west of Sechelt Inlet. Our intention was to start out hiking Mount Hallowell in Spipiyus Provincial Park approached via the Halfmoon-Carlson FSR, but those plans fell through somewhere near the park boundary due to a problematic cross-ditch. Decided that losing my truck bumper wasn't worth it, and with more distance remaining than we were prepared to walk, we turned back. Also deemed that the regular approach to Hallowell from the west was longer than we cared for at that point and so set our sights on a couple other objectives further west near Garden Bay - Mount Daniel and Pender Hill.
Both Mount Daniel and Pender Hill are short hikes to rocky knolls with scenic views overlooking the Straight of Georgia between the Sunshine Coast and Texada Island. While the view west from Daniel was more panoramic, those from lower-elevation Pender are similar but also offer a neat perspective on the lake country near Garden Bay: Hotel Lake, Mixal Lake, Garden Bay Lake and further east towards Garden and Gunboat bays. Still had a little time to burn after those two and so made a short walk out to Daniel Point to catch the sunset. Always a fine Fall getaway there on the Sunshine Coast and only a 45 minute ferry ride and short drive away!
With our campervan insurance about to expire for the season, we hightailed it south to 'murica for a few days visiting friends, hiking and enjoying some "vanlife". First stop Issaquah where we spent the evening catching up with the Shaw's and doing some damage to their Cabernet Sauvignon supply. Set out for the mightyRattlesnake Ledgerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnakerattlesnake
the following day coz it's in the neighborhood and neither of us have been up it yet. Then over to Deception Pass State Park, catching the sunset from
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and watching F-18's doing "touch and go" maneuvers before retiring to the van for the night. The plan for the next day was to hike Sauk Mountain, and so after an evening enduring the ear-splitting roar of low flying jets, we bid Whidbey Island adieu and motored east into the North Cascade foothills.
I'd been up Sauk once before, but that was many moons ago, in a whiteout and while I was very much hungover. Thankfully, none of that this time around, although a decent amount of snow now graced it's west-facing slope where the trail zigzags steeply up. Up to the summit ridge in short order, staying left at the Sauk Mountain Trail - Sauk Lake Trail junction. The final stretch of trail traverses just below the crest on its east side for a bit before gaining a saddle. Short hike from there onto the summit area where a fire lookout once stood. The "true" summit lies just beyond, but having been up it once already, I saw no good reason for sketching over the exposed ridge in these conditions.
It had been a mostly gray(ish) day, but the cloud ceiling remained just above the surrounding mountains allowing for the awesome views Sauk is known for: the Skagit and Sauk river valleys, Picket Range, Snowfield Group, peaks at the headwaters of Marble Creek, Whitehorse, the Snowking Group, Shuksan and the omnipresent Mount Baker! Had no idea what I had missed the last time I was up here! Don't repeat my mistake back in 2006 and make sure you have good weather before you go!
Rising steeply above Thornton Lake in the North Cascades of Washington, 5,966-foot trappers peak makes for an outstanding shoulder season objective with incredible 360-degree views. Fresh from hiking Park Butte near Mount Baker, I proceeded to the Thornton Lakes Trailhead for a fine can-o-chilli dinner and car camp on a brisk late October evening. Got going the next day, chasing another party who had arrived that morning in their Subaru and woke me from my blissful slumber. The Thornton Lakes Trail climbs through beautiful forest to a ridge crest at 5,000 ft with views down to the Thornton Lakes and across to Mount Triumph. Stopped here for a few minutes to reflect on the previous times I was up here en route to climb the Northeast Ridge of Mount Triumph some 22 years ago and more recently Mount Despair about 14 years ago. Seems like just yesterday!
I ignored the trail that descends to the lakes this time and instead proceeded along a climbers path up the ridge before me. Encountered some snow here, but thanks to the approach being largely south-facing, I found it to be inconsequential...plus I had tracks to follow! Up to the supposed "crux" knife edge, which I found to be a big nothing and then on up to the summit where BAM! a tremendous view on the Picket Range slaps you in the face! Been a while since I'd seen these peaks from up close, and rest assured they still inspire me to this day!
Looking around, so many peaks and glaciers to behold and for me to reflect on adventures of decades past. Thornton and Triumph to the NW with "The Fence" dominating the view to the north. A sliver of Diablo Lake, Jack Mountain and Crater Mountain to the ENE with peaks of the Snowfield Group closer to the ESE. Then SE to the Inspiration-Klawatti Icecap area with Big Devil and co. to the south. And finally, a fine view looking west down the Skagit River Valley with Whitehorse and Three Fingers standing proud in the distance. It has been said that Trappers is a personal favorite of local peakbagging legend John Roper and that this peak inspired his passion for mountaineering in the Washington Cascades. Having finally been up top myself, I can certainly appreciate why ol' Roper felt the way he did!
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