sverdina.com

Archived Posts (7/00 - 9/07)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Archived posts from July 2000 to September 2007 here.

Sperry Peak - South Ridge (Oct. 14)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Having been granted the proverbial green light to take a break from his parental obligations, and myself having been cleared for a day off from my caretaker duties (Agata recently underwent sugery on her ankle), Scott and I were effectively handed a kitchen pass to go play in the hills. I succeeded in talking Scott out of skiing up on Mt. Baker, citing the obvious lack of new snow, for my tastes anyway and instead proposed doing a scramble of some sort. A few options were discussed, but we eventually settled on climbing the South Ridge of Sperry Peak. Full report here.

Exfoliation Dome - West Buttress (Oct. 27)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Exfoliation Dome is rather large granite dome south of the town of Darrington. Unlike other nearby features of interest to climbers, Exfoliation Dome is a distinct peak unto itself. It is apparently the most difficult 4,000-foot summit to attain in Washington State. The easiest way to its summit is a 9 pitch 5.8+ alpine rock climb...the West Buttress (aka Blueberry Hill). Martin Cash had already climbed the route on two previous occasions, and was very accomodating to climb it once again with me. Full report here.

Modified Brostrom Procedure (Nov. 6)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

After a week in a splint cast and four weeks in a regular cast, Agata finally got her cast removed Nov. 6. Consistent with my experience following a similar procedure on my left ankle eight or nine years ago, the surgeon basically told Agata to begin walking as soon as the cast was removed. Six or so weeks of rehabilitation should get her ankle back in shape just in time for 'boarding season! The photo at right shows her ankle just after the splint cast was removed (about a week post surgery). Photo at left is my ankle also a week post surgery.

"Top 100" Party (Nov. 10)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Tom extended a last minute invite to join him at the party being held at Don Beaven's Marysville home. Having missed several opportunities to attend such get-togethers in the past, I couldn't let this one pass me by. Besides, what better opportunity to rub elbows with Cascade mountaineering pioneers such as Fred Beckey, Mike Swain and Alex Bertulis, just to name a few? Noteworthy highlights of the event included a slide show by host Don Beaven describing his recent attempt at climbing K2, a recognition and roast for John Roper and another gentleman who's name escapes me at the moment, and a slide show by Paul Klenke detailing his attempt at climbing Lincoln Peak earlier in the year. Last but not least, was Lowel Skoog's impressive Google Earth-based slide show detailing his bi-decade quest to ski the Cascade crest from Mt. Baker to Mt. Rainier. Check out the photos to see if anyone looks familiar!

"Muir on Sunday" (Nov. 11)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Scott and I paired up for our first ski/split tour of the season, and what amounted to little more than a 'hike' in whiteout. Coverage at Paradise was marginal at best, and with poor visibility and strong winds chipping away at our motivation, we called it at around 8K. We were, however able to get a few turns on the wind-blown ice and occasional pockets of pow, but all in all it was a day better spent in bed. Despite the challenging conditions, I must say that my new SD Mojo split is far and away a huge improvement over what I've been riding up until now! Scott made a video to commemorate the past few years of 'Rocktober' turns at Paradise - Muir on Saturday...check it out!

Heather/Maple Pass ski/split (Nov. 18)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Together with Jerry, Susan, Eric (Henry), Jay and his girlfriend, we made the long drive to the plowed pull-out near the Rainy Pass Trailhead. It was good to be skinning starting right from the road, and in no time found ourselves traversing the slope high above Lake Ann - our destination: Heather Pass, and beyond it, Maple Pass. Three laps from the top of Maple Pass down to the lake (est. 1200ft - 1300ft) in exquisite pow made this a day worth remembering...and no core shots either! Hey, if it's good enough for Winthrop locals, not to mention Gordy Skoog himself, it must be good, eh?

Washington Pass - ski/split (Nov. 22)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Amanda Barg, Luke Panezich and I snuck out of town on Thanksgiving for a quick Washington Pass pow fix. Despite the fact that it last snowed almost a week ago, temps in the teens at the Blue Lakes trailhead practically assured us great pow conditions. Luke suffered a skin issue early on and had turkey dinner obligations later that afternoon that necessitated an early departure, and so returned to town early. Amanda stopped just shy of Blue Lakes Col and not seeing me, decided to ski back down to the road and wait for me. I, having selfishly abandoned my comrades back in the forest, made a run for the col and took a glorious sun-drenched ride down the south-side into Copper Creek Valley. An exhausting slog back up to the col and a final run down the north-side, staying left for untouched champagne on gentle slopes well into the basin, saw me back to the trailhead where Amanda was happy to see me. I had hoped for another run, but alas it was not to be. Photos by Amanda - the cold shocked my camera batteries!

Crystal b/c - Cement Basin ski/split (Dec. 1)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:20:00 +0000

I rendezvoused with fellow TAY splitters Eric (aka Snoslut), John (IAOFM), and skier Scott in Cement Basin for a day of blower pow and some unexpected blue skies in the morning. A warm-up run down the south-facing slope we had just ascended and three long descents into Cement Basin proper rounded out an excellent day of backcountry riding. Now only if it wasn't for that damn core shot suffered on the final descent back to the Bullion Basin highway. Someone got a tad bit greedy! More photos here!

Baker b/c - Ptarmigan Ridge (Dec. 8)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:20:00 +0000

Hopeful that the mini-typhoon that blasted through the region earlier in the week did not wash our entire snow pack into Puget Sound, Scott and I endured the three-hour drive to the Mt. Baker ski area for a day of touring around Ptarmigan Ridge. We would not be disappointed, and our determination was rewarded with 8 to 12 inches of the lightest champagne imaginable over a very firm base. Full report here.

Christmas in the Dolomites (Dec. 23 - Jan. 7)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:20:00 +0000

Web-cams don't lie. We were skeptically optimistic that the snow situation would improve prior to our departure, but were ultimately disappointed. Typical Dolomites early winter weather - arctic (-18c) bluebird for a week-and-a-half straight with snow guns running 24x7. For those that live for fast and firm groomers, conditions were about as good as they get. I logged a meager 5 or 6 days on the slopes, and am grateful for having gotten my edges sharpened prior to leaving Seattle. Sadly, the off-piste conditions left something to be desired. Nevertheless, the scenery and vistas continue to inspire a passion for the high places in me. I've been coming here since my early teens and these mountains will always hold a special place in my heart. It started snowing just a couple days prior to us returning home, but such a fine, whimsical snowfall that would take about two weeks before any real accumulation takes place (it was just too cold). Just as well I guess, considering Agata's ankle still isn't 100% - this way she didn't feel like she missed out on anything 'epic'. But hey, she joined my dad, Frank and me on the infamous Sella Ronda on the last day of 2007 (counter clockwise is best), so her ankle can't be that bad, right? Full report here.

My (lift served) ski season thus far...

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:20:00 +0000

It all started with a forgettable day of riding at Whistler on Dec. 16. High winds and poor visibility meant that Peak and Harmony chairs would stay closed. Following that, I decided to start Christmas vacation a day early and burned one of my five Crystal pre-paids. Four or five inches of pow over an annoyingly icy base made for an ok day of riding. Coverage was coming along nicely since the Pineapple Express we experienced in early December, but it still had a little left to go.

After returning from Italy, the pressure was on like never before to partake of the Northwest Christmas/New Years powder party before it all came to a screeching halt. The snow was flying at Snoqualmie Pass Thurs night, so I drove on up to sample the nighttime goods at the "Dark Runs". From entrance #1 to #4.5, I found some deep, wet and heavy pow. Ahh yes, the infamous Cascade Concrete! Hopeful that conditions at Crystal would fare a bit better, I took the following day off and made a beeline for the ski area. I got first tracks in Bear Pits before they opened Chair 6, but avi debris up high and heavier pow down low left me wishing I had not. Campbell Basin, however offered up the stoke I was looking for and I ended-up spending most of the day there before the grand finale in the South Country.

Expecting high pressure to set in for the following week or so as was forecasted, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was again dumping at Snoqualmie, this time conveniently on a Saturday afternoon. While most of the other ski areas sported a modest 3 to 5 inches of new come Sunday morning, Alpental had been blasted with 9 to 12 inches of fresh. I joined Luke, Andy and Jared for a few laps on Chair 2 (or 17?) followed by some excellent runs from Knoll #1 and Piss Pass, easily making for the best day of the season yet. Scott and I returned to Alpy the following day for a serving of leftovers and found it unusually cold (17 degrees at base) with nice dry pow where untracked, but becoming progressively more crunchy down lower where most of the terrain had been bumped-out. Despite the cold temps and ok snow, it was a perfectly cloudless day and ski/skin tracks above Source Lake, The Phantom and below Kendal Peak reminded me how many b/c lines there are to be had in this little valley (photos by Scott).

Snoqualmie Mtn - Slot Couloir/Phantom, Feb. 18

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:20:00 +0000

After a bout of rain and high freezing levels and then a good dose of sunshine, I was overjoyed at having sniffed-out some unexpected pow on shaded north-aspects in the Alpy b/c on Sunday, Feb. 17. Well, at least up high - the lower slopes sported that skied-out, re-frozen Sno-Crummy mank we have all come to hate. Nevertheless, I felt optimistic about the snow conditions on the north side of Snoqualmie Mountain and recruited Eli and Eric Henry into joining me on a Presidents Day ski/split descent of the Slot Couloir. I had last ridden this line back in 2002, and felt a return visit was overdue. Besides, with all the pass closures, courtesy of the record snow that has fallen primarily in the Stevens-Snoqualmie convergence zone during the past month, I do not see the point in driving any further for turns just yet. Full report here.

Silver Peak - West Face/North Slope, Feb. 23

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:20:00 +0000

My goddam toes are going to be beat to a pulp after this garbage I bitched to Andy. Why I did not listen to my own advice and bring a pair of crampons I do not know. Above me, Andy was making steady, toe-friendly progress cramponing up the frozen West Face. What was I doing here? The tips of my well-worn modified PMBs were barely breaking the surface after repeated kicks, my feeble aluminum axe good for little more than balance. I needed to escape to softer snow... Full report here.

March update...

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:20:00 +0000

It is now late March, and with about 35 days out on the snow to date, all I can is that it has been an awesome season! What have I been up to lately? Lifts, slackcountry, frontcountry...whatever, so long as I've got some Powerfly II core underfoot, it's all good! And yes, I hate fighting umpteen others for those cherished lines like everyone else on the weekends. Sell a kidney if you have to and take a mid-week pow day instead...what a difference! I chased the snow south to Hood Meadows as a vigorous storm was lashing Oregon the weekend of March 15, and took the following Tuesday off for another serving of pow at Alpental. A man possessed one might say.

Photos below are from a 3/1 trip to Whistler and a 3/24 trip to Crystal.

The good, the bad and the ugly...

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:20:00 +0000

The good: Agata and I got away with murder at the March 28 Burton demo sale in downtown Seattle. We walked out of there with no less than three *new* boards between us! That weekend both Crystal on Saturday and Alpy on Sunday conveniently ended up being one of the best pow weekends of the season for us. Perfect for running the new gear through its paces. It is amazing the difference even a little taper in the tail makes. Effortless float and no rear-leg burn, damn what have we been doing all these years? Timed the opening of the b/c just right and wallowed in 2 - 3 feet of suprisingly light pow as I cut the first track down from Knoll #1. Dare I say it was almost too deep? Finished-off the day making a few laps out to Piss Pass and dropping our favorite lines in untouched mid-winter perfection, and all this the last weekend in March!

The bad and ugly: Bo and I waffled about on scheduling our trip to Rogers Pass, and finally settled on leaving town April 12, and spending a couple nights up at the Asulkan Hut and touring around the area for most of that week. Alas, we made a last-minute decision to call the trip off thanks to the significant warming forecast for the weekend we were scheduled to leave Seattle. With an avalanche forecast expected to go to HIGH for the next several days and accompanied by pass closures for avy control, I saw little justification in making the pilgrimage and needlessly burning precious vacation time. Never fear, Bo...we'll make it happen next year!

Redemption: In lieu of Rogers Pass, Agata and I made a couple more Whistler trips for a final serving of lift-served pow, crud and slush. Did a small detour to check out the new nordic area in the Callaghan Valley outside Whistler on our way there (April 5 - 7), and returned again for the final weekend of Telus ski/board festival (April 19 - 20). Dust-on-crust conditions forced Ed and I to venture into Blackcomb's backcountry in search of pow - which we found in abundance in Corona Bowl and beneath the East Col!

Snoqualmie Mtn - Slot Coulior re-revisited, Apr. 25

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:20:00 +0000

I had some unfinished business to attend to after passing on this line back in February. I dunno, call me crazy, but riding down steep water ice doesn't exactly appeal to me. So come late April, I again found myself staring down the Slot's throat pondering the descent - my third time, in case anyone's counting. Wow, what a difference a 'little' more snow makes. This time the drop-in was positively easy and the powder deep, light and forgiving...is this really April?! No hesitation, no second-guessing; the ride down was a blur of face shots, exhilaration and soul-surfing solitude. Well, that is until I exited onto the apron below the coulior where an audience of four skiers demanded a strong finish. Don't wipe-out now you silly snowboarder! haha! I followed the foursome back out to the saddle above the Phantom and skinned back up for a second run, this time without anyone to share it with. Down again, and back out again. An undeniably popular, but deservedly classic line!

Snow/Source Lakes - N. Slope Chair Pk, Source Lk Divide, Pineapple Pass, April 26

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:20:00 +0000

We should have gotten an earlier start, eh? Yeh, it is only 9am and only going to get hotter was Eric Henrys reply after witnessing a sluff slide spontaneously release down the lower flanks of Bryant Coulior. We were only halfway up Chair Peak Basin, when our ambitious plans to ski the North Slope of Chair Peak were dashed in the name of playing it safe. Ok, now for plan B.

Full report here.

Mount Hardy - "OpenFly Coulior", May 3

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:20:00 +0000

With hwy20 having opened not two days prior, the race was on to harvest what was left of the pow, before the masses and/or freeze/thaw rendered the slopes a bumped-out crud fest. What to do, what to do? Let us see, Silverstar, Birthday Tour, Maple and Rainy Passes - been there, done that. Aha, but wait! Phil Fortier had posted a couple trip reports a few years back of ski descents on Mt. Hardys north side: NE Coulior and Open Fly Coulior. These features seemed intriguing enough to lure Tod and me to go have a look for ourselves.

Full report here.

Little Tahoma - Fryingpan Glacier, June 2

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:20:00 +0000

The weather prognosis for the day was not particularly encouraging - isolated showers were forecast for the mountains with another front due to arrive later that night. But, I have been suckered by the forecast and overblown spring avalanche warnings one too many times this season, and I was not about to wake up late to another unexpectedly sunny day with nothing but a hangover to nurse. And so, with hopes of getting above the weather, a trip to climb and ski/board Little Tahoma was born. Joining me on this test of lowered expectations were Eli, John and Eric (AKA Snowslut of TAY fame).

Full report here.

Mount Rainier - Interglacier, June 7

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:20:00 +0000

"Juneuary" they are calling this unseasonably wintry weather we're having this late spring. Indeed, it must be extremely rare to find over a foot of fresh powder snow on the Interglacier in June. Sure, one could always snowmobile into Glacier Basin in the winter and establish camp for the weekend and hopefully find the Interglacier in stable conditions, but to nail such conditions right after the White River Road has opened is remarkable. Perhaps what is more remarkable was the weather we encountered on this fine day. With only Mt. Baker, Little Tahoma and presumably Mount Adams to the south also poking above the sea of clouds, the forecast was actually accurate for a change; it was indeed cloudy and rainy below the cloud deck. We here in the PNW are very fortunate to have a mountain like Mt. Rainier to play on, as it affords us the opportunity to get up above the weather. And what a burly mountain it is...

Full report here.

Middle (Little) Sister - North Ridge/Southwest Slopes, June 14

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:20:00 +0000

It's been several years since Aaron and I last saw each other, let alone climbed together. A lot has changed since our Mt. Buckner climb back in 2002, but at my suggestion to climb and ski the Three Sisters, Aaron was still his usual self - always up for a challenge, no matter how ambitious. With an invitation to stay at his house in Bend, I loaded up the car and left Seattle at noon on an overcast Friday. An interminable drive south to Portland, then along hwy26 through Gresham and Government Camp finally reaching hwy97 for the final leg to Bend, saw me at Aaron and Amy's doorstep a fair bit later than I had hoped (97 via I90 appears to be the better way to go).

Full report here.

"Muir on Saturday" - June 21

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:20:00 +0000

With more ambitious plans dashed thanks to the predicted afternoon rain, Scott and I set our sights on something attainable and to take care of some unfinished business (for Scott anyway). Back to Mt. Rainier to ski/ride the Nisqually Chutes by way of Camp Muir. Neither of us has been up to Muir in several years, so a return visit was long overdue. Three hours up, a short wait for Scott, lunch in the new climber's shelter and then it was time for the descent. Upon reaching the chute's entrance, I saw evidence of a rather sizeable avalanche that had run down the gut. No matter though, as there was ample room on either side of the debris swath to carve...and carve until my thighs were on fire, and yet it still wasn't over. No butt-checks like last time either, just endless, carve-able corn. The skies finally unleashed shortly before we returned to the small basin below Pan Point on the skin back out, but this did little to affect the stoke. A final short descent back to the parking lot and off to the Scaleburger in Elbe for some artery-clogging goodness!

Mount Jefferson - Milk Creek West Ridge, June 28-29

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:20:00 +0000

Aaron and I paired-up for another go at an Oregon Volcano, this time Mt. Jefferson. I had wanted to revisit the Jefferson Park Glacier route, but given that Tom and I had essentially climbed the headwall above the glacier to the saddle on a previous attempt, I had a hankering to explore a different side of the peak and so we somehow convinced ourselves to give the Milk Creek West Ridge route a try instead.

Full report here.

Squamish, BC - July 5-7

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:20:00 +0000

With aspirations for alpine objectives in the area, uncooperative and slow-to-improve weather forced a change in vacation plans for us poor souls stuck in Squamish, BC. Tony and Dave had already high-tailed it back home to salvage what was left of their time off from work while Aaron and I shifted priorities and focused on the obvious. A seasoned Squamish climber; in my eyes anyway, Aaron gave me what amounted to a grand tour of greater Squamish over the course of several days. From dirt bag-style camping on the spit, breakfasts at Whitespot, 'reconnaissance' of the Squamish River cable tram (i.e. a doomed attempt on an East Ridge of Alpha) and of course rock climbing, I saw a side of Squamish that I'd otherwise never have had the opportunity to experience.

Full report here.

Forbidden Peak - East Ridge, July 10-11

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:20:00 +0000

I first climbed Forbidden Peak back in July 2002. At the time, completing the classic West Ridge was a milestone for me - it was one of my first technical alpine rock routes and ultimately paved the way for the countless other alpine rock climbs that followed. The route was also the first of the few Steck and Roper "50 Classics" that I have climbed. Boy, I thought I was in the big leagues after that! What's not to like? An airy ridge with excellent granite, awesome position and sublime vistas of glaciers, peaks and lush valleys, and all in the heart the North Cascades. Nowhere else in the range perhaps does one find such a combination at such a moderate grade. Sure, it's easy by technical standards, but that in my opinion does not detract from the aesthetics of the route. The climb is just plain fun, and has a lot of what one wants and little of what one doesn't. If only it was longer. Little wonder then that many return to repeat climbs on the peak.

Full report here.

Matriarch-Macabre-Grimface Traverse, July 19-21

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:20:00 +0000

Inspired my Michael Stanton's report and having to make good on last summer's failed attempt, it was finally time to again endure the long drive along BC's Crowsnest Highway for another go at Cathedral Park's classic ridge traverse. Apparently still needing to feed his climbing rat following an ascent of Forbidden's East Ridge with me a week earlier, Eli graciously offered to drive and joined me on the climb.

Full report here.

Clark Mountain - Southeast Route, July 26

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:20:00 +0000

This trip was as much about the views as it was about tying-up loose ends. You see Scott and I attempted to climb Clark's Walrus Glacier in day several years ago, but a 'minor' navigational blunder, one that cost us a couple hours at least, and my having to be back in town no later than 9 pm ultimately spelled failure for us. We reached the glacier's edge and had simply run out of time. Ever since that trip, however I've had this nagging itch to go back for the 360-degree view from Clark's summit.

Full report here.

Tantalus Range - Serratus Mountain (North Face) & Alpha Mountain (East Ridge), August 2-5

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:20:00 +0000

Tantalizing. A word that best describes glimpses of the Tantalus Range as seen from the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and probably the origins of the name ascribed to the prominent group of peaks west of the Squamish River. How many times have my eyes gazed longingly upon its serrate ridges and fractured glaciers while driving to and from Whistler, BC? As any avid climber can attest, one can only ignore these peaks for so long before they get under your skin and slowly fester into a persistent and nagging itch that one is powerless not to scratch. The opportunity to once and for all stop scratching arose finally when Tony Tsuboi invited me to join himself and David Eldred on a sojourn in the range.

Full report here.

Magic Mountain - South Ridge, August 16-17

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:20:00 +0000

The sound of distant rock fall was at once frightening and a relief. I turned to look at Eric and could tell by the expression on his face that he wasn't thrilled with the prospect ahead of us. What happened to our motivation? Was it a full moon the night before? Was that why we had the nightmares? Dreams of falling, drowning and most bizarre of all a mountain goat jumping off our heathery perch only to fall to its death. Where did the two cowboys on horseback come from? Why were they asking about the dead goat? It was an odd night indeed. No one stirred when the dreaded alarm clock rang. It felt as if I'd gotten all of five minutes of sleep.

Full report here.

Chimney Rock (ID) - West Face, August 31

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:20:00 +0000

Breaking from a five or six-year tradition of camping and surfing at LaPush (WA) over the Labor Day weekend, Agata and I instead pointed the car in the opposite direction. Forget it - try as we may there was just no way to coax even a few hours of sunshine into the coastal forecast. The Cascades fared little better so we chose to go east...way east. Based on Paul's suggestion, we decided to make Idaho's Chimney Rock our primary objective while at the same time taking in the sun and sights at a relaxed pace on our way there and back.

Mount Sloan (BC) - Northeast Ridge, September 7

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:20:00 +0000

"Hello bear, hello bear" I called out while crashing through the heavy bush. We must be getting really close to Ault Lake or at least the large clear-cut area north of the lake, I recall thinking to myself. Looking down a steep slope above a ravine, I finally got a glimpse of what lay ahead. "What's this I see?" It seemed impossible at the time, but I could see a sliver of Downton Lake and it appeared disturbingly closer than I expected it to be. More importantly, how did we end up with the lake in front of us when it should be to our left? Eli and I had been dutifully following flagging no more than 15 minutes ago. How did we screw this up? My altimeter read 5000-ft - lower than Ault Lake and possibly also below a key logging road that would lead us safely back to the car. We had maybe two hours of daylight left and were in no mood to spend a cold night clinging to a steep, bear infested brush slope.

Full report here.

Yosemite/Tuolumne Meadows - September 22-27

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:20:00 +0000

A great week in Northern California, and we couldn't have asked for better weather! We also got very lucky, as unbeknownst to us most of the Meadows shuts down for the season the day we returned to San Francisco (Sept. 28).

Photos and captions here.

