Select from list below to jump to a specific area on this site.
| Latest Posts |
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
Goose Rockgooserockgooserockgooserock
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!
Park Butte is a short but deservedly popular hike on the south side of Mount Baker. It is well-known for the historic fire lookout perched on its summit and the outstanding 360-degree panoramic views from the deck that wraps around it. The approach to the 'butte is by way of the Park Butte Trail, which is the same as that used to reach the Railroad Grade Trail commonly taken for ascents of Baker's Easton Glacier route. I was last in the area over 20 years ago, returning from my first successful ascent of the mighty Koma Kulshan (aka. Mt. Baker)! So much has changed in the natural world and virtually all aspects of life since then, the one notable exception being my enduring passion for adventure in high places!
Capitalizing on the continued sunny late-October weather, this was the first of two back-to-back objectives in my former home state. As it's a relatively short drive from North Vancouver, I didn't feel the need to get a terribly early start, and it wasn't until noon that I began the hike. Just under 4 kilometers to the Railroad Grade Trail junction, staying left and continuing into the basin below Park Butte's east-facing slopes. Up to a wide bench on the East Ridge before turning right and following the trail around the south-side to reach a saddle directly below the peak. Short walk from there to the lookout, whereupon a glorious in-your-face view of Baker's enormous Easton and Demming glaciers awaited! Prominent satellite peaks such as Colfax and Lincoln also very hard to miss. Twin Sisters Range looking good there to the WSW as does the Picket Range due east, both recalling fond memories of adventures past!
Started down after having my fill of the views, encountering numerous other parties out enjoying the snow and Kulshan's majesty. Back to the trailhead, with a Boeing test flight still being conducted overhead when I got there, leaving behind a pair of contrails against an otherwise perfectly cloudless sky. Seems like everyone was out making the most of this beauty of a day!
Opal Cone is a cinder cone located on the southeast flank of Mount Garibaldi in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. I got a good look at it about a week prior to this hike from The Gargoyles and Columnar Peak and was intrigued by the pyroclastic wasteland and icefields that lie just beyond. The "cone" and surrounding area would surely also offer outstanding views of Garibaldi itself from a side not often seen up-close. At around 35 km round trip, the approach is no slouch mind you, but with most of it dispatched by bike, it takes much less time and effort to get there than it would seem. Been out to the Elfin Lakes and beyond several times by now, so this report will just cover the hike and return to where I stashed my bike near the Elfin Shelter.
Continuing by foot from the shelter, I passed the "Saddle Trail" junction and proceeded straight onto the Mamquam Lake Trail for some ~3 kilometers to a small footbridge spanning Ring Creek. Classic volcanic terrain here, calling attention to the bare and eroded pumice slopes with a snowclad Atwell Peak towering above. The trail then parallels the creek for another ~1.3 kilometers before turning up to gain Opal Cone's south shoulder. Around the south side for a bit before turning left and following the Opal Cone Trail as it ascends the crest of an old lateral moraine now on the cone's east side. Up a short, steep pitch and then onto the crater rim, which I followed counterclockwise over several bumps to reach the true summit. Wowzers! What a view! Diamond, Garibaldi, Bishop and Lava glaciers from left to right looking north, the "Big G", Atwell, Diamond Head and Gargoyles looking west, peaks on the Mamquam Icefield to the east and so much more!
With time to spare, I decided to go get a closer look of the Lava Glacier and so completed my orbit of the crater rim before returning to the Mamquam Lake Trail junction. Turning left now, I contoured around a chocolate milk-colored moraine lake, crossed its outflow and proceeded along the east shore towards the glacier. Maps show the glacier extending all the way to this lake, but as with everything else these days, the snout has pulled back considerably and now lies at least a half kilometer to the north. Slogged my way though soggy pumice and glacial till before finally setting foot on the ice. Flat as a pancake, the glacier extends a good ~3.5 kilometers straight north to intersect with the South Pitt Glacier at the headwaters of the Pitt River. Briefly considered pushing on in that direction to tag Viking Ridge (Peak) but ultimately decided against it as I had no interest in returning in the dark. Regardless, the highlight here is the view west of the Garibaldi Glacier with it's teetering seracs and hanging ice cliffs.
Having soaked it all in as much as I could, it was finally time to call it a day. Back to the trail, taking a shortcut this time by cutting over on the right side of the lake. Returned to the Elfin Shelter in good time, hopped on the bike and back to the trailhead about 8.5 hours after first getting going that day. This one greatly exceeded my expectations and makes for a fantastic Fall objective!
It would be very much appreciated if you please ask before copying and/or re-publishing content from any part of these pages. To do so, please click here to send a message via feedback form.