Kaleetan Peak - East Face, October 19

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:20:00 +0000

A bit late and not much to report here other than it was to be another fair October weekend and Agata and I could come up with nothing better than a casual hike up to Lake Melakwa. Made a quick dash to Kaleetan's summit and took some nice snapshots of the surrounding Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I think Kaleetan was my first summit since moving to the Seattle area in 1998.

"4 Star" surf at Westport - Oct. 27

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:20:00 +0000

Now that Old Man Winter has finally regrouped and appears poised to resume a more winter-like pattern of cold weather and mountain snow, I thought I might leave you with a couple parting shots of a relatively balmy day on the coast. The surf at Westport can be so hit-or-miss sometimes, but with a 6-foot swell, 13-second period and light offshore breeze (according to MagicSeaweed), near-perfect surf conditions seemed guaranteed. The forecast was spot on...if only it was like this all the time!

Paralyzed by snow - December 2008

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:20:00 +0000

No more complaining about the marginal snow pack and sacrificial early season p-tex shavings. All is good once again now that it's puking snow up in the mountains, although with the onset of this week's rinse cycle I may yet revert back to my previous funk. In any case, Seattle was literally paralyzed by snow in late December. Hard to beat a midnight jib session in the streets of Greenwood! Similarly, Vancouver's North Shore was also getting pounded and the riding at Cypress did not disappoint. Whistler however did not benefit whatsoever from these storms and so we were wise to stay put in North Van until it was time to return home.

The period between December 29 and January 3 was particularly generous to the slopes around Crystal. I did the honorable thing and joined Eric, Eli and John for a tour up on East Peak the first day, but then did my part to help underwrite Kirchner's enterprises. The 15-inch day on the 2nd was easily the highlight, but...um...dare I say it was too deep? It was certainly too much for my bindings to withstand. Snorkel anyone?

This can't be good...

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Mount Ann - ski/split, February 13

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:20:00 +0000

The CEL went away, returned and disappeared again on its own, and a storm far to the south of us was finally generous enough to cast a spit of moisture our way. That's the best news I have to report for most of January and February. The split flow weather pattern we've been experiencing is frustratingly reminiscent of the record low snow of the 2005/2006-winter season. But anyway; we were certain there finally was some pow to be had, and so off to the Baker b/c to revisit those tasty lines on Mt. Ann. A few laps in Bullion Basin a couple days later capped-off a refreshing weekend of snow therapy.

Mount Townsend - ski/split, February 21

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Eric Henry and I paired-up for an attempt at skiing/riding the south slopes of Mount Townsend. I first spied the objective while climbing on nearby Gunn Peak several years ago and was inspired to check the area out after learning of the first-come-first-served cabin located at Eagle Lake, which itself lies directly below the peak. Our approach would follow the lesser-traveled path up Eagle Creek Valley, which our beta suggested was significantly shorter and more direct than the standard Barclay Lake approach. Well, in the summer at least.

We endured an interminable 4-hour slog up forest roads starting from a pullout along the Beckler River Road only to reach the obscure 'trailhead' at an otherwise unremarkable switchback. From there however it only took us about 20 minutes to reach the slope we intended to ski. We were hoping for corn on this sunny day, which we found along with wind-affected crud and a slight crust. We weren't planning on staying the night in the cabin, but in the right conditions and preferably with a sled assist, this would be the ideal spot to spend a weekend exploring the many lines to be had.

Whistler heli-boarding - March 29

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:20:00 +0000

The 6-week drought finally relented allowing winter to roar back to life for a strong March finish. Desperate to make up for lost time; our modus operandi was to catch as many chair-zero's and untracked lines as possible. For a time it seemed as if Thursday/Friday had become the new Saturday/Sunday. Worries that we wouldn't be able to ride-out our Crystal and WB pre-paids this season were quickly put to rest. Hats off to Lupo and the Crystal crew for taking a couple young padwans under your wing and teaching us the ways of the snow-samurai! As I'm sure Agata can attest, those were some all-time best chuting, slashing, dropping and yes, poaching days on the hill...period. And rest assured, your secrets are safe with us.

Conditions up in BC fared notably worse this season - it seems the storm track this winter has been focused primarily on Vancouver and southward. I found many of Whistler's chute entrances considerably bonier than I recall them being in years past, with the unexpected and propitious consequence of scaring many away (never before seen so many back away from the relatively tame West Cirque...LOL!). Nevertheless, the 45cm day on Peak was nuts...but, holy hell I've never seen such crowds before either! The secret's out folks. Stay home or go somewhere else please.

Like junkies desperate for the next fix, we decided on a whim to up the ante and reserved our seats on Whistler Heli's new Bell 407. What can I say; the habit certainly isn't cheap, but 11 runs ranging from 2.5k - 4k(?) ft under ideal snow and weather conditions will leave you wondering why you bother riding lifts at all. Not a bad way to wrap up this mixed-bag of a winter we've endured I say. Not bad at all.

Photos and captions here.

Decker Glacier splitboarding, April 5

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:20:00 +0000

After a day of lift-served on the slopes of a mostly tracked-out Blackcomb Mountain, we decided enough was enough and set out to find some north-facing pow on Decker Mountain. Clearly we weren't the only one's with this idea, as we shared the area with several others, not to mention an apparent platoon of heli-skiers the day before who thankfully kept their tracks confined to relatively narrow swath on the Decker Glacier. Agata and I managed a rather casual two runs, while taking in the sun and outstanding scenery on what was likely to be our last day of powder riding for the season.

Wilson Glacier - ski/split, April 19

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Eli, Preston and I attempted a go at Rainier's Fuhrer Finger. We left Paradise late in the afternoon and made good time to a cozy camp on a ridge overlooking the Nisqually Glacier. High winds that night and following day were accompanied by a lenticular cloud that obscured the mountain from about 12,000ft or so. With gusts strong enough to knock us over around the area of the Turtle Snowfield, we called it and made our decent back to camp. We encountered everything from wind-buffed powder, corn and yes also a healthy serving of bottomless mank for the final descent from camp to the Nisqually Glacier flats. All-in-all, it was a nice day trip (despite having camped) and a good primer for a must-do revisit of the finger.

Chair Pk - North Slope, May 2

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Despite the marginal forecast, Preston and I persevered and made a run at what may arguably be considered THE classic Snoqualmie Pass tour - Chair Peak Circumnavigation. With a party of four skiers in hot pursuit, we managed to break trail through the murky weather to the notch low on Chair's NE Buttress and enjoyed a reasonably nice and smooth descent down to Snow Lake. The rain returned in force shortly after we resumed skinning up towards Chair Peak Lake, at which point it seemed pointless to continue and so we called it and high tailed it for the Alpental Pub. If anyone's counting, this would be my second attempt at the damn circumnav.

Crystal - Southback, May 9

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:20:00 +0000

The high spring avalanche forecast for the weekend warranted a conservative choice of venue for our backcountry riding ambitions. So, off to tempt fate in the familiar surroundings of the Crystal Southback we go. See Preston's excellent report on TAY for a detailed blow-by-blow of our wanderings that day.

Mount Rainier - Fuhrer Finger, May 16-17

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Preston, John and I (and at least 2 other parties) rode the finger on May 17, with only 2 tracks left behind from the day before. The finger firmed up nicely overnight for good cramponing and no post holing for the length of the chute. There were lots of pebbles whizzing by our heads like bullets and the occasional larger rock that would have knocked one unconscious should it have struck anyone in the mellon. We traversed out onto the Nisqually (the cleaver looked ugly) and encountered strong winds and boot-deep post-holing, but we were behind a strong party of three from Bozeman and the guy out front did all the hard work. Higher up, the winds were making us pretty miserable knocking us around on our tired legs, so we called it a couple of hundred feet below the rim.

The upper Nisqually was soft-packed powder and smooth. The ride down the finger was absolutely ripper corn - no stops from where we entered the finger around 12K to camp at 9.5K. Total descent vertical for the day was over 8000ft. Stoked to have ridden it in such good conditions!

Season Finale - May 31

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Agata and I returned from a long weekend of sipping caipirinhas and making the most of the small SoCal surf jonesing for one more frolic in the snow. We had familial obligations in Vancouver that weekend as it was, not to mention the two unused Whistler lift tickets that we wouldn't dare let go to waste. As it turned out, we closed down the mountain on its final day of snow sliding operations for the season. Here's to better conditions next winter!

Odds 'n Ends - June '09

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:20:00 +0000

With the sudden onset of unseasonably warm weather this spring the appeal of a refreshing 'dip' in the Pacific has been a hard thing for me to resist. The only reasonable day-trip option for Seattle-based surfers, the waves at Westport have for many years been a reliable outlet for me. Like recalling a pair of smelly socks from the laundry pile, it isn't my first choice but it gets the job done when you're in a pinch. And speaking of dirty laundry - finally partook in some MTB action at Galbraith Mountain where the mud was flying, knees bloody and my neighbor Dave demonstrated some impressive hucking skills! Check Dave's biker blog for the story and pics.

Corteo Peak - Southwest Ridge, June 27

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:20:00 +0000

(Report by Tom S.) After not having been on a trip with Sergio for the past 2 years, we finally linked up again for a fun weekend of alpine scrambling. We left Seattle Friday afternoon and headed up HWY 20 to Rainy Pass TH with plans to climb Corteo Peak on Saturday and some WA Pass rock on Sunday. We arrived at the TH at around 10PM, and shared a few beers before retiring for the night.

We awoke at 6AM and began our hike up to Heather Pass. The trail had intermittent patches of snow, but it will be entirely melted out as of this writing. From Heather Pass, we dropped down 600' to the NW, passing Lewis Lake, before heading up the Lewis "Glacier". We had no trouble finding the obvious 7500' notch that we would use to cross over to the Woody Creek drainage. From the notch, we lost ~400' before crossing the basin and contouring up towards the SW Ridge of Corteo...

-read the rest of Tom's report here.

Summit panorama looking to SSE and NE.

Graybeard Peak - West Ridge, June 28

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:20:00 +0000

(Report by Tom S.) Considering I had forgotten my rock shoes at home, Sergio and I found ourselves looking for an objective for the following day. Plans for a rock climb at WA Pass were shelved in favor of another nearby scramble. Graybeard Peak came to mind and, seeing as how neither of us had climbed it, we decided to give it a go. We set off from the Easy Pass TH at 8:15AM, trudging up a trail I had traveled 5 times prior (Sergio 3 times). There was some avalanche debris covering the trail at about mile 2-2.5, but nothing major. Snow began at about 5000' and was fairly solid all the way to Easy Pass...

-read the rest of Tom's report here.

Mount Anderson - East Ridge (West Peak), July 3-5

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:20:00 +0000

I credit long-time climbing partner Eric H. for initially drawing my attention to Mount Anderson, a large mountain massif hidden deep within the Olympic Mountains. To be honest, it seemed like an unremarkable, out-of-the-way pile representative of most of the peaks in the range. One could say that I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about Anderson. But, alas I promised Eric I'd climb it with him if he would accompany me on the West Arete of Mount Constance-a peak he had already visited two times prior.

In my ever-expanding quest to visit unclimbed (by me) peaks in unfamiliar (to me) pockets of our local mountain ranges, Anderson's increase in priority on my to-do list was virtually assured. By the summer of 2009 it was finally getting to be time to pull the trigger on the trip. Despite the unfortunate fact that Eric wouldn't be able to join us, Paul K's timely suggestion to climb the peak over the July 4th weekend was music to my ears.

Full report here.

Tower Mountain - West Gully, July 11

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Having worn my last pair of mountaineering boots well past their prime, I found myself frantically searching for a new pair. REI's internet-only Garmont Tower GTX boot sale presented an offer I could not refuse; an offer made even better by putting my REI dividend towards the purchase. With the great price and better than expected fit, it seemed only fitting that the maiden voyage for these boots would be Tower Mountain itself.

As seen from many summits in the Washington Pass area, Tower Mountain presents itself as a slanting rock fin rising abruptly from the undulating terrain at the southern edge of the Pasayten Wilderness. Ever since I first laid eyes on the peak in 2002 from the top of Liberty Bell, Tower has held my imagination and curiosity. I however always seemed to have had greater climbing priorities; that is until now. My 'thing' these days seems to be day-trip scrambles from Seattle (lame I know, but at least I'm not claiming some FKT nonsense). Armed with the Swamp Creek approach beta and a good estimate on how much time the approach and climb should take, I managed to convince Eli into joining me on this seemingly masochistic enterprise.

Full report here.

Mount Deception - Gilhooley Saddle, July 18

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:44:00 +0000

At most I might average a single Olympics trip a year. After all there's only so much choss that even I can take. Having climbed both Anderson and Deception within a few weeks of each other, one might ask what the hell has gotten in to me this summer. Have I lost my mind?

Whatever. I had it on relatively good authority that a trip to climb Mount Deception would be well worth the effort, no matter how loose or easy the climb for that matter. From outrageously scenic Royal Basin to the lofty summit (by Olympic standards) with its expansive views of surprisingly rugged peaks both near and far, Deception doesn't disappoint. But make no mistake; the peak certainly harbors some awful rock, although frankly I didn't find it any worse than that which I have encountered on so many peaks in that mountain range east of the Sound. Besides, being that it's the second tallest peak in the Olympic Mountains alone warrants visitation by any avid Seattle-based...er, um chossaholic in my opinion. It certainly also doesn't hurt that the climb is doable in a day from my bed in North Seattle. Bed-to-bed in less than 20 hours I like to say...ha ha! Had I not gotten hosed by the damn ferry wait once again I'd have made it home in time for a late dinner even!

Full report here.

Tantalus Mountain - North Ridge, July 25-27

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:49:00 +0000

For our third and (probably) final Tantalus Range installment, Eric and I set out to climb the North Ridge of Tantalus Mountain. As before, we prearranged a heli-bump up to our home for the next two nights, this time at a location below the North Ridge proper. We expected to be dropped off at a luxuriously comfortable camp spot somewhere on a heathery ridge crest at the head of Mawby Creek. So it came as a bit of a surprise when the pilot informed us that he could only drop us off at one of two somewhat uninviting locations. Not exactly an exposed perch, but the col overlooking the northern most margin of the Rumbling Glacier was not exactly what we had in mind.

Full report here.

Ashlu Mountain - East Ridge, August 15-16

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:33:00 +0000

As was the case with Mount Rexford, Welch Peak, Overseer Mountain, Mount Matier and probably a handful of other peaks in BC that I have since forgotten about, I first learned of Ashlu Mountain while perusing the many trip reports on Bivouac.com. The Ashlu report describes a stout 5.10a rock climb on the peak's impressive South Face. Though the climb itself certainly intrigued me, the photos depicting the wild, glaciated scenery in this remote corner of the Coast Range were really what captured my imagination. Years went by and I would have all but forgotten about Ashlu were it not for a chance sighting while heli-skiing near Powder Mountain last March. Seen as an aesthetic pyramid of rock towering above neighboring peaks, Ashlu's lure was too much to resist a second time around. Content with simply scrambling up the peak's East Ridge, Eli and I chose Ashlu as our 'debut' climb for a two-week romp in the mountains of BC and AB.

Full report here.

Cirque Peak - North Ridge, August 17-19

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:39:00 +0000

With soreness in the legs only just developing from the previous day's Ashlu climb, Eli and I got a lazy afternoon start from North Vancouver. We selected the North Ridge of Cirque Peak from Matt Gunn's Scrambles Guide as our next objective as it looked to us to be one of the more aesthetic, if not challenging (and loose) scrambles in the guide. The peak also lies in an area of mountains near Pemberton, BC neither of us had visited before. The idea of 'discovering' yet another perspective on the Coast Mountains was exciting to us. The fact that Cirque Peak seemed to offer a fun ridge climb with great position was an added bonus.

Full report here.

Overseer Mountain - Southeast Face, August 19-21

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:15:00 +0000

Eli and I had time for one more Coast Range climb before making good on our already twice-revised plans and high-tailing it east for objectives in the Canadian Rockies. Sticking with a theme that had treated us well up until now, we narrowed our choices to a handful of selections from the Scrambles Guide. With the vast expanse of snow and ice surrounding the peak, I had always wanted to climb Overseer Mountain, preferably as a spring ski tour. However, approach and access considerations aside, the peak was just too far out of sight and mind to register on most of my Seattleite friends' radar.

Hiking down from our Cirque Peak camp at mid-morning on a smoky Wednesday in August, it occurred to me that there was probably no better time than the present to go for Overseer. We had the time, favorable weather conditions, and were in the general area to boot. I could always come back in the spring sometime if I cared enough to 'board down it. Eli was of a similar opinion and so without further discussion we set our sights on the highest peak in the Pemberton Icefield.

Full report here.

Mount Assiniboine - North Ridge, August 23-26

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:08:00 +0000

The iconic Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies, Mount Assiniboine is a classic peak popular among climbers the world-over. I first heard the calling several years ago when Eric Hoffman and I intended to climb the peak during a 10-day stint in the Rockies and Selkirks of British Columbia. Unfortunately, reports suggested that conditions weren't favorable for an ascent of the North Ridge, as a late-August storm had plastered the peak with considerable amounts of fresh snow. Enter plan 'B'. Leaving Lake Louise, we pointed the car north on the Icefields Parkway and went on to climb Mount Athabasca instead.

Come August 2009, it seemed as if Eli and I were doomed to suffer a similar fate. A storm the week prior to our two-week trip in Canada once again blasted the top 1500 feet with new snow. Hoping to capitalize on the week's worth of forecasted sunshine and warmer temperatures in and around Kananaskis Country, we delayed our Canadian Rockies itinerary so as to allow time for some of the new snow to melt off. Now, after having burned through the first half of our trip gallivanting in the Coast Range, we felt conditions up on Assiniboine were about as good as they were going to get for us. With Eli's WRX packed to the gills, we departed North Vancouver for the long drive over to Lake Louise.

Full report here.

Mount Edith Cavell - West Ridge, August 28

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:55:00 +0000

With our two weeks in Western Canada coming to a close, there was just enough time for one last Rockies' classic before returning home. Named after a nurse who was executed by the Germans for helping allied solders escape from occupied Belgium to the Netherlands during World War I, Mount Edith Cavell is arguably the most popular and frequently climbed peak in Jasper National Park. Although the North Face has the honor of being included in Steck and Roper's book Fifty Classic Climbs of North America, the aesthetic (and moderate) East Ridge deservedly gets the most attention. Having previously glimpsed the hulking shale wall with its characteristic tilted bands of snow and ice seemingly emanating from the prominent East Ridge, the peak has long been an obvious must-do climb for me.

Full report here.

Sunshine Coast - Sept. 4-7

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:13:00 +0000

And now for a relaxing Labor Day weekend on BC's scenic Sunshine Coast. True to the forecast, the crummy weather put the kibosh on any hope of exploring the increasingly popular rock climbing in and around Powell River. Highlights instead include a bike loop on Savary Island and kayaking around Okeover Inlet and Desolation Sound Provincial Marine Park in a downpour. Rain or shine, there's a lot more than a long weekend worth of stuff to see and do here and a visit is well worth the two ferry sailings and long drive.

Devil's Gulch mountain biking - Sept. 12

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:55:00 +0000

Arguably one of the best XC rides in the state, the Devil's Gulch Trail is a must-do ride for the casual and avid mountain biker alike. To that end, Agata and I were joined by fellow Lake Wenatchee campers Heather Henricks, Mike LeRoy and Scott Shillito for an afternoon out on the singletrack. A large washout a couple miles before the trailhead proper, however eliminated any possibility of a car shuttle and left us to ponder the merits of a rather longish 28-mile loop.

Many years have passed since I last did this ride and it seems that I conveniently forgot about the occasionally steep 12+ miles of UP. We were all pretty pooped by the time we reached the upper-trailhead and wanted nothing but a quick, mellow ride back to the car. Alas it seems I forgot about the DOWN as well, for it was neither quick nor mellow. Suffice to say, it was also a real workout surviving the descent on a circa 1999 hardtail without disk brakes. In any case, Devil's Gulch is still a great ride but make sure you come prepared for a long uphill grind and for heaven's sake have at least 100mm of travel for the ride down!

Mount Larrabee & Am. Border Pk - West Ridge, Sept. 26 - 27

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:03:00 +0000

Ok, I got "greedy". At least so says John of our failed attempt at climbing American Border Peak. The decision to "quickly run up" Mount Larrabee on our way to camp below American Border Peak proved to be a bad call. It's not that it can't be done; mind you, assuming one can follow basic directions. Going on good beta which I somehow misinterpreted, the idea was to drop our packs by the Gargett Mine at the end of the trail shortly beyond High Pass. Then we were to continue up and right (faint trail here) to rejoin the standard Southwest Route. Instead of doing this however, I blindly led our party on a tedious traverse across countless gullies and ribs high on the West Face towards a broad shoulder below the West Ridge. Not only did this eat time and energy, it brought us closer to our final objective, American Border Peak while at the same time distancing us from where we left our packs back at the mine.

We nevertheless climbed Larrabee via the horribly loose West Ridge and returned relatively late in the day to camp in the first basin below the West Face. We were two basins short, hours from where we wanted to be, and were we to go for ABP the next day, we would definitely be hiking out in the dark. Fatigue and hesitation then got the better of partners Ben and John and plans for a sortie on ABP were promptly scrapped. I'll do a better job of keeping my eye on the prize next time!

West Lion - South Route, October 4

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:20:00 +0000

Back in N. Van for the weekend, I couldn't pass-up the unexpected good fall weather just lounging about the house. While the North Shore riding on Mount Fromme was a blast as always, I was really looking forward to once-and-for-all scrambling up West Lion the day after. Hands down the most prominent and obvious peaks as seen from downtown Vancouver, the hike up to The Lions is a notoriously popular undertaking, akin to our own Mount Si, but with far better views.

Scary Canary - October 11

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:21:00 +0000

The temperature at our trailhead bivy the night prior to our Serpentene Arete attempt was well below freezing, and remained comfortably below the 20-degree mark all that next day thanks to the arctic air which was in place over much of the state that weekend. The prospect of enduring that kind of cold on a large north-facing wall where the sun now remains absent until Spring gnawed away at my motivation throughout the approach. Unable to feel my fingers and my toes and feeling wholly unsecure scrambling along the snow-dusted ledge low on the route, I eventually decided I'd had enough. We salvaged what was left of the short day climbing Canary on Castle Rock instead. Tod did a fine lead up the first 5.8 pitch with a stout finish onto Saber Ledge. The airy and classic step off the ledge at the start of p2 really gets the blood flowing and is easily the highlight of the route. Yes, a far cry from Serpentine Arete but at least now I have something to look forward to come spring or summer this year.

Crystal b/c - Nov. 7 & 14

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:55:00 +0000

Did a couple tours out in the Crystal b/c when the getting was good this past autumn. Combined with a few deep weekends at Whistler late in November, it seems conditions have either been warm and wet or cold and dry (and firm) ever since. Here's to wishing that punk El Nino leaves us alone for a few months...

Crystal - Cayuse Pass loop

Union Creek/Bullion Basin

Gray Falls (ice climbing) - Dec. 12

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:40:00 +0000

Being the non-ice climber that I am, I couldn't let the mid-December cold snap slip by without so much as a swing of an ice tool or two. Ok, all jokes aside, when the snow gets so bad for sliding then it must be great for climbing, right? With that in mind, I joined Tod and JB for a day out on ice of the vertical variety. Inspired by recent reports of a newly discovered 3-tier icefall tucked 5 or 6 miles up Ingall's Creek Valley, we decided to go have a look at the so called Gray Falls for ourselves.

Dolomiti - Dec. 19 - Jan. 3

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:44:00 +0000

Between the 12 hours stranded in Frankfurt on the way in and the two days stranded on the way back, you'll forgive my unembellished recount of the Italy trip this time around. The stunning gross incompetence exhibited by the Frankfurt airport and Lufthansa airline staff to effectively manage the several hundred poor souls hopelessly stuck at the mercy of German inefficiency and non-hospitality is NOT something I'm liable to forget anytime soon. And why our board bag arrived three days late in Verona and seven days after we returned to Seattle still baffles me. I suppose we should be happy we got the bag back at all. In any case, I could easily dedicate this entire report to how awful the trip to and from Italy was this year, but I won't. Suffice to say that I'll never set foot in that godforsaken shithole of an airport again!

more...

El Nino pow @ W/B - Jan. 16-17

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:03:00 +0000

Judging by the record crowds as of late and not to mention playing host to the 2010 Winter Olympics in a matter of days, one might scoff at the suggestion of that oh-so-popular ski resort north of Vancouver as having financial difficulties. Isn't it ironic then that Fortress Investment Group (owner of Intrawest) is looking to auction this particular asset to the highest bidder? Perhaps this explains the curtailing of staff and operations we've experienced the past couple of seasons. Apparently not even Whistler/Blackcomb is immune to the world of big finance.

But while cash is tight these days, winter has at least shown some occasional generosity. Yes, the media sure likes to sensationalize the absence of snow on the North Shore Mountains (specifically Cypress which will host the Olympic half pipe event for starters), but the mountains along the Sea-to-Sky highway have fared relatively well this season. Latitude and certainly altitude makes a big difference in an off-season such as this. And so with that in mind, we hedged our bets on a rare bluebird blower day and ended up nicely in the black.

East Peak/Cement Basin & Table Mountain (Jan. 30 & Feb. 7)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:29:00 +0000

Good days at the local resorts have certainly been few and far in between this season. Normally a quick and reliable staple for the Seattle-based chair lift crowd, Alpental has arguably yielded but a single "powder day" back on January 26 - hardly a justification for a season's pass mind you. But it's still winter and there's pow to be had somewhere, so off to earn our turns we go. Back to the familiar environs of Crystal's East Peak with three excellent laps into Cement Basin where low expectations were met with face shots and smiles all around. We found somewhat heavier powder on the slopes around Table Mountain the following weekend but with increasing clouds and fog later in the afternoon, we felt better about having abandoned our more ambitious plans for the day...more on that some other time.

Snowdays - Feb. 13, 14 & 18

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:24:00 +0000

Agata slashes the nose descending into Harmony Bowl.

In the words of a friend and fellow heli-crack addict, "The smell of Jet-A combined with the sound of rotor blades cutting through the cold winter air on a bluebird morning after a week of snow is better than just about anything I can think of." - TW

more...

Paradise Glacier (MRNP) - Feb. 28

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:02:00 +0000

A casual day-trip up to Camp Muir with an enjoyable descent starting from Anvil Rock, and ending up finally at the big road bend in Paradise Valley. A worthy alternative to the Muir Snowfield descent and possibly also the Nisqually Chutes, especially if you're bored of either of those lines.

Scaling a pale fish - White Salmon Glacier, Mar. 6

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:18:00 +0000

It was certainly a busy day on the northwest side of Shuksan Saturday March 6th. At last count, I noted a twosome gunning for the North Face, a solo hiker, a party of 4 who stopped just below the solo-called BYS Coulior access gully before turning back, a party of 5 (3 of which apparently skied the Hanging Glacier) half way up the White Salmon just as we were about to descend the clearcut, a party of 3 half way up the White Salmon as we approached the base of the glacier and finally a party of 2 that passed us on-route and continued on up Winnie's Slide and Hells Highway presumably to tag the summit. Oh, and just as we were about to descend, a party of 3 'boarders simply dragging their area boards by hand the entire way from the resort showed up as well...boy, we felt pretty lame after seeing that! So, let's see that's 2 + 1 + 4 + 5 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 20, not including Eric and me!

Looking back, from the lodge patio at the end of the day while sipping a beer, I was amazed at how tracked-out the glacier was...holy hell, the place got shredded!

more...

Heliotrope Ridge (Mt. Baker) - Mar. 20

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:34:00 +0000

With a front parked offshore and due to push inland over the course of the day, the strong east wind we experienced up on Mount Baker should have come as no surprise. Blue morning skies rapidly gave way to high clouds and gusts that felt in excess of 60mph up on the Coleman Glacier. If that wasn't enough, technical difficulties with Agata's splitboard kept us confined to slopes in the vicinity of Grouse Creek where thankfully the pow was deep and refills free thanks to the wind.

The Swath - ski/split, Mar. 27

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:12:00 +0000

Preston first put the bug in my ear regarding The Swath about a month or so ago. According to him:

"The Swath is probably one of the most distinctive avalanche paths and obvious ski runs around these parts. You can't miss it when driving west on Hwy. 2 from Leavenworth as it cuts an unmistakable scar from a point high on Chiwaukum Ridge, falling 4,000 feet to the valley floor."

Funny really, since I had never heard of it before let alone taken note of the feature while driving by on Hwy 2. Surely I've glanced over in that direction once or twice over the years, and ironically probably even skinned right over the small summit en route to our first night's camp during the North Chiwaukum Tour Tod and I did back in December 2004.

Similar to Preston's experience earlier this winter, "with this years lack of low elevation snow pack, only the top 2,700 feet were in." But with cold dry powder of variable depth for most of the descent, The Swath is one of the more memorable tours of the season for me.

more...

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (for now)

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:02:00 +0000

"Testing" my knee 1-week post injury at Snoqualmie Pass with Oz and Agata (behind the lens).

The calendar may say spring, but for the first few weeks of April we finally enjoyed winter again. A couple strong storms blew through our region bringing unseasonably cool temperatures and generous amounts of mountain snow. This seemed to re-energize the local ski population, bringing out the masses (myself included) for what would surely be the last dose of lift-served powder.

Meanwhile, as I recuperate from a partial MCL tear Google Blogger is threatening to discontinue their FTP service thereby crippling my ability to post updates to this blog. This may be my last post for a while, at least until I come up with an alternative.

Nisqually Chutes (MRNP) - Apr. 25

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:26:00 +0000

Sneaking-in one last post before Blogger cuts me off for good...

Taking advantage of the nice weather and unexpected late April powder, the Verdinas trudged up the Muir Snowfield for a run down the Nisqually Chutes. That's 3-strikes for yours truly but only a first-time offence for my accomplice. Conditions in the main chute were a mix of sun-affected powder, some thinly covered avalanche debris and surfy creamed corn. Notable highlights include painful sunburns for the both of us, and being harassed by Larry The Tool for allegedly endangering people's lives by riding down all the way to the parking lot. Cooler heads must have prevailed for nothing came of the incident after Larry stormed off to report our heinous crime to the "authorities."

Lichtenberg Mountain - May 1

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:38:00 +0000

After rendezvousing with Eric in Marysville only to realize I’d forgotten my skins at home, plans for a tour somewhere off the recently opened highway 20 were nixed in favor of something a bit closer to home. Neither of us had visited the slopes off of Lichtenberg Mountain and with new snow accumulation at Stevens Pass that day, it seemed like a worthwhile venue all things considered.

Stevens Pass (ski area) - May 3

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:55:00 +0000

While I’m not one to make a big to-do about touring around at a ski area which has been closed for the season, the conditions we experienced at Stevens back in early May warrant an exception. With about 20 inches of snow accumulation at pass level within little more than a 24-hour period and early daytime temps in the 20’s, it was yet another unexpectedly late hit of winter – one that we were quick to capitalize on. Unfortunately, so too were the throngs of snowmobilers who were busy shuttling their ski/snowboard buddies to and from. I must have inhaled the 2 and/or 4-stroke exhaust equivalent of hundred cigarettes that day. Air pollution aside, there was lines aplenty for us to enjoy before the sun came out and worked its magic. More shaded/sheltered aspects remained cold and dry well after we wore ourselves out and called it a day.

Snoqualmie Pass b/c - May 9 & 13

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:48:00 +0000

Described below are a couple rather civilized tours starting at mid-morning(ish) from the upper lot at Alpental. Eli joined me on the first of these well rested adventures, bagging a ski down both Chair Peak Basin and Bryant Coulior. I returned a few days later to take care of some unfinished business and once and for all complete the Chair Peak circumnavigation tour.

Colonnade huckfest (and more) - May 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:52:00 +0000

Looking out my window as I type these words, day has turned to night in advance of yet another deluge. This is the “winter” weather that had eluded us much of winter this year. Periods of dry weather have been few and far in between lately but occasionally suitable for a quick spin - be it on the asphalt around nearby islands, local (and not-so-local) singletrack or Colonnade when I’m jonesin’ for some park riding action.

Mount Shasta - Avalanche Gulch, June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:27:00 +0000

Tired of the recent weather and needing a change of scenery, I decided it was about time for a road trip down south where I was hopeful to find some sun and corn snow. First up on my volcano-bagging agenda was Mount Shasta and being that I was flying solo, just the standard Avalanche Gulch route would do.

more....

Lassen Peak - North Face, June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:43:00 +0000

I climbed and rode down Lassen Peak’s North Face the day following the Shasta climb. The normal south-side approach was inaccessible still due to snow but a chance encounter with fellow splitboarders I recognized from SplitBoard.com, Jim and Storn, salvaged the Lassen trip for me. They had just spent the previous day schralping Lassen’s north-side slopes and gave me the scoop. Despite being all on my own and without a map or any navigational aids, the approach and climb was pretty straightforward. It certainly helped that I had both a skin track, and boot path to guide my way to the summit. 3.5 hours to summit and 30 minutes back down to the car. I was able to take advantage of continuous snow to within a 10 – 15 min walk of parking lot. Thanks guys! Their report and photos can be seen here: (scroll down to 10th post)

Mount McLoughlin - Mt. McLoughlin Trail, June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:05:00 +0000

Oregon’s forgotten volcano they call it…and rightfully so I might add. For a ~9500ft mountain I was expecting something a bit more alpine, but with vegetation to within a few hundred feet of the summit I found the ascent to be total bore. Wet, unconsolidated, and at times knee deep snow also made for much more tedious going than seemed worth the effort. You know, I figured I was in the area so what the hell…might as well check it out. At least I had the good sense to leave the splitboard back in the car this time.

Crater Lake National Park, June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:43:00 +0000

Just passing through on my way back north and thought I’d post a few pics of what amounts to a colossal hole in the earth and which in my opinion is probably Oregon’s best national park. This is apparently what’s left behind after a 12,000ft volcano blasts almost 5000-ft off its top. Actually, now that I think about it it's probably more a matter of the top having slumped or collapsed into the crater. In any case, having visited Crater Lake now for a second time, I can tell you that it’s much more dramatic on a sunny day in the spring with a healthy blanket of snow draped over the surrounding peaks and crater rim.

Mount Thielsen - West Ridge, June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:12:00 +0000

Immediately south of Crater Lake looms the striking and aesthetic Mount Thielsen. Similar to Oregon’s Three Fingered Jack and Mount Washington, Thielsen has been heavily eroded over time leaving behind a decaying plug in what was once the main vent of a much larger volcano. Nevertheless, the peak is such a dominant feature in this region of the Oregon Cascades I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a closer look at the so-called “lightning rod of the Cascades.”

South Sister - South Side, June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:43:00 +0000

In keeping with the volcano skiing theme, Eric and I set out to climb and ski/board down the South Sister. A goal of mine ever since first visiting the area on a failed attempt at the Sisters Marathon (on skis) back in June of 2008, I’ve been biding my time for just the right corn season. Thanks to the unseasonably cool and moist spring this year, all the necessary ingredients for a great ski descent finally came together in late June. With continuous snow for most of the ascent starting from the road and smooth corn on the ski back down (to within a 15 – 20 minute walk of the Devil’s Lake trailhead), I’d say our timing was spot on. Here's another perspective on the conditions we experienced that day.

Mount Adams - Southwest Chutes, July 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:51:00 +0000

Eric and I set our sights on the Southwest Chutes of Mount Adams as our final volcano skiing objective of 2010. As has been suggested in previous reports, the long cool spring has preserved the snow this year making it so that descents such as the Southwest Chutes would come into good corn-snow skiing conditions starting in early July. As with many other of the Northwest volcano ski summits, timing is everything. Ideally one wants to be able to drive as close as possible to the trailhead but at the same time be skinning on snow shortly after leaving the car. This combination usually only lasts for about a week or two but seems to guarantee the best possible snow conditions for the ski down (no suncups or ice) while at the same time minimizing miles of hiking (or skinning) to reach the trailhead in the first place.

Spontaneity Arete - Le Petit Cheval, July 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:13:00 +0000

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 Spontanaety 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.

Face Mountain (BC) - East Route, July 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:09:00 +0000

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.

High Sierra Peakbagging, July 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:58:00 +0000

As if I hadn’t driven enough miles road tripping up and down the West Coast this summer, I decided this was the year for me to finally do some peak bagging in the High Sierra. Having ample free time on my hands, the desire to wander unencumbered by rigid itineraries and limited vacation days and to explore an entirely different mountain range served as the primary impetus of this trip.

Once again without a partner, the bounty of classic technical rock climbs the Sierras are famous for was not in the cards for me. Instead I focused my attention on a sampling of peaks that in my opinion give a good (bird’s eye) overview of the range.

As such, I selected four relatively popular peaks that seem to dominate their respective regions of the High Sierra. From north-to-south, the peaks I chose were Mount Lyell, Mount Ritter, Mount Sill and finally Mount Whitney. Lyell is famous for being the tallest peak in Yosemite National Park while nearby Ritter is arguably the most prominent peak in the range. Farther south in the Palisades, I originally planned on North Palisade but instead settled on the nearby and slightly lower Mount Sill for an outing suitable for a solo climb. Sill has the best summit view in the Sierra according to some, so I didn’t feel I was really sacrificing much. Whitney, as everyone knows is the tallest peak in the lower 48, and as such must be included by default.

If I were to do this trip again and/or had more time I’d consider tacking on a couple additional peaks. One in the far north of the range, just outside Yosemite – Matterhorn Peak perhaps? The view of Sawtooth Ridge and vicinity (which Matterhorn is part of - at far left) certainly gets one’s attention when viewed from hwy 395 north of Lee Vining. Also, having largely ignored the Evolution Range (and another here) en route to the Palisades I think a climb of Mount Darwin would fill the void between Mammoth Lakes and Big Pine quite nicely.

Anyway, here are the reports in chronological order:

Mount Lyell via the Lyell Glacier
Mount Ritter via the SE Glacier
Mount Sill via the North Coulior/Northwest Face
Mount Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route

Mount Mastiff, July 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 17:09:00 +0000

I went on this hike ostensibly to reconnoiter the area for some future backcountry skiing trip, but managed to complicate matters by fooling myself into thinking it’d make for an enjoyable bike’n hike outing as well. A lazy mid-morning Seattle departure combined with a long overdue revelation at the Nason Ridge Trailhead forced me to reconsider my plans for tagging Mount Howard from Lake Wenatchee that day. Backtracking along hwy 2 for several miles, I turned up a bouncy forest road and parked my car, this time at the Merritt Lake Trailhead. After yet another false start with the bike-the trail is far too steep and rough for bikes-Oz and I finally began hiking up. While unsure where exactly I was leading us to at the time, I’m certain we finally ended up on top of Mount Mastiff. It is a boring, mostly dog-friendly hike with only a short bit of scrambling along a sharp crest. If you’re comfortable with clutching a terrified 17lb Russell Terrier in one arm while grabbing for loose holds on a somewhat exposed ridge traverse with the other, be sure not to overlook this...um...gem of a hike!

Winchester Mountain, August 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:15:00 +0000

I’m not exactly sure why John and I chose to attempt American Border Peak (ABP) for a second time, but rest assured there will NOT be a third try. Perhaps I’ve gone soft in my old age, but the tedious off-trail side hilling and thrashing just to get to a suitable camp spot hardly seems worth the reportedly loose and mediocre climbing on ABP in the first place. If our lack of motivation wasn’t enough to turn us back, then the rapidly deteriorating weather the day of our summit bid certainly was. Just one look across the third and final talus basin separating us from the start of the objective’s SE Route, not to mention the eerie reddish murk that filled the morning skies, and I decided then and there that ABP was not for me. Judging by the look on John’s face, I think he too was relieved by my decision. We returned to camp, packed up and made our way back to High Pass. Just before the final descent to the car, we dropped our packs and made a quick detour up the trail to investigate the restored lookout on top of Winchester Mountain, because well…it was there and we had nothing better to do. We got back to John's truck just as the first drops of rain began falling.

If you must climb something in the Twin Lakes area, I might suggest just scrambling up Mount Larrabee instead. A good trail pretty much leads directly to the base of the standard climbing route, and I doubt the views are much different than from ABP considering that the two peaks are adjacent to each other. Larrabee is likely to test your appetite for choss as it is so leave it at that and take solace in the fact that ABP is a seldom climbed pile for good reason.

Mazama Rocks, August 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Agata and I made our way over to Mazama for the third time this season specifically to be present for the official unveiling of Jerry’s A-Wall. Jerry’s tireless dedication to developing sport climbs on crags in or near the Methow Valley is truly remarkable and seems to have the blessing of long-time Methow routesetter Brian Burdo. The A-Wall crag features five or six fun and safe single pitch routes ranging from 5.7 to 5.10d (I think). To reach the crag, simply follow the (now) signed trail beyond Fun Rock towards Sun Rock. Go left at the fork and proceed up along a newer path for about fifteen minutes to reach a grove of trees at the base of a large crag. Starting at (looker’s) right where the path first reaches the rock are three easier routes that make for a good warm-up for the two more difficult climbs just off to the left. At far left is a final route in the 5.8 range. If you find yourself climbing in the Mazama area and are tired of waiting to get on a route at Fun Rock, be sure to check out the A-Wall!

Grand Teton - Upper Exum Ridge, August 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 14:40:00 +0000

Having contracted a bad case of road-tripperitis this summer, I settled on an alternate course of therapy and decided to let it run its course rather than attempt to fight it. With that in mind, I loaded-up the Passat for the umpteenth time since early June and motored across four western states for a much anticipated and long-awaited for climb of the Grand Teton. I partnered-up with Kyle Walcott on Mountain Project for the Upper Exum Ridge climb-my first time linking up with someone sight unseen for a technical climb.

more...

Borah Peak - Southwest Ridge, August 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:50:00 +0000

Borah Peak is the 12,662-ft potentate of the Lost River Range and the highest mountain in Idaho. The standard Southwest Ridge route is a third class scramble in late summer, ascending 5,262 vertical feet from the trailhead to the summit in just over 3.5 miles. Alternately referred to as "Chicken-Out Ridge", this is generally considered to be the primary route used to ascend the peak. Although short, the approach involves considerable elevation gain, making for a continuously steep hike in order to reach the start the route's namesake feature.

more...

Shuswap Lakes, August 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:09:00 +0000

Just some highlights of a relaxing five days out on the Shuswap... Worth noting were the unusually large numbers of running salmon visible in the creeks and streams, floating in the lake or rotting away along the shore. A classic example of Mother Nature’s excesses and to which the local bear population was helpless to resist partaking in. In hindsight, it probably would have been best to heed the temporary No Mooring signs posted on that beach adjacent to the salmon spawning stream, eh? But anyway, I could really get used to this life of leisure and a HUGE thanks to everyone that made the experience possible once again!

Ocean Shores surfing, September 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:53:00 +0000

Agata and I spent a rainy labor day weekend out on the coast, staying at Lupo's vacation house in Ocean Shores. Didn't do too much except check out the local scenery and spend a couple hours flailing about in the surf adjacent to the jetty. I had always been told that the surfing across the bay at Westport is better than Ocean Shores, and now I know this to be true. I also wanted to check out a supposedly classic break near Point Grenville up north along the coast, but we never got around to it. Supposedly the surf is now off limits to anyone except maybe with the approval of the Quinalt tribe.

Banks Lake rock, September 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Made a couple trips out to the Banks Lake/Grand Coulee Dam area to soak-in some end-of-summer rays and explore the scenery and nearby rock climbing. If the setting alone, not to mention the limitless climbing potential here isn’t enough to invigorate your soul, then might I suggest a visit to your psychiatrist? Granted, the drive out here is a fair bit longer than your tried-and-true Leavenworth weekend getaway. But if are looking to escape the autumnal Seattle rains for the weekend and have tired of the same old same old, you could do worse than spend some time climbing granite in this unlikely desert oasis.

Sawtooth Scrambles, Sept/Oct 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:42:00 +0000

I needed to make one last road trip before the Summer Of Sergio © officially came to an end. After said escapade I would be forced to seriously confront other priorities that I blissfully managed to ignore for several months.

I’ve dreamed of visiting the Sawtooths ever since my college days in Eastern Washington. Although I managed a few ski trips to nearby Sun Valley during that time, I never actually set foot in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area proper. Having sighted the northern front of the range with my own eyes while on my way back from Wyoming this summer, I was inspired to return for a closer look.

Everyone knows of the classic routes on Warbonnet Peak and Mount Heyburn seems an irresistible temptation as seen from Redfish Lake, but either of those two technical climbs would have to wait for another time. Being that I was hoping to capitalize on an unexpected window of fair autumn weather with scarcely a day’s notice meant that this was to be yet another solo-affair.

With that said, I regrettably left my dear wife at home to another 10 hour day at work as I headed for the distant hills of central Idaho. On the agenda were a couple pleasant scrambles that offer a good introduction to what the Sawtooths are all about – Mount Regan & Thompson Peak.

Miller Peak MTB, Oct 2010

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Arguably one of the state’s best rides, the Miller Peak loop offers miles and miles of cruiser singletrack with fantastic views. There’s some debate about which direction is best. Clockwise entails a fair amount of walking/pushing, but guarantees a longer downhill. Going counter-clockwise is easier to pedal up, but offers a shorter albeit more technical downhill. We chose to go clockwise for no particular reason other than to get the climbing over with sooner. The high point of the ride is a long traverse across the South Face of Miller Peak, with views that go on forever including Mount Rainier and the East Face of Stuart. We opted to take the short side trip to tag the top of Miller Peak before starting the descent. Regardless which way you go, this ride is definitely on par with the other classic rides in WA.

Working Stiff Pow, Winter 2010/2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:43:00 +0000

Missed mid-week powder days and battling weekend crowds for chair zero, slope management and the art of staying one run ahead of the tourists, farming pow stashes and ditching uninvited tagalongs en route to those lesser-known gems tucked away in the slackcountry. This is how we ROLL! And when it all becomes too much to bear, one decides now is the time to sell a kidney and take to the skies. Yes, the pre-paids have long since been exhausted by now, but with Agata’s target of 40 days in the bag, anything more is just extra credit. Not bad, not bad at all if I do say so myself...

"Cow-Qually" to bridge (ski/board), May 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:17:00 +0000

My first tour since New Years Eve 2010, a return visit to The Mountain has been LONG overdue. This time, I elected to take Eli up on his offer to show me an alternate descent variation from Camp Muir. Starting at around 10,700ft this ski takes an aesthetic line down a steep chute onto the Cowlitz Glacier before rendezvousing with the snowfield again near Anvil Rock. We then traversed over towards the Nisqually Chutes and skied that all the way down to the bridge over Nisqually Creek. All told, this ~7000-ft descent makes for a casual but enjoyable outing that has few equals on the “lower” mountain. Furthermore, the unusually thick low-elevation snowpack and persistent cool spring weather this year means that skiing out to the bridge will likely continue to be an option for a while longer!

Freund Canyon MTB, May 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:08:00 +0000

Another miserable Seattle weekend…another escapade east-of-the-crest in search of dry singletrack. I guess I shouldn’t bitch considering an unseasonably late dump that graced the only operating ski resort in WA the morning of 5/28; but I digress. Credit goes to Eric for suggesting this ride and salvaging Memorial Day. Being short on sleep and motivation, I didn’t make it out of town until noon – yes a wee bit late for a Leavenworth ride, but days are long this time of year.

The ~9 mile Freund Canyon loop is a Leavenworth classic that also happens to be the site of the Bavarian Bike & Brew Festival held every June. A relatively easy ascent on a dirt road and singletrack leads to a well manicured downhill trail that is an absolute blast to ride. To quote the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance: “…the downhill is a fast, brakeless, water bar (read: jump!) & berm-laden joyride.“ True, true!! We’d have cheated ourselves leaving it at just one lap and so put the cameras away and went up for seconds. A requisite stop at Gustav’s for eats and a pitcher of Bitburger made for a fitting finale to this final day in May.

Mount Rainier - Gibraltar Chute (ski/board), June 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Steve and I skinned up to Muir Friday evening and secured the last two remaining spots in the hut. Up at O-dark-thirty and departing Muir at a rather tardy 4 am with a third (Mike) we picked up the previous night. The Ingraham Direct was reportedly already out of shape, but the Disappointment Cleaver had only just been put in. Sure it’s the “dog route” but experiencing it in relatively un-crowded and pristine early-season conditions gave the ascent an aesthetic quality that I wasn’t expecting.

It was steady but slow going thanks to some slippin’ and slidin' on the icy skin track followed by technical issues with crampons and topped with a bout of cramps and bonking. A 20 min rest atop the cleaver and we were all well again and ready to continue. From here the DC route now makes a LONG and tedious end-run out onto the Emmons, then some switchbacks before cutting back onto the Ingraham-Nisqually.

We finally reached the crater rim around 11:30 where we encountered some wind (is it ever not windy at 14,409ft?) Steve and I proceeded across the crater to tag the summit. Back at the rim, we acquainted another party of two (Jeff & ?) who had climbed the Fuhrer Finger in a one-day push but decided not to ski the Finger on account of unexpectedly steep snow and/or firm conditions. They would join us down the Gibraltar Chute instead.

We began our descent from the crater rim around 12:30. Down the Ingraham-Nisqually, negotiating crevasses and bridges as necessary. Some survival skiing was endured up top with firm snow and intermittent pockets of pow. Snow conditions began changing to creamed corn below the last band of crevasses making for a nice long shredable pitch down to the saddle atop the chute.

A party of three ski-mountaineers who climbed up the Gib Ledges to the saddle earlier that day had already put tracks down the chute, and so we were spared the guesswork of how to negotiate the crevasses towards the bottom of the apron. Dropping first down the blind roll into the gut of the chute, I rode down through the hourglass and onto the apron below. Endless turns, epic corn and a dramatic setting with huge ice cliffs and seracs looming overhead! Words do not do this line justice.

Jeff and I were first across a large snow bridge towards the bottom to reach the relative security of the glacier flats. Stopping for a moment to look back up at the other three skiing the chute, we decided to high-tail it out of there seeing as this was no place to linger with so much ice perched overhead. We then skied smooth lower angled corn down the Nisqually Glacier to finally reach the edge of the Muir Snowfield. The conga line up to Camp Muir was in full swing by that point ~1:00pm.

Everyone got down safely and Steve, Mike and I parted ways with the duo we had met at the summit. The three of us then made the short skin back up to Muir to grab our gear before descending to Paradise. I can't recall the last time I enjoyed such nice, smooth corn on the Snowfield and savored the fast cruiser turns down to Panorama Point, whereupon the snow got a little sticky for the remaining ski down to the lower lot.

Arguably a better ski descent than the Fuhrer Finger, I’m surprised this line doesn’t get more attention considering the relatively easy access starting from Camp Muir.

Little Tahoma - Frying Pan Glacier, June 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:42:00 +0000

I’ve had unfinished business with Little Tahoma for quite some time now. Every May through June since my previous attempt back in June 2008, Little T’ has manifested in my consciousness as THE thing to do. So it finally came to pass this spring that I would heed the call and revisit Mt. Rainier National Park’s east-side, making the long trudge along Frying Pan Creek late on a Saturday afternoon to a comfortable camp in Summer Land. Well, to be honest it wasn’t so much a trudge considering that John and I were able to skin directly from the parking area. In any case, it’s been said many times before but this year’s heavy snowpack is nothing short of amazing!

Booting up firm snow the following morning, I resumed skinning once atop Meany Crest rapidly closing in on a party of 5 who had camped near us that night. Now six-strong, we started up a boot track leading away from the 9000-ft col between the Frying Pan and Whitman Glaciers. The softening snow forced us all back on skis in no time, with me reverting again to knee deep postholing shortly thereafter. I didn’t think it was possible to skin up the steep south-facing slope below the summit crags, but was soon proven otherwise. If nothing else, I made faster progress than my two-planking counterparts albeit with much more energy expenditure I'd venture to guess. A long last, a short but enjoyably airy scramble led to the best vantage point from which to view the mighty Tahoma - Little T’s tippy top!

Clouds moved in well in advance of the next forecasted frontal system and made for a rather murky ride back down the peak’s South Slope to the 9k saddle. Similar to our previous attempt, John and I found ourselves below the cloud deck at this point and proceeded to make endless turns in hero corn down the Frying Pan Glacier. I set off a rather large sluff slide on a steep pitch below Meany Crest which John somehow got caught up in but nevertheless managed to escape without injury. If nothing else, seeing all the snow I had just set free catapult over a cliff just skier’s right of where John got taken down gave me an appreciation for not following so closely behind another skier/boarder. Ya hear me John?

We packed-up camp and made our way back to the parking area in record time thanks in large part to being able to ride out most of the way. Yes, using poles and skill in the art of one-footing greatly helps in “descents” such as these. Seeing as it only took us 3 hours from our initial drop-in point high on Little T’ to the car, I take pity on those that climb the peak entirely on foot. I was certainly happy to have made it back when we did, for the first drops of rain had already begun falling as we were changing at the car. It was absolutely pouring by the time we reached hwy410 and well, I think the higher elevations must have picked-up yet more snow!

Mount Pilchuck split/board, June 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:59:00 +0000

OMG! I didn’t just post a report for Pilchuck did I? Certainly a peak bearing the not-so-proud distinction of being Snohomish County’s Mt. Si is undeserving of a blog post, right? But hey, at least this Si can be skied…and with this year’s snowpack quite nicely I might add. Put it this way – if you find yourself with a marginal spring day to burn and can’t quite get out of bed before noon, but still want to get out and climb and ride something resembling a mountain, dis be your ticket. A surprisingly satisfying loop tour following the route of the summer trail up over the summit and down the steep SE Chute finishing with a descent of the NW slopes seems to be the ideal way to experience this lowly but convenient peak.

Mount Despair - East Ridge, July 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Paul and I enjoyed Independence Day triumph on Mount Despair, albeit not without a good dose of suffering I might add! To say it’s an out-of-the-way peak would be an understatement. But being that Despair was Fred Beckey’s initial first ascent kinda makes it an essential feather in the hat of any self-prescribed Cascade peak bagger. So here’s to you ‘ol Fred!

With a 5am Seattle departure we found ourselves sputtering on fumes by the time we reached Triumph Pass Saturday July 2nd and collapsed into the tent for the night. Rain all day Sunday made for a most boring 30+ hours of "sleep" and managing seeps and leaks in my tent. The rain ended around 4pm but alas it was too late to make an afternoon run for Despair. Fate had set us up for a BIG day on Monday!

It cleared up nicely that evening and night and we awoke Monday morning to a totally cloudless sky. We summited via the East Ridge about 4 hours after leaving camp. Worries about steep snow, difficult rock climbing and a lack of protection proved to be for naught. By and large, we managed to avoid the steep snow on the SE Face climbing reasonably solid yet somewhat vegetated class 3 and 4 rock on the ridge. The view from Despair's seldom visited summit is grand but my oh my, we had a long way to go still that day...

The HOT 2000-ft slog back up and out of Triumph Creek to Thornton Ridge later that afternoon could best be described as cruel and unusual punishment. All told it was about a 14 hour day Monday. It's been a long time since I last "enjoyed" a North Cascades ass-kicking like this and it took me a good couple days recover from it. This is an amazing part of the North Cascades and the East Ridge climb is worthy in its own right, but suffice to say that this isn't a peak or approach for that matter that I'm inclined to repeat anytime soon.

Mount Robinson - Southeast Ridge, July 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:35:00 +0000

We ended up on this, the lesser of two objectives having been deterred by slow and tedious travel on a progressively disappearing trail. Despite the limited challenge this peak presents, Robinson is a high and locally significant mountain the Southwest Ridge of which bearing “classic scramble” status according to Beckey. I found the summit views of the North Cascades to be exceptional which is surprising considering the peak’s very eastern position. This is a popular peak with good trail access and a relatively short approach, making it a good candidate for a Pasayten Wilderness day trip.

Hunting State Highpoints, July/August 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:20:00 +0000

Recalling the good ‘ol days of road trips past, I set forth to explore the Beartooth and Wind River mountain ranges. Specifically, I took a week off to bag the Montana and Wyoming state highpoints – Granite Peak and Gannett Peak. Each being well over 12,000ft in elevation, these oft-visited summits offer sweeping vistas over some of the more scenic mountainous areas of the lower 48 states.

After about 14 or so hours of driving, I left the interstate at Columbus, MT proceeding along county and gravel roads to finally reach the Mystic Lake Trailhead. Hiking in to a comfortable camp just below the infamous Froze to Death Plateau that afternoon, I braced myself for a night of wind and rain (the first of many on this trip), feeling none too optimistic about the prospects for the next day. Alas, I worried for naught as summit day dawned clear and windless. I tagged Granite’s granitic top without incident and hobbled back into camp just as the next thunderstorm reached critical mass and unleashed a midsummer day’s worth of accumulated moisture.

Back on the interstate around noon the following day, I was disappointed to learn that my partner for the following Gannett climb wouldn’t be able to join me thanks to an emergency back home. After a bit of hemming and hawing, I decided to stick to the plan and go it alone. Arriving in Pinedale late the morning of August 2nd, I checked in at the local outdoor shop for some last minute supplies and a conditions update before I was off kicking dirt once again.

Reaching high camp in upper Titcomb Basin after a day-and-a-half of easy hiking, I could at last revel in the mosquito-free sunshine with only a passing hailstorm to briefly interrupt the peace. Summit day once again dawned calm and clear making for an enjoyable and worry-free jaunt to the top of Wyoming and back to camp. What should have been a pleasant final evening in the Winds, however turned into a terrifying night of hurricane-force winds, torrential rains, thunder and lightning flashes lasting 10 seconds or longer! I cannot recall the last time I shivered with fear quite like I did during those tense early morning hours, but rest assured there’s nothing like a ‘little’ inclement weather to put the fear of God in you!

Needing to calm the nerves after that, I detoured through Hells Canyon and the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon for some mindless sightseeing on my way back to Seattle. All-in-all, it was a satisfyingly successfull trip despite the almost nightly rain not to mention the stress of being party to what sincely felt like the coming of the end of the World!

Click either of the following links for more detailed reports on the Granite and Gannett climbs:

Granite Peak – South face (via East Ridge)
Gannett Peak – Gooseneck Ridge (standard)

Below are just some miscellaneous photos from various points along the way to and from Wyoming:

Mount Chaval - West Face, August 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:54:00 +0000

Increasingly on the lookout for unexplored (by me) day hikes/scrambles with reasonably good access, my ears perked up when Paul Klenke pointed out Mount Chaval while driving hwy 530 north of Darrington earlier this summer. “You can day-climb that” he said, referring to an unmistakable pinnacle of rock rising up above the timbered foreground ridges just east of the Sauk River Valley. Up ‘till then I gave Chaval little more than a passing nod en route to bigger objectives in the North Cascades and beyond. The time had finally come to stop ignoring this enigmatic alpine culmination of the group of peaks south of the Illabot Creek Drainage.

With the car parked just past the bridge over Illabot Creek, Tom Sjolseth (who’s words I have blatantly plagiarized in this post) and I dove into thick brush just on the opposite (climber's right) side of the creek. It wasn’t long before we reached open timber with understory and steep duff. We climbed straight up to ~3600' before making an oblique traverse to 4100', crossing some minor, brushy gullies (Devil's Club, Vine Maple). From here, we ascended straight up again to about 4600', where we intersected a large ramp that took us up to the col above Jug Lake. Some steep-ish traversing on a combination of brush, slabs and snow took us to the south of Pt 6356. From here, it's easy snow slopes and class 3 rock and heather to the summit which we reached about 5.5 hours after leaving the car. We spent ~40 minutes on the summit enjoying the views, before heading back down the way we came.

On the way back, we followed timber instead of the brush near the road (a route is flagged here), and that put us about 1/4 mile down the road from the bridge, but saved us 300 vertical feet of schwacking. All things considered, with the excellent shape the Illabot Creek Road is in and how direct our cross-country route turned out to be, I’d give this pleasant day trip two thumbs up!

Johannesburg Mountain - NE Buttress, August 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:55:00 +0000

(Introduction by Tom Sjolseth - his report here)

Johannesburg Mountain. Its N Face is one of the most striking facades in the North Cascades. A twenty-minute hike gets you to its base, but from there, the summit is a world away. In the 4600' of relief from the Cascade Pass parking area to the summit, this mountain has a bit of everything alpine - dramatic waterfalls, vertical brush, towering walls of rock, and eroding glaciers crumbling and falling to the valley below. Along with the sights, the sounds of Johannesburg are equally impressive. Rarely does a day go by where one cannot hear the mountain rumbling.

The last time I climbed Johannesburg, I told myself that I wouldn't be back for a while.. that there were other, new places for me to go visit and enjoy. But for someone who lives and breathes the challenge of the North Cascades, I silently waited for another opportunity to arise to climb this iconic symbol of our great range. When Wayne told me he was interested in climbing it after four prior, failed attempts, my ears perked up. I knew that Sergio was also interested, so I asked him to come along. Eliciting an emphatic "sure" from Sergio, we were now a team of three.

more....

Mount Vayu (BC) - Northwest Ridge, August 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 25 Oct 2011 22:07:00 +0000

(Report by Tony Tsuboi - his full report here)

Mount Vayu is a prominent 9100’ peak located 40 miles north of Pemberton BC. Its position, deep in the Coast Mountains, offers a fun ridge climb with spectacular views all around. The rock climbing itself is mostly exposed scrambling with a few Class 5 moves and a short rappel off a gendarme to maintain the ridge. The crux is the approach, a cross country bushwhack with few signs of foot traffic. The TR’s we did find mentioned ample flagging, but aside from the first and only sighting, we didn’t come across any more. We took the high route in and the low route out.

The drive is long, 2.5 hours from Pemberton on mostly decent dirt road – washboard with pot holes, but none too bad. Driving directions can be found in the McLane Guide, Alpine Select. While it mentions that a high clearance 4WD vehicle is required, a 2WD beater car would do. The final spur off Jamie Creek Road is overgrown with alder in places. You won’t want to take a shiny new car up that. We parked about 2 miles short of the described start and hiked in from there. On the way, we crossed two bridges and a lot of bear scat. There is a third bridge, but the route forks up to the right just before it. You can continue straight into clear cut where the road will peter out and follow the north bank of the river (i.e. the low route.) However, we saw a shag of flagging above us that directed us up the high route. We followed that up, trending leftwards, and leveled out on a side hilling traverse at roughly 5700’. That wasn’t particularly pleasant, and we were likely higher than we needed to be. Eventually we sighted the ridgeline and Peak 7651 that we would skirt around to get to the outlet creek that drains the Pancake Glacier.

We rounded an obvious ridge and dropped into the outlet creek drainage. At that point we could see a steep wall of talus off to the left that would lead up to the Pancake Glacier. We crossed the creek and picked our way thru dense brush to a flat area that opened up. While it was obvious this was camp, and a goddamn fine one at that, heather was abundant with few if any signs of foot trampling. Aside from a pair of heli ski markers, this place was near virgin. Car to camp took us five hours. We settled in for dinner, a few medicinal drinks and an incredible show of alpenglow to stars.

We woke leisurely after sunrise and got a start up the talus about 8:00. The Pancake Glacier is appropriately named and fills the entire upper basin. The NW Ridge extends around to the right with a prominent gendarme at its lowest point before rising back up. McLane indicates the route begins to the left of that gendarme, but we picked our way up a lower angle line to the right of it. Getting around that gendarme was a little loose and dicey in places, but the remainder of the NW ridge is mostly sound granite. To me, it had similar flavor to the East Ridge Direct of Forbidden, but not nearly as technical. I think there was one move that would rate 5.4, the rest was mostly Class 3-4 but exposed. We summited at noon and took a long break to soak in the panoramic views of ice fields and dramatic peaks all around us. The descent along the East Ridge was easy and non-eventful. We dropped back onto the Pancake Glacier and made it back to camp in little over an hour.

Our exit route started the same, but this time we didn’t hesitate to drop elevation in order to skirt obstacles. That said, we still had our share of slide alder and heinous brush to deal with. At times, that ranged up to BW4, but we were rewarded with lower angle terrain and a few open meadows that were bursting with wildflowers. In hindsight, we should have come this way. We made it back to the car by 6:00, about 5 hours from the time we left the summit. Three hours later we were dining on bitchin burgers at the Pony in Pemberton. That place kicks ass!

This one's not for everyone, but I’d give it a thumbs up.

Buck Mountain - West Route, August 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:42:00 +0000

At 8528 feet Buck Mountain is one of the taller, and as you will see from my rather lousy IPOD photos also one of the more massive non-volcanic peaks in Washington State. Being the second-highest point on Chiwawa Ridge after 8,760-ft Fortress Mountain, Buck offers unobstructed 360-degree views as well as, and perhaps more importantly, a unique perspective on some of The Cascades’ finest alpine high country. The allure of experiencing first hand Buck’s veritable Zen garden of manicured alpine meadows, meandering streams and granite pools is primarily what drew me to explore this area. Tagging the summit was just the proverbial icing on the cake for me.

The West Shoulder Route (from Trinity) which I followed is complex and is probably best described in Paul Klenke’s summitpost report. I will only add a few observations of my own – first, I found it best to leave the Buck Creek Trail after the clearing indicated in Paul’s report, at a point shortly after where the trail re-enters forest and makes a rightward bend coming nearer to Buck Creek than at any other time on the approach. There’s evidence of a path cutting off to into brush at left here but which unfortunately also vanishes well before the creek crossing. Nevertheless, it should only take a few minutes to reach the creek where a couple large logs can be used to cross over from the sandy bank to the other side.

Once across, the idea is to turn left and proceed on a rising traverse making sure not to gain too much elevation too quickly. Occasional hints of a trail reassured me that I was headed in the right direction (upon return in my case). Be sure to cross at least one, if not two prominent gullies before turning up sharply towards the crest of the timbered East Ridge of Mount Cleator. If you go up too soon you’ll end up in cliffy terrain interspersed with steep, slippery duff that’ll make you wish you had your ice axe in hand! As a general rule, it seems best to gain the ridge at around 5,000 ft or lower.

I never noticed the so-called campsite at 5,800 ft on the ridge (I did see a blue tarp upon my return though), at which point one should angle down to the left (south) into the basin. I suspect that I was too far right (north) and thus missed the obvious trail heading left. Instead, I proceeded upwards to about 6,500 ft before realizing I’d gone too far. I chose not to go back down thinking I could still get to where I needed to be. Frustratingly, I was forced ever higher up the ridge by steep, blocking cliffs. Finally at roughly 7,000 ft I located a short, sketchy gully that allowed me to descend into the heather basin just below High Pass where I set up camp for the night.

I found the rest of the route to Buck’s serene meadows, High Sierra-like west basin and beyond to the summit to be relatively straight forward. The ledge with snag low on Berge’s East Ridge is a unique and hard-to-miss feature, without which the approach to the Berge-Buck basin would likely be somewhat more involved and certainly brushier. Finally, there seems to be ongoing debate as to which of the two main summits is taller-the North or Middle? The consensus I think is that the 8,528+ ft Middle Summit is it. I went for the 8,528-ft North Summit as it seemed to be the more aesthetic of the two. If it really matters, climb both and tag The Horn overlooking the immense East Ridge while you’re at it!

Paisano Pinnacle & Burgundy Spire - West Ridge to North Face, September 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:04:00 +0000

(Based on Tom's NWHikers report here)

A couple of years back, I read an article written by prolific local climber Jim Brisbine which, among other topics, briefly mentioned a list of difficult peaks that the late Dallas Kloke had communicated to him. The Difficult 10 (as Mr. Brisbine would later coin it), is a list of major peaks in Washington whose summits are the hardest to reach by the easiest route. An intriguing list to the aspiring peakbagger, this one is particularly so because of the fact that its criteria is so subjective - a concept that is a bit foreign to number-crunching listbaggers. After all, just what exactly constitutes a “major peak”, and what do we consider “difficult”? It would take someone who had climbed most or all of the major peaks to be able to accurately verify that the peaks were, in fact, the most difficult in the state. Dallas Kloke - a highly respected, experienced, and accomplished local climber - had already done just that. Well then, in that case the Difficult 10 seemed like a unique and ambitious accomplishment to shoot for, and its appeal would surely be difficult to ignore.

Tenth on this list is Burgundy Spire - an outlier of the Silver Star massif situated among the Wine Spires, just S of Burgundy Col. This peak is an anomaly on the list in that it is the only peak with a crag-like approach and it’s also the only peak that requires 5.8 rock climbing to reach its summit. Nevertheless, Burgundy Spire is an important peak, and its inclusion on the Difficult 10 list is definitely justified. We wanted to add on Paisano Pinnacle to our agenda - supposedly the best long, moderate, alpine rock route at Washington Pass. It wound up being a full, but stellar day of climbing for Tom, Daniel, and I.

Dragontail Peak - Serpentine Arete, September 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:53:00 +0000

Tod and I teamed-up to take care of some unfinished business and what for me would be the end-of-season finale. Dragontail Peak is a relatively large mountain (by Cascades standards) with good year-round access, better weather and boasting a variety of quality snow, ice and rock routes. As an alpine rock climb, it is the ideal venue for a 1 – 2 day outing particularly when wet weather threatens the west slopes.

Of the two more popular rock climbs on the North Face of Dragontail Peak, Serpentine Arête is a well-documented and well-traveled route with the harder climbing bookended by longer scrambling sections. The two ~5.8 crux pitches come roughly in the middle of the climb and feature a little bit of everything from crack, dihedral and face climbing. There’s a pitch or two of 5.6 – 5.7 climbing before the cruxes that felt a tad more difficult that I was expecting. We also encountered a few tricky moves in a flaring crack directly up from the belay immediately following the cruxes. Finally, we chose to finish the climb with the optional ~5.7 pitch, which to me surprise-surprise once again felt considerably more difficult than 5.7.

In the end, Tod got the opportunity to hone his guiding skills while I assumed the role of tourist. With a bivy down in the morane the night before the climb, it wound-up being an enjoyably casual outing that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone in search of moderate climbing with short-lived difficulties.

Olympic Outings - Various, July/Sept/Oct 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:46:00 +0000

When not out gallivanting in the mountains, many a summer weekend this year was spent relaxing at Michelle’s lovely cabin on Mats Mats Bay near Port Ludlow. With a strategic base camp such as this on The Peninsula, Agata and I seized the opportunity to explore some of the more scenic coastal areas of Puget Sound and the northern Olympic Coast. After all, summer in the Northwest isn’t truly complete without the heart-stopping slap of 50-degree saltwater across the face, sun-baked seaweed caught between the toes or the sounds of the Pacific crashing against a wild and desolate coastline.

Mats-Mats Bay and vicinity:

Shi Shi Beach:

Dungeness Spit:

Ozette Triangle:

Xanadu MTB, October 2011

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:22:00 +0000

At risk of posting a mostly irrelevant blog update, considering the change of season since the Xanadu ride, I present to you a few snaps from a late October day on the singletrack out near Peshastin, WA. On Eric’s suggestion, we made our way east for what would be a shakeout ride for me and my new (but used) Remedy 8. Although rain showers caught up with us as we began the descent on our second lap, the vibrant autumn colors and classic eastside ridge-run made for a fine day of mountain biking. Like some of the other mtb-specific trails in the area, this one is steep, fast and well maintained with banked turns, numerous jumps and a couple mandatory drops that’ll likely leave a stain or two in the shorts.

Dolomites, Winter 2011/2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Off to Italy again for our biennial holiday in the Dolomites. Thankfully no travel drama this time although high winds in Amsterdam did cause delays and threatened to make us miss the AMS – SEA connection on our return. Fortunately it wasn’t anything a panicked sprint through the terminal couldn’t fix and best of all, our bags made it as well!

As in years past, Agata and I again had to content ourselves with 10 days riding groomers comprised almost entirely of man-made snow. Suffice to say that we’ve had our fill of icy slopes and are looking forward to some deep days in 2012. Not that I’m complaining or anything-10 consecutive days out on the slopes regardless of who or what created it certainly beats most alternatives. And like it or not, the fact that the operator managed to get virtually all of the ~750 miles of runs skiable before Christmas, despite mother nature’s lack of cooperation is nothing short of astounding.

more....

Chuckanut MTB, February 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:14:00 +0000

Another mid-winter drought, another excuse at least to sleep in. The Seattle “Snowmageddon” is now but a distant memory…dear Ullr please make it snow again! Mountain biking isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for winter recreation in the Pacific Northwest, but at least we’re able to adapt. Of the rides Eric and I have been on recently, this loop in the Chuckanuts is easily the most scenic. There’s nothing too terribly hairy here. Galbraith, Duthie or Tokul for that matter this is not, just a casual yet fast cross-country ride with exceptional views. Ok we’ve done our penance, now please cue Winter Part 2.

Ode To La Niña, "T2T" 11/24/11-05/05/12

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0000

She started out strong with early Thanksgiving pow at WB,
leaving little time for breaking-in those rusty legs and achy knees.

Spent Christmas in Italy with the folks,
enjoying bluebird days but also mighty firm slopes.

Now desperate for some freshie stoke,
we returned to find melting snow and hopes up in smoke.

Finally a few deep Friday’s at Alpy starting in February,
followed by Saturday’s at Crystal and days that are now no longer dull and ordinary.

Spent a couple Sundays rediscovering Summit East,
with short lift lines and easy pickins’ for the powder chasing beast.

Back to Blackcomb in early March with a foot of new overnight,
made for this Shredder’s sheer delight!

Finished the weekend with a fine Cypress session,
fresh lines off Sky Chair deserving special mention.

Had an epic day with NC Heli on March twenty two,
with bottomless blower and lines too good to be true.

Loup Loup was closed that next day,
so off to Wenatchee were we had a night’s stay.

Then to Mission Ridge the following morning,
finding the goods at Bomber Cliffs and Microwave to be far from boring!!

Ahh...spring is upon us yes I know,
but I’m just waiting for the next storm to blow!!

Capitol Forest MTB, May 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:57:00 +0000

The first big warm-up of the season and if NWAC’s special spring avalanche advisory was anything to go by, best to stay off the slopes and delay those ambitious alpine objectives for a while longer. Of course I knew I would come to regret the decision; I always do. Alas Kulshan isn’t going anywhere soon…I hope, so off to ride the singletrack in Olympia’s Capitol Forest we go. CF rider Lupo served as tour guide for Rory and me, taking us on what is reputed to be the Forest’s premier moto-free, 100% singletrack ride – Jackson’s Loop. We wrapped-up the day with a shuttle drop to bounce down the short jump trail there and an opportunity to exfoliate my shins. I s’pose it would be easy to get lost, but for those MTB’ers prepared to navigate this vast maze, some of the best-maintained trails and flowy downhill anywhere awaits!

The Turtle and a Grouse – a tale of springtime (mis)adventures, May/June 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Striking a familiar theme, signore Lupo, Steve and I tabled other plans and instead set our sights on low hanging fruit of Tahoma’s proverbial orchard. Lupo had unfinished business with the Turtle Snowfield to attend to and I was happy to oblige. Cutting the diagonal across the Wilson/Nisqually Glacier involved more crevasse navigation than I was expecting for this time of year, but it certainly seemed faster than the low traverse I employed last time. And on this particular day, time was of the essence as the weather deteriorated rapidly that afternoon and threatened to ruin the descent with whiteout. Speaking of which, our fallback plan to ride Baker’s Coleman-Deming route some weeks later was also fraught with whiteout and all things unpleasant. From gale force winds, blowing snow and ice, driving rain and pea soup, especially down Grouse Creek, I think I’ve rediscovered the lost art-of-low-expectations.

June Gloom MTB, June 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:53:00 +0000

For your consideration, here are a couple must-do rides in our fair state – Little Bald Mountain and the Ranger Creek-Palisades-Skookum Flats link-up. Both I’ve ridden before to some degree or another (as shown here and here) but that was like what, over 10 years ago now? Despite some annoying patches of snow on the descent just north of the ride’s namesake peak, the former was as good as I remembered it with much needed vitamin D, an actual summit to ride off and views that go on forever.

For the latter, there’s still far too much snow up high on Dalles Ridge so I avoided Corral Pass and rode up Ranger Creek instead (a worthy descent in its own right BTW) before intersecting with the Palisades Trail at the shelter. Whether ripping down flowy singletrack through a moss-blanketed forest floor or dodging in and out of trees on the edge of a precipice (The Palisades), this descent sets the standard for a “classic” ride. Extra credit goes to those who finish via the popular Skookum Flats Trail! For more information on these and countless other local rides, be sure to visit the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance website.

Cashmere Mountain - West Ridge, July 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Cashmere Mountain is a prominent peak east of the Cascade Crest and ranks as one of the highest peaks in the Icicle Creek drainage. It is easily visible from Highway 2 east of Leavenworth and its namesake town of Cashmere, not to mention any of the nearby Stuart Range peaks. With good summer-time trail access as well as excellent early spring ski touring (video), the mountain will inevitably lure the rain weary west-sider in search of a casual day trip on a high and rewarding summit.

Wallowa Wanderings - Sacajawea Peak & Matterhorn, July 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:38:00 +0000

Tucked away in northeastern Oregon lies a relatively compact mountain range called the Wallowa Mountains. Covering an area roughly 50 by 60 miles, these mountains are considered to be an offshoot of The Rockies and have been likened by some as “Oregon’s only mountain range”. While not entirely accurate the label makes light of the fact that the Oregon Cascades are comprised primarily of low forested mountains interspersed with the occasional stratovolcano, volcanic horn or crumbling remnant all in varying states of decay. While the Wallowa’s certainly harbor some chossy heaps as well, the geology is not volcanic but nonetheless represents the largest subalpine and alpine area in Oregon. There are over 30 peaks that rise above 9,000 feet, most of which lie within the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Of these peaks, Sacajawea (9,838 ft) and Matterhorn (9,826 ft) are the tallest and also the sixth and seventh highest summits in the Beaver State overall. The photos and words below describe a short journey to these two Wallowa summits back in early July of this year.

Seven Devils - He Devil via NW Ridge, July 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:29:00 +0000

Shortly east of Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains and immediately east of Hell’s Canyon rise the Seven Devil Mountains of Idaho. Composed of a small cluster of peaks oriented primarily along a north-to-south trending spine, the view from up high struck me as similar in appearance to a smaller version of Wyoming’s Grand Tetons. It is a rugged range with impressive relief rising out of the Snake River and culminating with 9,420-ft He Devil. He is possibly the highest peak in the range and in my opinion offers a reasonable sampling of what the Seven Devils have to offer. If nothing else, with the Windy Saddle Trailhead a relatively short 3 hour drive from Pullman, WA, these are probably the closest mountains worth visiting for all you fellow Coug’s out there!

Plains of Abraham MTB, July 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:29:00 +0000

Plains of Abraham, Ape Canyon…whatever you choose to call it, this is a standout among the classic rides our state has to offer. Without question, the highlight entails venturing out onto the surreal pumice plateau (or plains) left behind after the cataclysmic 1980 eruption of Mt. Saint Helens. Like “riding on the surface of the moon” is a common expression used to describe this otherworldly journey through the blast zone. If the scenery isn’t enough to satiate, the ripping Ape Canyon descent will whet your appetite for speed with excellent downhill over smooth and flowy pine needle single-track. And should you prefer loop rides over OAB’s like I do, might I suggest going clockwise with a descent into Smith Creek rather than the other way around? Two to three miles of tedious hike-a-bike up an endless pumice trail is enough to ruin even the best of days. Or you could just ignore my advice and go counter-clockwise starting from Windy Ridge only to turn back 3/4 of the way up Smith and needlessly make a 35+ mile epic out of it as I did.

Fortress Mountain - East Ridge, July 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Deep in the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, 8760-ft Fortress Mountain is one of the highest non-volcanic peaks in the Washington Cascades. Fortress is an imposing massif with a distinct pyramidal shape, particularly when viewed from the south. At least that is the impression I got when gazing upon it from the summit of Buck Mountain last summer. And for a peak once considered “unscalable from any angle”, first impressions were incentive enough for me to go take a closer look. This closer look entailed a one-day (drive incl.) ascent via the East Ridge and descent via South Slope with a camp at Buck Creek Pass later that evening. Basically a carry-over and camp with merely a 9-mile hike out the following day, returning to the same trailhead we started from the day before. A pleasant outing somewhere in-between a day-trip suffer-fest and weekend-long lollygag…

Glacier/Waterton National Park, August 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 6 Nov 2012 17:09:00 +0000

Dubbed “Crown of the Continent” by the naturalist George Bird Grinnell in 1901, the area that today encompasses Glacier National Park and the adjoining Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta is a land of alpine majesty likely without equal anywhere else in the lower 48 states. Unique for mountain ranges in the US, these mountains bear a strong resemblance to the taller peaks of the Canadian Rockies far to the north, with large u-shaped valleys and outflow lakes radiating like fingers from the base of the highest peaks. In more recent times of course the park has been the poster child for the phenomenon of glacial retreat and of the 150 glaciers known to have existed around the time the park was founded only 37 remained by 2010. Motivated in part to bear witness to the last of these dying glaciers and ‘bag’ a few peaks along the way, Paul and I set out to climb 3 of Glacier’s 6 “ten thousand footers” – Mount Cleveland, Mount Jackson and Mount Siyeh.

With a good 7 days spent in and around Glacier, we afforded the luxury of rest days between climbs and made the most of it visiting various attractions at a rare (for me) unhurried pace. However, the park being overrun with tourists as it typically is during the summer months, campsites and backcountry permits were few and far in between making both for grueling day climbs and...um...flexible dirtbag camping situations.

But alas, all good things must come to an end. Just as we’d grown accustomed to falling asleep with the faint aroma of manure wafting in the evening breeze and the nightly procession of concerned cattle lumbering through our camp en route to nearby grazing fields, it was finally time to head back home. Detouring through Whitefish, we continued west on a slow but scenic route across the northern Idaho Panhandle and northeast Washington. The visibility from Hart's Pass and Slate Peak Lookout the following day was quite good despite the many forest fires burning in The Cascades, and made for a fitting finale to a memorable road trip that sadly now seems like forever and a day ago.

Reports for the Cleveland, Jackson and Siyeh climbs, and general sightseeing around the park:

GNP/Waterton – sightseeing
Mount Cleveland – Stoney Indian route
Mount Jackson – Northeast Ridge
Mount Siyeh – South Slope

Miscellaneous photos from various points along the way:

Azurite Peak - std. via Azurite Pass, August 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:47:00 +0000

Steve T. and I abandoned our previous Azurite climb thanks to a horribly overgrown trail with enough downed trees to make even the most seasoned Cascade peakbagger turn back in disgust (we climbed Mt. Robinson instead). We had been misled by an outdated claim on SummitPost suggesting that the peak makes for a reasonable day trip. The area was ravaged by forest fires in 2003 and the once bikeable Methow River Trail clearly had fallen into disuse and disrepair. In all fairness, the SP report does make mention of the forest fire and warns that “…the trail could become quite burdensome in a few years.” This was certainly the case and I vowed not to return until the trail was cleared and brushed-out.

Perusing the Methow Valley Sport Trail Association website (MVSTA.com) for MTB trail beta this summer, I came upon an unexpected and fortuitous bit of news. An Evergreen crew had been working on the trail and planned on completing the 8 miles of trail work to the junction with the PCT by mid-August. This would be the first time in several years that the full length of the trail was again rideable without interruption and I intended to take full advantage of it. Joined by Aberdeen-based John L, the plan was to combine the long drive and a short approach with a camp near the PCT before completing the climb the following day.

Joffre Peak - Southeast Face, September 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:15:00 +0000

With Labor Day weekend to myself for the first time since I can remember, the moment had come for a return to “The Duff” and to stand atop Joffre Peak. Following the same driving approach as when Eric H. and I came this way to climb Mt. Matier, I barely managed to sneak my car around the gate at the start of Cerise Creek Road this time. Was there a gate here back in June 2004? Also, the road continuation past the gravel pit/quarry was pretty overgrown last time, but is now impassable for all vehicles except perhaps an M1 Abrams. Okay, an ATV would work too… In any case, it was just an additional ~2 joggable miles from here to the trailhead without much elevation gain.

Having been replaced by a new trail that starts from the highway (same as winter route?), my approach apparently isn't used much anymore. It joins the Cerise Creek Road somewhere just south of the now demolished bridge over Cerise Creek-a bridge I was intending to cross the following morning. In the absence of a bridge however, I was faced with yet another chilly ford…my third one this summer!

Cathedral Peak - Southeast Buttress, September 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Arguably some of the best backpacking country Washington has to offer, the Pasayten Wilderness is rather unlike the rest of the Cascade mountain range. Particularly from the Cathedral Peak area, views of the surroundings closely resemble what one might expect to see from the high peaks of the Teton or Wind River ranges. To quote Alan Kearney, “…like a little slice of Wyoming.”

While neighboring Grimface Mountain in Canada is taller, Cathedral Peak is the highest Pasayten summit in the immediate area just south of the 49th Parallel. And like its taller neighbor to the north, the granitic rock on its sheer faces and buttresses features an abundance of quality climbs. Joined (or should I say led?) by long-time Pasayten Wilderness backpacker, accomplished climber, and (as of this this writing) AMGA Rock Guide Tod Bloxham, we set out to scale the peak’s classic Southeast Buttress over three days in early September. Tod had climbed the route already several years ago, but was forced to abandon the headwall picthes for the 5.6 chimney bypass courtesy of a passing October snowstorm. While he was keen on finally dispatching the omitted pitches, I privately worried if I could even make it up these on top rope...

The 'other' SR 410 rides – Suntop & Crystal, September 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Rounding out the selection of assorted MTB rides along the SR 410 corridor, Suntop Mountain and Crystal Mountain offer more of the same quality single-track similar to that found on the NE side of the White River Valley. For the ~20 mile Suntop loop, one starts with a 6 mile road climb to reach a bit of a saddle and where the regular trailhead starts. Continue up for an additional mile or two past the gate to reach the Suntop Lookout proper. There’s an excellent view of Mt. Rainier from up here providing the air isn’t as smoky as it was this year!

For the return, there’s a fair amount of undulating terrain to get past before real downhill fun begins. Having rushed through the first half of the ride, I was pretty well spent by the time I traversed into Buck Creek Valley and started down the rippin’ Fawn Ridge descent. With failing brakes, I barely hung on through the tight switchbacks on the final slopes flanking White River Valley. Eventually reaching the valley floor at the Ranger Creek landing strip, I passed on the Skookum Flats Trail for a faster option and rode the highway back to where I parked on FS Rd #73.

If riding the ~14 mile Crystal loop counter-clockwise as Eric and I did, a good place to start is the horse camp on the west side of the Crystal Mountain Boulevard. From there we proceeded to grind up trail 1163 – a trail familiar to me thanks to countless ‘Northback’ ski adventures over the years. Eventually reaching the meadowed ridge crest, the trail turns south and traverses more of Crystal’s winter-time ‘slack country’ north of Morning Glory Bowl. It ends finally at the resort’s access road near Northway Peak. After a break at the Summit House, we began the descent picking up the single-track again at the base of Powder Bowl. Traversing the chutes above Bear Pits, we made our way towards A-Basin and then Silver Basin on excellent single-track. The final, long descent now along the east-side of Silver Creek is a white-knuckle adrenaline joy ride and makes for a fitting finish to a thoroughly enjoyable day of mountain biking.

Angel's Staircase MTB, October 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 7 Jan 2013 16:27:00 +0000

For the final ride of the 13th Baktun, Eric and I set our sights this 25-mile Methow classic. Typically done as a clockwise loop, Angel's Staircase features the highest singletrack in Washington. We spent a good amount of time pedaling at 7000 feet and up to as high as high as 8000 feet as we crossed over a ridge shortly SSW of Martin Peak. Probably best when the vibrant colors of Fall are on full display, this ride is all about panoramic mountain vistas, scenic alpine meadows dotted with azure lakes, a grueling ascent and exhilarating descent with plenty of tedious hike-a-bike throughout. Despite needlessly second-guessing our bearings on the final grind up to Horsehead Pass, costing us precious calories and daylight, the ride went off without a hitch and to me ranks among the top 5 in the state. Combine this with one of the other excellent rides out in the Methow for a weekend well spent.

Summer/Fall 2012 - Miscellaneous

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:46:00 +0000

Solid from mid-July through September and into October, a forty or fifty year record almost broken last year by the longest rain-free streak in decades. Make the most of it we did as we always do, living each precious sunny weekend as if it were our last. And so, what follows is a little bit of what else we do to pass the time during the dog days of summer (and Fall).

End of Days – Nov/Dec 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:21:00 +0000

No fire and brimstone or zombie apocalypse, just epic pow late in the fall and on 12/21 in particular. I’m not as enthusiastic about 2013 so far, so for now I wait patiently for dark clouds on the horizon and look forward to stormy days ahead.

It's back ON!

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:55:00 +0000

Picking up where we left off back in late December now that winter has finally returned. Don't get me wrong, the outgoing sunny days were pleasingly...um...Mediterranean, with relatively balmy afternoons and pretty sunsets around town and points north. But it’s winter after all and this is supposed to be a time for 43-degree Seattle rain, bottomless mountain snow, and balls-to-the-walls shredding! Anyway, with the January-mid February drought now thankfully behind us, we’re relieved to resume our snow-chasing routine…

Kendall Peak touring, February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:06:00 +0000

I’m not sure what took me so long, but considering it’s only about an hours drive from town and with an easy approach starting from the Summit West parking lot, Kendall Peak is obvious low hanging fruit for the greater Seattle backcountry ski touring community. Whether it’s the steeps, open bowls and faces or couliors you’re after, Kendall has it all. Making the most of a 3-day weekend in February, Franklin and I toured the peak’s West Flank only to return a couple days later with Eli and Justin to shred the Left Twin Couloir which somehow eluded us the first time. Highlights include skiing off the summit via the summit gully and West Flank, and an exhilarating descent from Kendall Ridge down to Gold Creek.

Kendall Peak - West Flank/Gully

Kendall Ridge - Left Twin Couloir

And that's a wrap, March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:57:00 +0000

Ringing-in the change of season as the last winter storms give way to the Seattle spring crapshoot. Not as many days out as hoped, but what was had was good. Quality, always. Here's to one last pow fix before the onset of corn season, and long live the glory days of March!

West Point kayaking, April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 10 May 2013 12:25:00 +0000

The maiden voyage for our new Eddyline Whisper kayak – an after work paddle from Commodore Park to the West Point Lighthouse on a surprisingly balmy April evening. We enjoyed a relaxing sunset “dinner” on the north beach before paddling back by headlamp. Here’s to more kayak adventures this summer!

Urban XC, April/May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:00 +0000

After months of neglect, it was time to rediscover my fondness for the singletrack and revisit a couple Eastside XC favorites. As low-commitment conditioning rides, the new-and-improved Tiger Mountain and Grand Ridge trails are ideal. No early wake-ups or long drive required, and just enough of an “out there” feel to justify the load of muddy laundry!

Watson's Traverse, May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:20:00 +0000

(re-posted from Tom's Turns-All-Year report) Sergio V. and I linked up for the Watson's Traverse this past weekend (05/04-06). We left late Saturday evening and approached to a camp at ~6400'. The next day we got a lazy start and were on the summit by 1:30. We wanted to ski the Park Headwall but it was covered in crusty mank so we dropped onto the upper Boulder and traversed around. We camped again in the flats before heading out to the Ski Area. The area between the Park Glacier and the Ski Area is incredibly scenic and a pleasure to explore. I had not been on that side of the mountain before and was glad to make this trip happen. It helped also that we were on a relaxed schedule and had plenty of time to savor the experience.

*Note that as of 05/14/13 the Glacier Creek Road has been closed due to a washout. See here for details.

Discovery Island kayaking, May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:25:00 +0000

With other plans for a long weekend on Vancouver Island shelved due to the weather forecast, we decided to take advantage of the situation by spending an afternoon exploring the coastal waters near Victoria (BC). As a small marine Provincial Park just off the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island, Discovery Island and nearby Chatham Islands make for an excellent kayaking destination with abundant wildlife and expansive views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains. We encountered some rough seas on the ~2 mile crossing to West Chatham and fought a strong current paddling around the south shore of Discovery Island. But otherwise it was a relatively casual affair and well worth the effort especially if one happens to be in the area.

Rat Pack MTB, June 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:25:00 +0000

Not much to report here other than my having spent an afternoon riding the newly restored downhill classic near Roslyn known as Rat Pack. Despite some difficulty locating the proper start on my first pass, I found it to be an enjoyable descent on smooth and twisty machine-built singletrack. The ride is littered with well-signed technical features, gap jumps and woodwork, most of which can be avoided by taking short bypass trails (sorry no photos). Perhaps the most noteworthy of the features are the countless steep roll-overs or “gravity wells” where a dropper seatpost comes particularly handy! The ride ends abruptly at what appears to be a small BMX jump park in Cle Elum. From there, only about two miles along the Coal Mines Trail completes the loop and where a visit to the Roslyn Brewery seems all but mandatory.

Dumbell Mountain - South Face, June 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 11:12:00 +0000

Rising at the head of Phelps Creek Valley, Dumbell Mountain along with Buck , Fortress, Chiwawa, Maude, Seven Fingered Jack and Fernow is one of the more prominent peaks accessible from the Chiwawa River Road. Approached via the well-used Phelps Creek Trail, Dumbell is a worthy objective featuring minimal route finding challenges and a short but somewhat loose and exposed scramble along its South Face ramps and ledges. Combined with a camp at scenic Spider Meadow, the peak makes for a pleasant 1.5 day solo outing for those desiring some early-season solitude and a satisfying mosquito-free alpine experience.

Mount Daniel - Lynch Glacier ski, June 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 08 Jun 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Capitalizing on the longest day of the year, Franklin and I joined a mob 6-strong on a Summer Solstice ski tour of Mount Daniel. With an O-dark:30 Seattle departure, we arrived at the Cathedral Pass Trailhead two-and-a-half hours later and proceeded to chase after our party about 20 minutes ahead of us. Sparing ourselves from repeatedly alternating between skis on/off, we hiked to the vicinity of Peggy’s Pond before donning skis for the Hyas Glacier ascent. Some more booting saw us around the south-side of Daniel’s East Summit, ending finally at the true (west) summit. A surprising amount of new snow graced the slopes above Peggy’s Pond and on the Lynch Glacier in particular, which given the time of year of course made for a mighty sticky descent to Pea Soup Lake. While Randy, Karla, Lindsey and me exited the lake stage right making our return via a traverse of Daniel Glacier, Franklin and another fellow peeled off to tag Dip Top. Another threesome whom we met earlier that day at the trailhead followed our tracks down the Lynch and proceeded to boot up nearby Lynch Peak for a bonus ski down from the summit. All told, Mt. Daniel makes for an ideal spring ski touring peak with an appealing mix of interesting scenery, long ski descents and relatively easy access.

Ruth-Icy Traverse, June 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Punctuating the eastern terminus of Jagged Ridge, Cloudcap Peak (Seahpo) is an often overlooked satellite of majestic Mount Shuksan. But for those whom Cloudcap has captured the imagination, an adventure where the appeal may be more about the journey rather than the destination awaits. The approach entails going up and over scenic Ruth Mountain and traversing Icy Peak’s northwest slopes en route to a breathtaking high camp at the saddle overlooking the headwaters of Nooksack River. With the awesome chaos of the Nooksack Glacier cirque to drown the senses, Beckey aptly describes this area as “…one of the alpine climaxes of The Cascades”. Adding it all up then, we have a climb to a seldom visited summit with uniquely dramatic scenery and the option of bagging the classic Ruth-Icy Traverse on the way. Sign me up!

Alas, the Cloudcap climb evolved into a beast of a traverse via the ~2-mile long Jagged Ridge, linking-up the aforementioned objectives with the Mt. Baker ski resort. A thrilling enterprise for sure, the route is also significantly more involved and ultimately required a day more than what was planned for. Of my numerous concerns that afternoon on Cloudcap, I just couldn’t shake the wrath that would befall me for being a day overdue. And thus Mike C. and I bailed, freeing Tom S., Don B. and Franklin B. to savor the alpine nectar and bask in the glory of success. Hearing a faint “wahoo” over the roar of Nooksack Cirque from our Ruth-Icy saddle camp later that evening, I was relieved knowing the guys finally summited Cloudcap. Sipping the last of the whiskey, Mike and I raised a toast to our fellow alpinists wishing them comfortable bivys and a safe return home.

Harbor & Jetty Islands kayaking, June/July 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 16:09:00 +0000

We had a couple sunny Sunday afternoons in late June and July to burn and came up with these two island circumnavigations to pass the time. The artificial island at the mouth of the Duwamish Waterway known as Harbor Island makes for a short, but fun loop through the heart of the bustling Port of Seattle. Paddling along the island’s east-side was easily the highlight of the trip thanks to the enormous container cranes towering overhead on both sides of the channel – a place we dubbed "Valley of the Giraffes".

Our next paddle around Jetty Island in Everett however wasn’t nearly as pleasant. While the water was calm where we put in at the marina just opposite the island’s east shore, it was quite a different scene on the other side. Lo and behold, the kiters were out in full force, doing circles around us while we struggled through the chop. It was quite a sight, though not so fun for a kayaker; with miscalculated tides and winds, this turned out to be our first portage ever. Won’t do that again!

Torment-Forbidden Traverse, July 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:35:00 +0000

Tod and I climbed the classic Torment-Forbidden traverse on what was forecasted to be a marginal weekend in early July. Yet despite some cloudiness, we were fortunate not to experience any precipitation and enjoyed great climbing conditions in somewhat cooler temperatures. The unavailability of camping permits in the Boston Basin alpine zone caused us to get a jump on the route with plans for overnighting somewhere in the Torment zone instead. Having made good progress up Torment, we decided to continue past the first camp opportunity high on Forbidden Glacier confident that we could make it to the next camp before dark. Thanks to the long days and continued speedy progress, we reached an incredible bivy at the route’s midpoint by dusk on our first day out. All that remained the following day was the remaining scramble to the West Ridge Notch and climb of Forbidden Peak.

Beta on the TFT abounds, so I’ll simply point out that we avoided the infamous snow/ice traverse by making a single rappel down the south-side and climbing a gully back up to the crest. From here some exposed scrambling or a short bit of down-climbing on snow leads to the saddle on the east end of the aforementioned snow traverse. Lastly, the rappel line down the rib just (skier’s) right of the West Ridge Couloir makes for a much safer and worry-free alternative to rappelling and down-climbing the couloir itself. All told, I found the TFT a thoroughly enjoyable outing in a superb setting with what amounted to long sections of scrambling and some steep snow traversing bookended with short pitches of technical climbing on Torment and Forbidden proper.

San Juans Kayaking, July/August 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 15:20:00 +0000

Spend any amount of time kayaking ‘round these parts and you’ll soon find yourself contemplating the waterways of the San Juan Islands. The attraction is obvious considering the numerous protected passages and inlets not to mention the Cascadia Marine Trail campsites scattered throughout Puget Sound and especially in the San Juans. And so, it occurred to us that the time had come to partake of this world-class sea water kayaking haven found right here in our own backyard.

We embarked on our first of several overnight kayak trips this summer with a tour up and down the north and southeast shores of Shaw Island, with camps at both Jones and tiny Blind Island. We returned to the islands in August for another kayak camping adventure this time in the waters off of San Juan Island. From a base camp on Posey Island located in the channel between San Juan and Spieden Islands, we explored the passages and bays around Rouche Harbor and beyond. With a perfect mix of sunny warm weather this summer, the humbling forces of the tides, and the breathtaking sunsets looking out towards Haro Strait and Vancouver Island; we discovered “Island Time” Northwest style!

Jones & Shaw Islands:

San Juan Island (Rouche Harbor etc):

North Hozomeen Mountain - NNW Ridge, July 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 17:42:00 +0000

(re-posted from Monte's nwhikers report, photos by Monte V. & Sergio V.) After much inquiring and emailing in search of a partner for this trip, I finally succeeded in securing Monte V’s company on an ascent of North Hozomeen. Next decision was trail or swath (as in border). We decided on the trail given the recent trail maintenance reported by Eric J. here. He's right; the trail is in good shape, ALL THE ENDLESS NO-GAIN SWITCHBACKS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. We nevertheless made good time, stopping for camp at Point 6350 with a primo view of the peak.

We got going at 7:30am with some morning mists hanging around the summits. The clouds provided shade as we made our way through the basin and toward the mountain. We both like rock scrambling and chose to stay on rock most of the way up. Contrary to my fears, the rock was solid -- hand and foot holds were secure and there wasn't much danger of party-induced rock fall beyond some pebbles. Where water flowed down the rocks it was slippery even when not steep, so we stuck to the dry rock. We ran into one short 20' 4th class step between the snowfields, but the holds were good. Other than that I can't say it's more than semi-exposed 3rd the rest of the way up. There are lots of ledges to rest on, but I'd advise gloves -- the rock is sharp. Hozomeen supposedly means "sharp rock", but others have suggested that it's Fraser Indian dialect for "twin peaks with a rocky depression between". I guess we've applied "twin peaks" to more than enough mountains to share vague naming practices with the Fraser Indians.

Our descent route was mostly the same way, diverting to the remaining snow for a bit. I had to re-climb 300' to retrieve poles I temporarily forgot I left -- did that in 20 minutes up and down while Monte ate lunch. Then it was the many miles of trail back out. How many? Too many. And yeah, ALL THE ENDLESS NO-LOSS SWITCHBACKS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. While we were camped and climbing the Fat Dog 100 race was conducted on the Skyline II Trail. My ankles and knees hurt just thinking about it. No thanks!

DaKobed Range Traverse - Clark Mtn to Tenpeak Mtn, August 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:13:00 +0000

(re-posted from Tom's nwhikers report, photos by Tom S. & Sergio V.) Originally this trip was supposed to end at Trinity via High Pass and Buck Creek Pass, but intense electrical storms had us changing our itinerary. This is essentially a repeat of a trip Tom and Geoff did in August of 2011, but this time we kept on the N side of the range instead of the S. We wound up traversing the Richardson, Pilz, Butterfly and Moth Glaciers. The descent down Thunder Creek was made more pleasant thanks to very recent work by a trail crew w/ horses. Those must be some cowboys to get horses up there! Our hats are off.

We started from and ended at White River TH. We ascended Clark via the Klenke/Sjolseth cross-country Y-Basin route, passing within 400' of the summit. We then continued on traversing the N side of the crest, climbing Luahna and Chalangin Peak along the way. We had one particularly sweet high camp at ~7900' on the Napeequa/Thunder divide above the Butterfly Glacier. Lightning was intense here, and we nearly got struck with several bolts cracking right on top of us. We dropped back onto the S side via a key ramp from the upper Moth, before climbing Tenpeak, then setting up another camp in upper Thunder Basin (gorgeous). We dropped back down to the White River trail via the climber's path in Thunder Creek. Good routefinding required here to keep the trail!

Highlights:
-30+ goats in one herd (pictured somewhere below)
-Perseid Meteor Shower
-ISS sighting and likely also the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle-4 (HTV-4) chasing down the ISS in preparation for capture and birthing with Harmony node on 8/9/13.
-Almost getting hit by lightning (more than once)
-Two all-night thunderstorms w/ hail, high winds, and lots-o-lightning
-Stupendous views
-Saw nobody the entire trip

Utah Peakbagging - Mount Timpanogos & Kings Peak, August 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 10:26:00 +0000

With less time off work than I had hoped for, I settled on the Beehive State as the venue for my annual Get-The-Hell-Outta-Dodge © summer road trip. This wasn’t about revisiting the national parks and monuments Utah is known for, and I was many months too late to partake of the legendary Wasatch powder. Rather, this was about rediscovering what it is that draws me to the mountains time and time again, be a passion for exploring the various mountain ranges of the West or something else. With these criteria in mind, I arrived at two likely candidates – Mount Timpanogos and Kings Peak.

While Mount Nebo to the south is the highest peak in the Wasatch Range, runner up Mt. "Timp" gets most of the attention due to its prominence and proximity to the urban areas of Provo, Orem and of course Salt Lake City. It rises 7000 feet from the valley floor and features a commanding panorama overlooking Utah Lake to the west. The peak also ranks number 20 of the 35 “Great Peaks of the Continent” featured in the 1984 book by Fred Beckey.

Kings Peak on the other hand is the tallest peak in the High Unitas and the highpoint of Utah. In contrast to Timp, Kings seemed significantly more remote and isolated. The valleys are broad with large talus plateaus, lonely summits and expansive views looking out over what could be described as a Martian landscape was it not for the meadows and forest down lower in the valleys.

Timp was a casual day-trip and Kings was easily dispatched in two. Both offer something unique by Utah standards and give a good overview of the Wasatch and High Unitas mountain ranges. If you happen to find yourself in the area, you’d do well to check them out for yourself!

Reports for Mount Timpanogos and Kings Peak:

Mount Timpanogos – Timpooneke Trail
Kings Peak – Henry's Fork via Anderson Pass

Miscellaneous photos from various points along the way:

Desolation Sound kayaking, August 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 21:56:00 +0000

Making good on a promise to spend more time exploring BC’s Sunshine Coast, we returned for an extended Labor Day weekend of kayaking in beautiful Desolation Sound. The Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park is a kayaker’s dream come true thanks to numerous small islands, bays and snug coves with several designated campsites scattered about. This is a place to feast the eyes on spectacular scenery - the fjords and mountains, experience the abundant wildlife, and savor the relatively calm, warm waters.

Putting-in at Lund, we spent the next 4 days and 3 nights paddling to the very edge of the park and exploring every nook and cranny in-between. By the time we reached Okeover Arm at the end of our trip, we had logged a respectable ~50 nautical miles. With our gear still soaked from the rain on our last day out, we decided on a whim to indulge ourselves with a night at the Desolation Resort located a relatively short paddle away up Okeover Inlet. A real meal, a bottle of wine and a dry, warm bed seemed a fitting finale to an unforgettable Sunshine Coast adventure!

Mount Skokomish & Mount Stone - SE Route & West Ridge, September 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 23:53:00 +0000

Paul, Eli and I climbed Mount Skokomish and Mount Stone on a particularly gorgeous Sunday in September. Both peaks are accessed via the Putvin Trail located some 11.5 miles up the Hamma Hamma River Road (FS Road 25) and make for a pleasant if not strenuous day trip.

Leaving shortly after dawn from a trailhead bivy, we proceeded to grind up the steep, dusty, hornet-infested trail to finally emerge in the sunshine at a lush meadow on a bench with Mount Stone looming above. Continuing along the trail, we surmounted a rocky headwall to reach the beautiful Lake of the Angels basin. Privately, I thought of relaxing here for a while and soaking-in the scenery, but we had an agenda and relaxing was not part of it. Beyond the lake, we continued upwards in a southwesterly direction following the rocky shoulder of North Skokomish. We reached a saddle at the top of the shoulder (5700ft) with outstanding views of Mount Cruiser to the southwest. Descending a short bit on the opposite side of the saddle (staying right), we made an ascending traverse over scree, grass, boilerplate and talus along the southeast slope of Mount Skokomish. A final short scramble on loose rock up the south spur led to the (true) south summit where a grand panorama overlooking the Olympic Mountains was ours to behold.

Upon return, we retraced our steps to within a couple hundred feet of Lake of the Angels. Scrambling up through a short cliff band at left, we then made another ascending traverse this time along the grassy slope above the northwest shore of the lake. After a bit of meandering through a talus slope littered with house-sized boulders, we found ourselves at the base of the large apron beneath a notch-type feature dubbed St. Peter’s Gate. Making a hard left at this point, we proceeded upwards passing beneath a prominent rock dome. Now contouring beneath the left edge of Stone’s craggy South Ridge, we soon reached a notch in the crest of the West Ridge. Turning right here, we scrambled up a short 3rd-class chimney that breaks a steep step in the West Ridge. From this point we were finally able to see the final summit block of Mt. Stone. A short walk beneath the crest of the West Ridge led to the summit block where ~150 feet of fun class 3 scrambling saw us to Stone’s tippy top. As with Skokomish, here too were some great views to be had.

We cut our stay short as the day was threatening to get away from us and we had a reasonably long ways to go still. Once back down below St. Peters Gate, we continued on a descending traverse beneath Pt. 6187 and Pt. 5854, then made our way down a steep grassy slope ending in a brushy gully that leads to the meadow at the bench beneath Lake of the Angels. The remaining hike back to the trailhead went without incident save for Paul and Eli getting stung by hornets once again! Better them than me, eh? Ok, ok my luck would run out by the following weekend, but that’s a story for another time…

Mount Cruiser - South Corner, September 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:28:00 +0000

In a range known for loose rock, Mt. Cruiser joins maybe a handful of other Olympic peaks that offer easy but fun climbing on reasonably solid rock. Approached via Mildred Lakes, Cruiser’s popular South Corner route entails just 3 short pitches - a steep 4th-class chimney, a run-out 5.0 slab/face and finally the exposed ridge crest to the summit. All this can be enjoyed only after 4.5 miles of winding, rooted trail with bad-tempered hornets, a steep, and tedious bushwhack and some footsore side-hilling to boot.

Arriving at the trailhead late in the afternoon, Eli and I reached the lower lake basin at dusk and stumbled around in the dark before locating a suitable camp spot next to another party along the SW shore of the middle lake. Leaving the trail just shy of uppermost-Mildred Lake the following morning, we thrashed through brush heading in a northerly direction. We were aiming for a prominent swath of grass and low vegetation we spied earlier that morning. The swath seemed to offer the easiest route to the upper basin west of Cruiser proper. From there, we angled leftwards over heather, talus and gravel to reach the apron beneath a prominent ‘Y’ chimney.

After a cruxy step in the lower chimney, we scrambled up the left ‘Y’ branch ending with a tight squeeze under a chockstone. The chimney business now behind us, we turned right and walked a short distance to the base of the slab. Stepping out off the platform onto the slab felt a bit committing and is probably the most difficult move of the pitch. Climbing up, I clipped a couple manky bolts and that was pretty much it for pro. I stopped to set up a belay at the newer bolted rappel station near the crest and brought up Eli. From there we simul-climbed the remaining bit to the summit using slung horns and a rusty bolt or two for protection. The summit isn’t a particularly comfortable place to hang out, so we had a quick look around, snapped some photos and started back down.

My camera fell out of my pocket while rappelling down the slab pitch and disappeared somewhere in the bushes or talus below, never to be seen again. Eli started taking photos only after this happened, so unfortunately no snaps of us on route. And what about those hornets you ask? Suffice to say, they really took a liking to me on the hike down from the lakes. I tried outrunning them after the third or fourth sting and promptly tripped on a tree root protruding from a particularly steep section of trail. My ‘swan dive’ and subsequent tumble was halted only when I narrowly avoided face-planting a tree and slammed into it with my pack instead. The hornets seemed satisfied with this performance and graciously left me to nurse my bloodied knees and wounded pride. Thankfully the rest of the hike down that damned trail went without further issues. Goodbye and good riddance!

Crown Mountain - Crown Mtn trail, October 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:21:00 +0000

Tucked away amongst the low peaks just beyond the Grouse Mountain ski area, Crown Mountain is a deservedly popular day-hike with spectacular views overlooking the Lower Mainland. From Grouse proper, the approach entails a relatively short trail hike, with just a smidge of class-3 scrambling near the very end. For the lazy, the Grouse Mountain Tram saves about 2900-ft of gain starting from near the end of Capilano Road, or you can get your sweat-on and hike the relentless Grouse Grind stair-master instead. Whatever you do, a stop at the Peak Chalet for a quaff before taking the tram back down is practically mandatory, and you’ll still please the in-laws with an early return in good time for Thanksgiving dinner!

Mount Angeles - Route 1 (via Klahhane Ridge), October 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 12:21:00 +0000

Clearly visible from Highway 101 between Sequim and Port Angeles, and from Victoria, BC not 30 miles to the north across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mount Angeles is a popular scrambling peak with impressive views of the Olympus massif, Bailey Range, and southern tip of Vancouver Island. Approached from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center via the Klahhane Ridge Trail, it’s a mere 4 miles and ~2000 feet of absolute gain to reach the summit. Taking a left after about 2 miles onto the unsigned Mount Angeles Climbers' Trail, the route switchbacks to reach a talus bench and from where a final crappy chute leads to the top. For extra credit, I traversed the crest to the east summit before descending back to the Klahhane Ridge Trail at a broad saddle high above Lake Angeles. I had designs on the peak at the extreme east-end of Klahhane Ridge, but my desire for it quickly vanished upon reaching the end of the established ridge trail. All-in-all, Mt. Angeles makes for an enjoyably casual outing; the ideal venue for escaping the lowland fog that blanketed much of the Puget Sound basin for several weeks this past October.

Mount Aix - Mount Aix Trail, October 2013

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 21:25:00 +0000

Seemingly out of place for this part of the southern Washington Cascades, 7766-ft Mount Aix is a prominent peak well east of the Cascade Crest with excellent 360 degree views that include Rainier, Adams, Goat Rocks and the Stuart Range. Approached via the Mount Aix Trail, it’s just a 12-mile hike (round-trip) with only a short bit of class 2/3 scrambling to reach the top. About a third of the route is on high ridges which are often frequented by mountain goats. The trail’s southwestern exposure makes it a great late-season venue after the first snow has claimed the more shaded north and east aspects. The neighboring peaks and bowls, including Aix itself also appear to offer excellent ski touring potential, was it not for seasonal pass closures making for a long drive from Seattle.

Dolomiti Snowboarding, Dec-Jan '13/14

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 12:57:00 +0000

Eleven days chasing Dolomites pow...

Panorama of the Sella Group with Piz Boe at top (right of center). Pordoi Pass at far left.

View from Buffaure Ski Area looking northwest in the direction of the Otztal Alps. The infamous iceman, on display in Bolzano was located somewhere in this area.

Taking in the view from near Passo Padon (looking north) with peaks on the Italy-Austria border visible in distance.

Fresh tracks descending from Col Rodella down into the Fassa Valley, ending finally in the town of Campitello.

Buffaure's Orsa Maggiore lift with peaks of the Rosengarten/Catinaccio Group visible at left.

Panorama looking east from Col Rodella with Sass Pordoi at left and Marmolada at right.

Getting ready for the ride down from a summit between Ciampac and Buffaure ski areas.

Related:

Reports/Photos
Winter 11/12 - here.
Winter 09/10 - here.
Winter 07/08 - here.

Photo album
The early years - here.

Videos
Dolomites (Return To), Winter 03/04 (video - 17.8MB/9.32min)
Dolomites "Fuori Pista", Winter 05/06 (video - 42.6MB/11.46min)

In Conclusion, Winter 13/14

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 02 May 2014 18:11:00 +0000

And so concludes one of the lousiest Northwest snow seasons in recent memory. A winter’s worth of pow riding mostly compressed into the month of March. Win some, lose some I guess. Thankfully there was North Cascade Heli to the rescue, salvaging the season with a couple glory days of Cascade nirvana. I can’t praise and thank the NC crew enough for keeping the doors open and taking us on another grand tour of their proverbial backyard! Save our seats for next March please.

Miscellaneous photos below (NC Heli here):

Assorted Flavors, May/June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:52:00 +0000

A slow transition the usual confection of shoulder season activities thanks to nagging injuries left over from the winter, work and whatnot. Unfavorable Memorial weekend weather put a much anticipated North Cascade ski traverse on the backburner, and with it went any desire for other tours this spring. But all is not lost as we look forward to longer, warmer days and the exploits that await...

Cowlitz Chimney (Main) - South Route, June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:43:00 +0000

(re-posted from Eric J's nwhikers report) Cowlitz Chimneys is a series of prominent crags visible from many areas on the northeast side of Rainier. The Chimneys are three distinct major pinnacles: North, Middle, and Main Cowlitz. Main (South) Cowlitz is the highest and largest of the three and would be our objective. Sergio had been Jonesing for this peak for a while now, since he sees it every time he's boarding at Crystal. And though I've been to Summerland several times, I've never been past Panhandle Gap, so this was new terrain for both of us. We decided to make this a one-and-a-half day trip to break up the 16 miles and to get some conditioning in for bigger trips this summer.

After a calm night in Summerland, we got going the next morning at 7:15 under bright and sunny skies. At Panhandle Gap we turned right directly up to the little rise, then over it to the other side. We went around this to the left coming back, but it's not really worth the bother unless it's melted out. The route continues up Banshee's gentle W slopes to the summit's fine viewpoint at 7400'. From here Beckey's description of the route is apparent. The "spiry solitary fir" is obvious, so we marched on over to it. Beckey says to then ascend 100'; actually the "horizontal fence of small evergreens" is directly above the solitary fir, so ascend about 50' and start traversing left just above the line of trees. The slope here is quite steep so we faced in and kicked steps sideways. **Note that if you know the approximate location of the cave and slot, at this time of year it's much better to just boot up the snow to directly below and scramble about 75' up to them on class 3 rock, dispensing with the solitary fir and fence of trees traverse.

Due to various delays Sergio and I got separated and so each climbed the rest of the way solo. Once past the trees there is a tiny alcove directly above. Note this but otherwise ignore it. Continue traversing on rock another 100'--I traversed just above the ledge, class 4, solid--till the route comes around a shallow corner to Beckey's "small hidden cave". This isn't a cave at all, merely a larger alcove. Just to the left of the alcove is the short rock slot. This was wet and mossy, and getting up it involved the most awkward moves on the route. Above the slot the route continues directly up for a hundred feet or so on mediocre rock. No need to worry yet; the rock gets much worse. Not necessary to go to the top of the ridge; the route starts traversing up and left not far above the slot as the large summit area becomes visible. Sergio had warned me off going too far left up a harder gully, so I went right. There are plenty of variations across the face to keep you occupied ranging from loose 3rd to low 5th with some exposure, and only those adept at routefinding will succeed in locating the easiest option. Once past the difficulties, easier scrambling led to the false summit, and another 200' horizontal to the true summit of Cowlitz Chimney, 7605'.

As Sergio was waiting below, I stopped only briefly before heading down. To return the route goes mostly up the way on Banshee to avoid steeper sidehilling below. The snow had now turned quite soft, though short of postholing with our snowshoes on. All-in-all, this is worthwhile outing in an interesting area. Most of the peaks on this side of Rainier have a gentle route, so it was more challenging to head up one that involves a bit of routefinding with short but exciting climbing.

Unicorn Peak - Std (via Snow Lakes), June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:56:00 +0000

Of the peaks that comprise the Tatoosh Range on the south-side of Mount Rainier, Unicorn is the tallest and probably the most interesting of the bunch. Thanks to the Stevens Canyon Road, the peak also benefits from great spring and summer access, making for a very casual 6-mile day trip (car-to-car). The views of Mount Rainier from various points along the way, not to mention the summit itself are outstanding and is the obvious attraction for climbing Unicorn. Making the most of my soon-to-expire National Park entrance permit, the great weather and the fact that the approach was still mostly all snow, there was no time like the present to mount this horned equine!

June Gloom MTB (Part 2), June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:25:00 +0000

Three early summer rides in the E-WA county of Chelan, featuring a bit of everything including unseasonably dry trail conditions, blow-down, patchy snow, hike-a-bike, and thankfully also some great downhill with views galore. (Part 1 - here)

Leavenworth (Ski Hill Trail) - A consolation ride after abandoning a Horse Lake Mountain - Sage Hills loop thanks to pouring rain near the top of the No. 2 Canyon in Wenatchee. With the original Freund Canyon loop trail partially destroyed thanks to recent logging, the ~10 mile Ski Hill loop is probably the next best alternative in the immediate Leavenworth area?? Inquire with the folks at Das Rad Haus for trail beta, or check their trail map below. Expect some route finding difficulty, steep and floury singletrack, several dismounts, a boring stretch of logging road, but also some enjoyable machine-built switchbacks with fun berms to play with.

Horse Lake Mtn/Sage Hills Loop - The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance has big plans for this vast area just outside of Wenatchee. The goal, as was relayed to be by a local chapter member is to develop the area into a mountain bike destination to rival more popular mountain biking destinations such as Bend, OR or Stanley, ID. There are hundreds of miles of trails and old roads here, and with the great weather (normally), excellent views and impressive vert potential, the opportunities are truly limitless. The ~20 mile loop starting from the bottom of No. 2 Canyon, up and over HLM and down into Sage Hills and ending finally near the bottom of No. 1 Canyon is a classic ride linking many of best trails the area has to offer. Visit the Wenatchee Outdoors website for more information on this and other rides in the area.

Klone Peak Loop - Was it not for the annoying blow-down along the North Tommy Trail (Tr 1425), the VERY annoying snow ‘patches’ at Klone Meadows and along various stretches of Blue Creek Trail (Tr 1426), and yet more blow-down on the only sustained downhill on Middle Tommy Trail (Tr1424), the ~20 mile Klone Peak loop would probably be a classic ride on par with Angel’s Staircase in the Methow Valley. Certainly the two rides have some tedious ups-and-downs as well as long, gruelling sections of hike-a-bike in common. But assuming the connecting trails were cleared of all obstructions and free of snow, and with the turning larches and meadows exploding in a vibrant end-of-season flash of autumn colors, a late September or October ride here would make for a memorable day on the single-track. See the Cascades Singletrack site for more information and a detailed topo.

Eagle Harbor to Bremerton (kayak), June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 10:28:00 +0000

This is probably one of the more interesting kayaking day trips in Puget Sound, and being able to carry kayaks aboard the ferries allows for a casual 10 mile one-way paddle. We parked the car at a grossly overpriced pay lot near the Coleman Dock, walked our boat aboard the Winslow ferry and enjoyed a scenic paddle through Rich Passage and Port Orchard to Bremerton. We then took the Bremerton ferry back to Seattle. The current was quite strong near Point White, but fortunately we had timed it so as to go with the flow. No carrier sighting unfortunately but the fair-weather rainbow hanging above Sinclair Inlet was a sight to behold!

Cardinal Peak - West Route (std), June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:57:00 +0000

At 8590 ft, Cardinal Peak is the tallest peak on the long divide immediately west of Lake Chelan. Along with neighboring Emerald and Saska peaks, it towers above the alpine cirque at the headwaters of the North Fork Entiat River Valley. Its relatively high elevation, prominence and position makes for excellent 360-degree views, which combined with good bikeable trail access for the bulk of the approach amounts to a very reasonable day trip (about 9hrs c2c). As I was already in the area for a MTB ride on Klone Peak, I figured a bike-n-hike to nab the tallest of the NF Entiat peaks the following day would round-out the weekend quite nicely.

Mount Carrie - South Route, July 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 19:53:00 +0000

For those that have driven westbound on Hwy 101 and wondered about the glaciated peak that briefly comes into view as one rounds a bend sortly before crossing the Elwha River, wonder no more. Having glimpsed Mount Carrie and the adjacent Cat Peak from this very spot countless times while en route to other adventures on the Olympic Coast, the time had finally come for me to go in for a closer look.

Considered by many as the first and highest peak in the Bailey Range, Mount Carrie offers an outstanding perspective on the mighty Olympus Massif to the south as well as the deep trough formed by the Hoh River flowing from its headwaters at the foot of the Hoh Glacier for 56 meandering miles out to the Pacific Ocean. The hike up the Sol Duc River Valley to where I camped at Heart Lake is also incredibly scenic with old-growth forest, raging creeks and waterfalls crashing into gorges of polished basalt, and a thriving population of mountain goats to boot! Heart Lake is also part of the popular High Divide backpacking loop that passes through the Seven Lakes Basin, so unfortunately there's not much solitude here.

The route to Carrie is all trail to The Catwalk – a moderately exposed but easy ridge traverse across the Cat-Carrie saddle, followed by a steep grind up Carrie’s SW Ridge and traverse of south-facing snow and scree slopes to the summit. Looking carefully to the northeast from the top, I saw flashes of sunlight reflecting off the cars on Hurricane Ridge Road and was reminded of my first Mount Carrie sighting from that location so many years ago. It was a scorching afternoon by the time I returned to the trailhead, making for an easy decision to pass on the Sol Duc "hotsprings" and instead cool off with a refreshing dip in Cresent Lake!

Whistler Mountain - North Ridge, July 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 12:22:00 +0000

For a fun exposed scramble with a very short approach, great position, excellent views, easy descent and short return back to the car, look no further. I’m speaking of course of the North Ridge of Whistler Mountain. No, not the Whistler of 2010 Winter Olympics fame, but the Whistler off of the North Cascades Highway near Washington Pass! This enjoyable climb starts from the Whistler-Cutthroat Saddle, and follows an airy ridge crest to a sharp notch below the final summit block. While some looseness was encountered getting in and out of the notch, the rock on this route is otherwise reasonably solid and makes for a satisfying romp to a pointy summit overlooking the area between Rainy and Washington Passes and beyond.

Sky Pilot Mountain - West Ridge, July 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 12:06:00 +0000

With the opening of the Sea to Sky Gondola this past spring, it only seemed appropriate to take advantage of the greatly shortened approach and finally climb the elusive Sky Pilot Mountain. Easily spotted while driving southbound on the Sea to Sky Highway near Squamish (BC), Sky Pilot is the highest of a tightly knit group of jagged peaks rising from behind the towering granite formation known as Stawamus Chief. And though the peak is smallish even by Coast Range standards-it stands only 6663 feet above sea level-what it lacks in elevation it certainly makes up for in ruggedness. Oh, and best of all, no more would we have to endure Sky Pilot taunting us on the drive back from Whistler!

Diablo Lake (kayak), August 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 21:58:00 +0000

Spent a leisurely summer afternoon paddling the famously turquoise waters of Diablo Lake. With a stop at the tiny rock island near the mouth of Thunder Arm, we continued towards Ross Dam which lies at the head of an aesthetic canyon that extends northeast of the main lake basin. While it is forbidden to approach the base of the dam and only the upper-part is visible from the turnaround near the NPS boat dock, the perspective from deep within the winding canyon is what makes this a unique experience. And having motored to and from countless climbing objectives over the years without ever stopping to appreciate beautiful Diablo Lake, it was nice to finally explore this man-made wonder nestled among the high peaks of the North Cascades.

Glacier National Park (Part 2), August 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 19:52:00 +0000

Part 1 - click here

Paul and I set out to complete the remaining three of the six 10,000+ footers in the park. Long story short is we completed just two (Kintla Peak and Mount Stimson) and will have to return a third time for Mount Merritt. A lack of permits for any of the camps from where we could reasonably launch a summit attempt of Merritt forced us to go after Stimson for our second (and final) peak of the trip. Also, a last minute decision to climb Stimson via the proven but longer eastern approach meant that we really only had time for two peaks. Finally, the weather deteriorated towards the latter part of our trip, so we were lucky to have climbed the two as it was.

We burned a couple weather days between the climbs sightseeing around Logan Pass, East Glacier, Lower Two Medicine Lake, Marias Pass etc. Waiting out a particularly active night of thunder and lightning from the comfort of the East Glacier Hostel had us wondering what the next day would bring and if we’d ever get started on our Stimson climb. The t-storms and rain forecast for the rest of the week wasn’t encouraging, but we weren’t about to let a little inclement weather dampen our spirits. Hounded by thunderstorms, wind and rain, and doomed to slog through inexplicably thick and soul-soaking brush in the deep, dark Nyack Valley over the next 5 days, our penance clearly wasn’t yet served, not even after the forced bivy on Kintla! Oh no, the evil spirit of The Nyack still wasn’t quite done with us…

Reports for the Kintla and Stimson climbs:

Kintla Peak – South Ridge (via Akokala Lake)
Mount Stimson – Southeast Spur (via Buffalo Woman Lake)

San Juans kayaking (Part 2), July/August 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:13:00 +0000

Part 1 - click here

Having cut our teeth kayaking in the San Juan’s last summer, we returned on multiple occasions this year to explore other area paddles as well as revisit a couple favorites. This summer we added a twist and upped the ante…

On the suggestion of Agata’s former co-worker and her husband, both long-time sailors and San Juan gunkholers extraordinaire, we took the Island Express water taxi from the Skyline Marina in Anacortes across Rosario Strait to James Island State Park. Once there, we spent the rest of the day circumnavigating Decatur Island and all of the following day paddling along the southeast and rugged south shore of Lopez Island to reach Aleck Bay. Highlights include our first ever orca sighting and breach from the safety of the beach at Aleck Bay. With unexpectedly calm and glassy conditions on the return paddle, we took a direct line from Cape St. Mary to James for a ~4 mile crossing, our longest yet. Our friends then joined us at James later that afternoon and generously invited us for dinner and drinks aboard their beautiful yacht. We also joined them the next day for a tour around Blakely Island, across Rosario Strait to Cypress Island and down Bellingham Channel ending finally at the Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. It is thanks to this tour and Dave and Pat’s patience with my incessant questions that the idea for the next trip-The San Juan Traverse-was hatched!

The Traverse – a logical next step for us, connecting the dots and filling in the blanks by linking ‘familiar’ passages, crossings and island camps on a 5-day odyssey starting from the put-in adjacent to the Guemes Island ferry terminal in Anacortes and ending at Stuart Island just shy of the border with Canada. We paddled about 60 nautical miles in total and made 8 major crossings (Guemes, Bellingham, Rosario, Lopez, Upright, Wasp, San Juan and Spieden) each of which had to be timed according to the tides, currents and wind. En route, we overnighted on Strawberry, Jones, Posey and Stuart Islands, and finished it all off by circumnavigating Stuart before our scheduled pick-up and return to Anacortes. Words and photos cannot do this trip justice and while it is easily a classic, the options for other multi-day link-ups in the San Juan’s are limited only by one’s imagination.

James & Lopez Islands:

San Juans Traverse (Anacortes to Stuart Island):

Mount Lago - South Face/South Ridge, August 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 18:59:00 +0000

Eli and I gambled on a marginal Labor Day weekend weather forecast and headed deep into the Pasayten Wildnerness in search of the elusive Mount Lago. Guarded by a long 16-mile approach starting from Slate Pass, down the Middle Fork Pasayten River then up to Freds Pass and across upper Eureka Creek, Lago is by all accounts a remote peak. While it is the highest peak in the Pasayten Wilderness outside of Jack Mountain, Lago is flanked on all sides by other Cascades big boys such as Osceola Peak and Mount Carru, itself only 0.8 miles to the west. Other noteworthy peaks in the immediate area include Ptarmigan Peak to the north, Lost Peak, Lake Mountain, Monument Peak and Blackcap Mountain to the south. All of these, including the nearby Mount Robinson are of interest to those pursuing the Washington Top 100 list.

For Eli and me, the point was simply to visit a corner of The Cascades we hadn’t yet been to and bag what may be considered the most significant peak in the area. We also had a secondary objective of making the traverse out to Ptarmigan Peak up and over Dot Peak via the connecting ridge to Lago, but iffy weather and being short on time convinced us otherwise. Having climbed Lago via an interminable talus slope on its South Face, we instead returned via the South Ridge to Shellrock Pass, making for an aesthetic loop we jokingly dubbed Tour de Lago.

Frisco Mountain - North Ridge, September 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:18:00 +0000

Our plan to climb Bacon Peak was thwarted just shy of the trailhead that morning due to bridge repairs, so Dan and I made an impromptu course correction for Frisco Mountain. Though it is not nearby or even in the same county for that matter, Frisco fit our backup needs simply because I had previously looked into it and felt confident I could successfully climb the peak with only my recollection to go on.

Despite the unexpected change of venue and late start, the quick approach combined with an aesthetic and exposed North Ridge scramble and easy Southeast Ridge descent all made for a worthwhile alternative. And the unbeatable scenery around Maple Pass and beyond was an added bonus! While we could have made it back to the parking lot shortly after dusk, we instead made camp on the ridge top near Maple Pass and enjoyed a pleasant evening under the stars. If you are in search of a short day-trip to satisfy an urge to scramble, then look no further!

McGregor BM - Rainbow Lake Trail, September 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:50:00 +0000

Foiled by poor weather the day I was to climb Mount McGregor, all I have are these shots captured the previous afternoon after having established camp. The Sandalee Glacier cradled on the peak’s north-facing flank was not meant to be, so the pass at the head of South Fork Bridge Creek Valley (Rainbow Lake Trail) and nearby McGregor BM (a.k.a. East Summit of McGregor) will have to suffice for now. More often climbed via the Mt. McGregor trail on the south side, McGregor is an attractive and remote-feeling peak with outstanding views overlooking Lake Chelan and the Stehekin Valley. A non-technical ridge traverse from the East Summit, gaining the upper glacier for the finish to the true summit seems possible and would probably be preferable to the brush bash on approach to the base of the Sandalee Glacier.

Sawtooth Ridge - Star & Courtney (std), September 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Taking advantage of the great autumn weather, Dan and I ventured into the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness for some mindless peakbagging and to enjoy the Fall colors. As an area we hadn’t explored yet, I present to you the culmination of Sawtooth Ridge! While nearby Oval Peak is higher, Star Peak is the highest point on the 20+ mile long Sawtooth Ridge proper and according to Paul’s SummitPost page, “…aesthetically, [Oval] is nothing compared to its neighbor two miles to the southwest: 8,690-ft Star Peak.” Well then, ‘nuff said!

The 9.5 miles along West Fork Buttermilk Creek Trail to Fish Creek Pass went by much faster than anticipated, allowing us to nab both Courtney Peak and Star Peak on the first day. After a night spent at Star Lake, we set out on a half-hearted attempt on Oval via Buttermilk Ridge. Up and over Pk 8267 then on to the summit of Pt. 7978, at which point we aborted the climb. We’d grown weary of the endless talus and boulder hopping and motivation for the ascent of Oval’s long South Ridge, which features more of the same talus tedium, was sorely lacking. After a long break we descended the slope south of Pt. 7978 only to stumble upon an obscure and unmaintained trail that parallels the W. Fork Buttermilk Trail. We were able to follow this to the junction with the main trail closely east of Fish Creek Pass, and then returned to the trailhead for the long drive back to Seattle. With reasonably good access and short, casual climbing routes on a cluster of lonely peaks near the eastern edge of the range, Star, Courtney (even Oval) make for ideal late-season objectives with stunning 360-degree summit panoramas.

Burroughs Mountain - Burroughs Mtn Trail, October 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:08:00 +0000

Of the developed visitor areas in Mount Rainier National Park, Sunrise is the highest that can be reached by vehicle and is perhaps also the most scenic. Unlike Paradise for instance, Sunrise is more set back from Mount Rainier and being that it’s situated on the northeast side of the mountain means that on a clear day the enormous Emmons and Winthrop Glaciers are on full display. This and nearby features such as the Willis Wall Ice Cliff, Liberty Cap Glacier, and Liberty Ridge, which bisects the two encompasses the most dramatic and heavily glaciated faces of the mountain, or anywhere else in the lower 48 states for that matter.

Sunrise is not commonly used as a starting point for those seeking Rainier’s summit, which explains why I’ve not come this way up until now. But having sighted a mostly snowbound Sunrise from nearby Cowlitz Chimney back in June, I felt that it was about time I had a look-see. Months went by and finally with nothing else to do on a sunny Friday in October, I made a beeline for Sunrise. With no more than a week or two before the Park Service would be shuttering the facilities in preparation for winter; I set out on the trail headed for Burroughs Mountain. Burroughs is the dominant, sprawling massif west of Sunrise, and at 7828-ft it’s also the highest. An easy hike over a lunar-like tundra landscape leads to the summit of “3rd Burroughs” and from where a sensational view of the mighty Tahoma and her glaciers can be had.

Mission Ridge mtb, October 2014

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:50:00 +0000

Had an amazing day riding Mission Ridge with Tom back in October. Gorgeous views with the turning larches, sunshine and being above the cloud deck for much of the ride! Best of all, we skipped the long grueling ascent by car shuttling directly to the upper trailhead. Unfortunately the floury trail conditions we were expecting had turned to mud with a consistency of wet cement, adding considerable challenge to the steep downhill sections of trail. Knee pads are advised!

This and nearby Devils Gulch are both part of the Mission/Tronsen Ridge trail system. Having ridden Devils Gulch twice now, it was great to experience its evil twin. Long sweeping turns, wide open pine-needle singletrack through old growth and sharp switch backs make the upper portion, which is shared by both, an exhilarating ride. The trail then climbs just past the junction and is tedious at times before reaching an aesthetic stretch along the crest of a sharp ridge. A final downhill section merges again with the Devils Gulch trail towards the end. Then up to the top of #2 Canyon and down to my car in Wenatchee, which we drove back up to retrieve Tom’s car. The verdict is still out as to which of the two is best, so try both and decide for yourself…

The Winter of My Discontent, Winter 2014/15

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 09:40:00 +0000

Should have heeded the weatherman’s prediction of a “Super El Nino” or the “Blob” parked offshore or whatever it was that ruined winter this year. A couple good weeks of pow north of the 49th Parallel in December and maybe only a handful of decent days since then. And this despite the wintry mayhem that has crippled the Eastern US for much of 2015 so far. Looking out my window the sun is shining still, the trees are budding, birds are chirping and spring has clearly arrived. But anyway, the itch must still be scratched so here’s to another season of lowered expectations and relief by unexpected means.

April Showers, April 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 20 May 2015 09:25:00 +0000

Just when all hope is lost, along comes a very belated April dump to remind us of what we’ve been missing all these months. And though impressive as it was, nothing short of a 100-year storm could possibly make up for the meager snowpack this year. Still something had to be made of it, so out of early retirement come the boards, pressed into service for one last hurrah down the sticky spring shmoo. See video - here.

Shoulder Season Mtb, May 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:20:00 +0000

Dungeness-Gold Creek Loop – touted by some as The Classic Olympics mountain bike ride, this loop has a little of everything. To quote EMBA – “There’s smooth and wide, rocky and exposed, up and down (repeat), logging road climb, fast descents, remote location, rushing river, old growth, and some definite hike-a-bike (you can avoid most of this with a start variation).” And if that isn't tempting enough, the lovely moss-lined trail through old growth forest on the Lower Dungeness combined with the exhilarating downhill for much of the Gold Creek Trail makes this ~19 miler unique and a definite must-do!

Mount Constitution – At first I was skeptical of the claims made about the mtb trails at Moran State Park. Now I can’t believe I waited so long to ride here! Super smooth duff-covered single track, outstanding views overlooking Rosaio Strait and the San Juans, and for those with parents in tow a great shuttle opportunity! A ~10 mile clockwise descent around Mount Moran then along the shore of Mountain Lake ending finally near Cascade Lake seems to be the preferred route taken by most bikers. Note that the best trails are open to mountain bikes from September 15 through May 15 each year.

Stafford Creek – I generally prefer loop rides over OAB’s such as this, but with the added bonus of hiking up nearby Navaho Peak for outstanding up-close views of the Enchantments, an exception had to be made. The amount of hike-a-bike on the ~6 mile ascent (1 mile extra to top of Navaho) detracts from the overall enjoyment, and perhaps only those comfortable with an enduro-style descent over very rough and technical terrain would appreciate this ride. That being said, hiking through the moonscape terrain below Navaho Pass (we unfortunately ditched the bikes before this part) and then ripping down the rough, rocky trail proved to be a very engaging and surprisingly fast and enjoyable descent!

Mount Fernow - Southwest Route, May 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 14:51:00 +0000

As the last non-volcanic 9000+ foot peak in the state for me, Mount Fernow has long been a thorn in my side. Having been up into Leroy Basin twice already, once for neighbouring 9'ers Seven Fingered Jack (SFJ) and Mount Maude, and again years later to climb Maude’s North Face route, I wasn’t too terribly keen on kicking dirt up that steep, dusty trail a third time. So a plan was hatched to climb the peak via the more remote and unexplored (by me) Entiat River Trail approaching from the peak’s east. Starting from camp in scenic Entiat Meadows about 15 footsore miles in, this approach involves a 4000-ft grind up the north flank of the towering alpine cirque formed by the trio of Entiat 9’ers looming overhead. The route then ends with the standard East Ridge finish to Fernow’s lofty summit...or so I had hoped! Unfortunately last summer’s Duncan Fire which scorched 12,659 acres between Entiat River and the North Fork Entiat River, eventually spreading east across the North Fork put the kibosh on all of that. I briefly considered the Holden Village approach, complete with boat ride up Lake Chelan and shuttle to Holden, but it seemed like more of a hassle than it was worth. Enough was enough! I’ve put it off long enough; boring old Leroy Creek would have to do, climbing Fernow via the SW Route.

Bacon Peak - via Watson Lakes, June 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 16:16:00 +0000

Of only moderate elevation and lacking in classic climbing lines, Bacon Peak tends to be overlooked for the more dominant peaks in the area – Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan and Mount Blum just to name a few. Nevertheless, with a flattish dome-like appearance and capped by an impressive sheet of snow and ice, Bacon looks like a small shield volcano when seen from summits both near and far. Bacon stands alone; like an island rising up above a shallow sea of forested hills bound by Baker Lake to the west and the Skagit River Valley to the south and east. The appeal lies in its relative isolation and significant prominence, which affords it a commanding 360-degree summit panorama that includes a good portion of North Cascades National Park and especially the rugged Picket Range. The standard approach is characterized by a meandering trail along scenic subalpine meadows and lakes, then a high route over talus, slabs and snow traversing numerous delightful glacier-sculpted basins. As appealing as that may sound, be advised that there is also some nasty brush standing in the way of Bacon’s summit. Beyond the brush, one is rewarded with a lonely summit crowned with a unique icecap feature and from where one-of-a-kind views await the Cascades rambler in us all!

Tupshin Peak - East Face, June 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 15:29:00 +0000

Tupshin Peak has held my curiosity ever since I first laid eyes on it from the summit of Bonanza Peak. Returning from a climb of Reynolds Peak two years later, I again found my attention drawn to Tupshin’s unmistakable summit spire. Tupshin apparently means 'needle' in Chinook Jargon, so it seems that I’m not alone in my appreciation for this mountain (other than the fact that it is a popular/required summit for Washington Top 100 climbers). The standard East Face route up the Needle isn’t particularly noteworthy as a technical rock climb and it certainly possesses some loose rock, but the setting and position alone I feel makes this a worthwhile objective. It isn’t a difficult route to follow and the mid-5th cruxes are solid where they need to be. Add to this the option of chartering a float plane up 55-mile-long Lake Chelan to Stehekin plus a short paddle in a row boat across the mouth of the Stehekin River, and you’ve got just the right ingredients for a great long weekend of “Type 2 Fun”! Special thanks to Stehekin resident and fellow climber Bob Nielsen for use of his row boat and thereby saving us from hiking the unnecessary trail miles between Weaver Point and Harlequin Bridge. P.S. I think your friends camping at Weaver Point that weekend stole a couple beers we had stashed near the dock…or did they float away like that time at Ross Lake??

Mount McGregor - McGregor Mtn Trail, July 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:09:00 +0000

Despite my careful study of maps and satellite photos, we still left the trail much too soon and found ourselves engaged in an unpleasant brush bash across a swampy valley unsure if we were even headed in the right direction. It had become more of a pain in the ass than I had the patience for, and being that it was over 90 degrees out meant it was just too dang hot to do much of anything, let alone climb a mountain. For the second and undoubtedly final time, McGregor’s Sandalee Glacier was not going to be. Joined by Dan and Tim, I once again salvaged the day by hiking back up to Bowan Pass and then on to the flying ant infested summit of McGregor BM.

By contrast, The Mount McGregor Trail approach starting from High Bridge deep in the Stehekin Valley is really quite pleasant and offers something unique by Cascades standards – a boat (or float plane) ride to Stehekin, a shuttle to within a 5 minute walk to camp, and a very good trail to the base of a fun and moderately exposed scramble which itself is considered a “trail” complete with red arrows spray-painted on the rock to show the way. And for those so inclined, it isn’t every day that one can so easily haul everything but the proverbial kitchen sink to and from a backcountry camp!

Glacier National Park (Part 3), August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 17:26:00 +0000

*Report by Paul Klenke

Well it had to be done: to finish climbing the last of the six 10,000-ft peaks in Glacier National Park. Except this time we’d be loaded for (grizzly) bear. We’d have camping permits ahead of time so we could “legally” (i.e., not break the park’s draconian camping rules). Our permits were scheduled for the first few days of August 2015. Before we got there we had heard that Mt. Merritt was arguably the most picturesque member of the six peaks. Now after having been there Sergio and I can opine that this is indeed the case. We only wish we had had better distant views while there. Forest fire smoke saw to that (or didn’t saw to that, if you will).

Mt. Merritt also has the allure of reasonable day-long approaches from different directions. And one approach affords a fantastic view of the mountain’s glacier-mantled south side from an elevation about equal to the mid-section of the mountain itself (that is, not from far below in a valley, which generally tends to conceal a mountain’s more aesthetic features). I’m referring to the approach via the Ptarmigan Tunnel. The tunnel itself is another notable feature of the park (more on that later).

I drove this time. I seem to drive on odd-numbered trips over there to Moooooontana. We made our “traditional” stop for lunch at the Wallace Brewery in Wallace, Idaho, only this time we didn’t accidentally walk into the wrong establishment for the third time, and this time we weren’t “bothered” by the old people posing as members of an accordion society. I love Wallace. It’s probably the only town in America with a freeway for a roof. You have to visit there to see what I mean. The rest of the drive was fairly ordinary because we’d done it before.

We met Agata in Columbia Falls a dozen or so miles outside of the park’s west entrance. We had dinner. She joined us for hobo camp at the same location near Apgar that Sergio and I used the previous year. Only this time we couldn’t get as far down the dirt track in the woods because the Verdina wagon is a low, black Audi with a nice paintjob. We hung out with the river rafting outfitter nearby for a bit in the evening before retiring (they had a keg of PBR!). The next day Sergio bid our Agata adieus and made our way into the park to officially obtain our camping permits. Agata would be doing her own thing for a few days then meet up with us later...

Continue reading the rest of the Mount Merritt report here...

~~~~~~

Miscellaneous photos from various points along the way:

Mount Temple - Southwest Ridge, August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 18:39:00 +0000

Following our trip to Glacier and Waterton National Parks, Agata and I made our way up north taking a scenic route through the Alberta prairies and then along Hwy 40 (Kananaskis Trail), which at ~7310 ft is supposedly the highest stretch of paved road in Canada. After a restless night in one of the numerous mega-campgrounds scattered around the outskirts of Banff and a few hours the next day taking in the sights from Sulphur Mountain, we made our way over to Lake Louise for more sightseeing. We had heard that camping permits in Lake Louise can be difficult to obtain, so our first order of business was to secure a campsite for the next two nights. In the end, we felt fortunate to have secured the last campsite some ~20 miles away off of the Icefelds Parkway. Note to self - the enormous gravel parking area at the Mosquito Creek Campground where we would be staying also serves as an ad-hoc overflow camp for those without anywhere else to go. With the tent pitched it was back to Lake Louise for dinner at Bill Peyto’s Café (love that place) located in the LL hostel.

Our objective the following day was to scramble the ever popular Southwest Ridge of Mount Temple. We were aware of the 4-person party minimum (a precaution against bear attacks) and the notoriously scarce parking, and so planned an early pre-dawn start from our Mosquito Creek camp. Among the first to arrive at the trailhead the following morning, we quickly paired up with 2 separate parties of 2 and started up the Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass Trail. From the pass, we continued on the trail leading up Temple’s broad Southwest Ridge. The going was fairly easy, except that we traversed too far across the South Face, only to scramble up through a gully weakness in a minor cliff band before being able to traverse back left on a bench towards the crest of the SW Ridge proper. We took a more direct line through this area on descent and encountered a slightly more difficult step (4th/low-5th). Pick your poison.

With the cliff difficulties now behind us, we enjoyed some fun scrambling up a series of steps on the beautiful yellow limestone of the SW Ridge. An easier bypass exists below and right, but probably isn’t all that interesting. The trail resumes above these steps and continues up through the rubble (and on this particular day – fresh snow) on a broad slope left of the crest. A final stroll along the crest proper leads to the summit. Agata and I were the first up on top and together with one of the twosome’s from earlier enjoyed a few minutes of quiet before the hoards finally caught up with us. As one of the tallest peaks in the Canadian Rockies, the view from the top of Temple is outstanding! I managed to snap off a few panoramas before the clouds, which seemed to come from nowhere, engulfed the summit area. Soon we were cold and decided to start back down. As expected, the Moraine Lake parking area was a complete gong show and so we stuck around long enough to down a beer before leaving.

Dinner at Peyto’s again and then back to Mosquito Creek for libations by the campfire followed by some well-deserved sleep. With nasty blisters to nurse, Agata decided to lay low the next day and left me to jog up to the so-called Plain of Six Glaciers by myself. That’s not to suggest that I would have the hike all to myself. Au contraire! Nevertheless, it was interesting to see Mount Victoria up close, not to mention the Abbot Pass Hut perched there at the col between Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. There are also a couple “Tea Houses” along the trail which serve warm food and probably drinks and reminded me a bit of the rifugi found all over the Dolomites. I could really have gone for some polenta al sugo di funghi e salsiccia and a cold Forst, but the place was packed and Agata would never forgive me had I indulged without her! Next time…and I insist that we throw in a climb of Mount Victoria while we’re at it!

Miscellaneous photos from various points along the way:

Southwest Ridge scramble:

Pigeon Spire - West Ridge, August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 18:39:00 +0000

Leaving Lake Louise, we continued our westward journey to the Columbia Valley and Golden, BC. We had plans for climbing Pigeon Spire in Bugaboo Provincial Park about 30 miles south as the crow flies, but a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast convinced us to wait a day and check out the scene around town instead. Nearby Kicking Horse Mountain Resort was not to be missed and a gondola ride to the 7,700ft ridge top offered great views and a welcome respite from the buggy Rocky Mountain Trench over 4,000-ft below. In addition to a killer mountain bike park, the resort also sports a via ferrata course on the North Face of Terminator Peak. This made for an exhilarating if not pricey prelude to the Pigeon climb.

Off to the Bugs the next morning. Unlike my previous Bugaboos trip, the Conrad Kain Hut was fully booked, so we made arrangements with the custodian for 2 nights at nearby Applebee Dome Campground and continued on. Wow! Talk about a tent city for rock-jocks from all over the globe! We slinked past appraising eyes and were fortunate to locate one of the few remaining sites along the edge of the dome with a fine view overlooking Bugaboo Creek Valley and the peaks beyond. We settled in to camp, enjoying beer and sips of tequila before calling it a night.

The normal approach to Pigeon’s West Ridge via the Bugaboo-Snowpatch Col was in horrible shape and very much discouraged by the park rangers. All Snowpatch, Pigeon and Howser bound parties were now taking the safer Pigeon Fork-Bugaboo Glacier route. A first for Agata, the PFBG is a respectable glacier climb unto itself and featured hard ice, crevasse end-runs, thin snow bridges and several mandatory crevasse jumps. Summer hasn’t been kind to the Bugaboos glaciers, and the route probably had a week or two left before it became impassible. Though indirect, the PFBG is very scenic and has an aesthetic quality not found on the Bugaboo-Snowpatch Col route.

We ditched packs, boots and crampons, slipped-on rock shoes and roped up for the classic West Ridge climb. Using running belays, we made quick work of the lower ridge and reached the first false summit in good time. The intimidating view from here towards the true summit is a classic example of foreshortening over distance and is probably one of the most compelling vantage points in the Bugs. What we thought was the actual summit ended up being yet another false summit, with the true summit just on the other side of a large notch. We made a short rappel and then an easy traverse over to the base of a chimney for the first of two remaining pitches. The final pitch follows a large slab feature just right of a prominent dihedral and then exits left to gain the summit ridge. The short jaunt from the rappel chains to the top of the summit block made for a memorable finish to the climb.

After an unexpectedly long 14 hours round-trip, we returned to camp where the vibe was markedly improved over the previous evening. Various parties trudged into camp well after our return and every conceivably flat spot was soon occupied. Soaking-in the last of the alpenglow, we noticed the portaledge party hanging from Snowpatch Spire’s East Face hadn’t moved since our arrival the previous evening. It got dark and couple headlamps winked on somewhere above the large snowpatch that lends Snowpatch Spire its name. Happy not to be party to the misery in progress, we sat back and watched meteors shoot across the firmament. Satisfied with a successful climb and fitting conclusion to an excellent road trip that for us collectively spanned numerous national parks and monuments across the western US and Canada, we retired to the tent and our dreams with contented mind and tired body.

Miscellaneous photos from various points along the way:

West Ridge climb:

Mount Hinman - Southwest Ridge, August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Mount Hinman is one of those peaks for me where the appeal lies more in the journey than in the destination itself. I’d heard the approach via the East Fork Foss River and Necklace Valley is a particularly scenic one and well worth the effort. From the head of the valley there’s that classic shot with Tank Lakes in the foreground looking across the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley towards the spires of Chimney Rock and Overcoat Peak, the Overcoat Glacier cradled in between. If not for this view I’d probably not have bothered with Hinman. With so much more to see here, I’m glad that I did.

Despite the peak’s modest elevation (~7500ft), the surroundings to the west, north and east encompass an extensive area of uplift and alpine terrain indicative of significant glaciation within recent geological history. The massif also cradles at least two rapidly retreating glaciers - Hinman Glacier on the northern flank, and a smaller lobe to the east facing Mount Daniel. All of the above seems very much out of place for this part of the Central Washington Cascades and impressed upon me a newfound appreciation for the Alpine Lake Wilderness within which Mount Hinman is located.

What was to be a solo outing became anything but after unexpectedly running into friends and fellow peak baggers at upper La Bohn Lakes camp late in the afternoon the day I hiked in. Welcomed to join their party, together we made a quick evening jaunt up onto the summit of nearby La Bohn Peak. Several of us previously climbed and skied Mount Daniel together and it was fun catching up and enjoying each other’s company later at camp.

All were Hinman-bound the next day and seemed to take delight in the casual trek along the gentle yet aesthetic Southwest Ridge. Crossing over onto a saddle low on the North Ridge, our fortunes would soon take a sudden and horrific turn for the worse. We decided to avoid the glacier ice entirely and took to scrambling up along the crest of the North Ridge instead. Our party now dispersed both along the crest and just below on the East Face, we proceeded in search of the highest point of rock. Just as I was scrambling over a small tower and wondering if it wasn’t the actual summit, my focus was suddenly interrupted by shouting and the chilling sound of rockfall. Though much of what transpired those next few moments occurred behind me and on the other side of a minor rib of rock blocking my view, I’d certainly seen and heard enough to fear the worst.

When the dust settled, two of our party was found to have sustained potentially serious injuries and being unable to move obviously needed to be rescued and transported to hospital. By a stroke of luck, not only did we have cell phone coverage, but another party about 30 minutes behind had EMT experience and selflessly spent the next several hours tending to the victims. Despite thick smoke in the valleys, we convinced the King County Sheriff’s Office to dispatch a Huey to our location and by 3:30 pm both victims had been airlifted and were en route to Harborview. They’ve since been released from hospital and are expected to make a full recovery. I believe I speak for us all when I say not only did the experience heighten our awareness for hidden dangers that lurk in the mountains, but also how appreciative we are for Seattle Mountain Rescue and the King County Sheriff Air Support crew in mobilizing and coming to our aid. Thanks for all that you do!

Broken Group Kayaking, August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 16:44:00 +0000

The Broken Group is a maze of islands, islets, and rocky outcrops that dot the middle of Barkley Sound on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Ideally suited for kayaking, these sheltered islands are teeming with marine life, old-growth rain forests, lagoons, arches, blowholes, tide pools and secluded beaches. There are also relics and traces of culture left behind by the Tseshaht First Nation peoples that first settled the area, adding to a sense of discovery one experiences while paddling between islands in this unique archipelago.

Similar to the Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park near the Sunshine Coast, the Broken Group is equipped with numerous kayak-friendly camps located on Hand, Dodd, Willis, Turret, Clark, Gilbert and Gibraltar Islands. As part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, camping permits are required and all camping must be within the designated areas. Tides and currents aren’t as much of concern here as compared to the other popular kayaking areas in the San Juan Islands for example. However, one must be prepared for ocean swell particularly along the outer islands, disorienting fog, and strong afternoon winds not to mention the rough seas that typically accompany such winds.

We put in at the kayak launch near Secret Beach and spent the next 3 days and nights paddling a loop around the islands with camps at Turret, Gibraltar and finally Hand Island. With better than expected weather and relatively few kayakers for an otherwise notoriously busy Labor Day weekend, we had ourselves a thoroughly enjoyable time. Suffice it to say that the Broken Group is internationally renowned as a sea kayaking destination for good reason and definitely one to add to the bucket list!

Fisher Peak - West Ridge, September 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 03 Nov 2015 08:38:00 +0000

As seen from Easy Pass, Fisher Peak is an attractive thimble-shaped mountain that rises above the headwaters of Fisher Creek Valley. Approaching from the east, one’s gaze is initially drawn to Mount Logan and the Douglas Glacier tumbling down dramatically from the 8550 ft saddle between Logan’s summit and Thunder Peak closely to the northeast. But continue on for a short distance and behold a stunning panorama that is all things Fisher – the glistening ribbon of Fisher Creek 1000+ feet below, lush meadows in a perfectly U-shaped Fisher Valley and of course picture-perfect Fisher Peak itself.

Despite having been up and over Easy Pass on three previous occasions to climb Mount Logan, Mesahchie Peak and Greybeard Peak, I’ll never tire of the excellent scenery here. Throw in Fisher’s classic West Ridge scramble route (which I’ve only recently heard rave reviews about), solitude at beautiful Silent Lakes camp, plus great springtime skiing on the peak’s east-facing slopes, and there’s something for everyone to be experienced in this breathtaking area of the North Cascades!

Crater Mountain - South Spur, September 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 10:26:00 +0000

Per the SummitPost page of Cascades peakbagger extraordinaire Paul Klenke – “Crater Mountain is a prominent peak rising north of Hwy. 20 about 5 mi. east of Ross Lake. It has deep valley footings with over 6000' of relief from the highway. Crater is the site of two former fire lookouts - one on the main summit and another on a 7054' point east of the east summit. The name "crater" probably comes from the mountain's appearance. A massive glacial cirque, holding Crater Lake, is carved out of the south side of the mountain. The out-of-print classic, Routes and Rocks, names the main summit of Crater as one of the five best viewpoints in the North Cascades!”

An abandoned (but well-traveled) trail leads most of the way up Crater’s South Spur to the base of the final summit scramble. This route is considered a technical scramble and features arrows and other markings spray painted on the rock to show the way. It is well worth the effort for the views of the North Cascades and the climbing on exposed rocky terrain of obvious volcanic origin. It makes for an ideal late season venue with a relatively quick all-trail approach and wonderful fall colors encountered along the way.

Hadley Peak - West Face via Skyline/Chowder Ridge, October 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 15:20:00 +0000

Hadley Peak is a low-prominence volcanic satellite located less than four miles as the crow flies north of Mount Baker. The highest point rising up from the subalpine tundra and sedimentary rocks at very end of Chowder Ridge, Hadley offers an outstanding up-close-and-personal panorama of Mount Baker’s stunning north-side glaciers. In terms of its position, I would say that Hadley is to Mount Baker as Third Burroughs Mountain is to Mount Rainier. In other words, a peak somewhat set back from the mountain with a jaw dropping view of what could be considered the most dramatic and heavily glaciated faces of said mountain. Hadley is certainly all that, but as we discovered much of the appeal is also the approach via a lovely crest trail that goes along Skyline Ridge with sublime views in all directions.

The aesthetic Skyline Ridge Trail ends in a cirque of sorts, after which Chowder Ridge officially begins. A climber’s path continues steeply upwards and takes on a noticeably different character from the easy trail hiking up to this point. Some class 3 with exposure along a sharp crest to a saddle, a steep gully and then some mildly exposed traversing on the right (south) side of the crest eventually leads back up to the crest itself, which can then be followed more or less the entire way over to Hadley Peak. Following an obvious path, we hiked below and around the peaklet immediately before Hadley and wore ourselves out kicking steps up loose scree and talus on the other side. On return we found it to be much more enjoyable to scramble directly over this peak – exposed class 3 - 4, but solid. As a rule of thumb, just stay on the crest no matter how unlikely it may seem from afar.

Finally, we scrambled up one of the obvious rotten gullies on the west face of Hadley, taking great care not to dislodge any rocks onto each other (helmets advised). We topped out to enjoy the fruits of our labor with just one other soul - Doug from Vancouver - on a surprisingly warm and pleasant mid-October day. A most enjoyable approach, top notch views, great camping, fun climbing and an outstanding setting throughout – Hadley Peak via Skyline Ridge is in my opinion deserving of ‘classic’ scramble status and one to add to a Top 10 list!

October Singletrack, October 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 12:15:00 +0000

> Noble Knob-Dalles Ridge-Ranger Creek

Revisited the Noble Knob and Dalles Ridge Trails, this time descending back to Hwy 410 via Ranger Creek Trail. Made a couple short detours to tag Mutton Mountain and Noble Knob. Great views from both! The switchbacks on upper-Ranger are too tight and steep to negotiate without dismounting. Despite the stairs I still prefer the nearby Palisades Trail (downhill).

> Cutthroat Pass

A quick rip up and down Cutthroat Pass before the first snow shuts it down for the season. This is an out-n-back ride, 6 miles each way. Mellow uphill with just a few dismounts, outstanding views once above timberline and from the pass especially. Blazing fast downhill with great flow that’s unfortunately over with much too soon. About 2-hrs round-trip at a moderate uphill pace. Best combined with one of the other medium-length rides in the area to justify the long drive (i.e. Buck Mountain).

> Squamish

Barely scratched the surface in this long-time mountain biking mecca. Close proximity to N. Van enabled several rides this summer and fall. A huge network of fast and flowy trails with options for all skill levels and preferences. Half Nelson and Pseudosuga are both very popular intermediate-level rides and make for a good introduction to the area.

Brunswick & Seymour (BC), October 2016

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 3 Feb 2016 17:41:00 +0000

A couple late October hikes to the top of Brunswick Mountain and Mount Seymour. The former shares the same starting point as West Lion which I climbed back in October of 2009. From the trailhead in Lions Bay, it is an easy hike along a gravel road and rough logging track that becomes progressively more overgrown. The trail then turns steeply uphill for an unrelenting grind that ends finally at a saddle overlooking a large rock cirque below Brunswick’s precipitous north-facing crags. From here it’s only a short scramble up and to the right to reach the false summit. Somewhat exposed scrambling along a mostly horizontal ridge leads to the true summit and from where one is greeted with excellent views looking out over Howe Sound and an expanse of peaks to the north. Dom, Aga and I enjoyed more great Fall weather and views the following day on top of nearby Mount Seymour. This is arguably the best vantage point from which to behold the full panorama of greater Vancouver and was for us the perfect place to finally scatter the ashes of their dog Dyce who unfortunately passed away several years ago.

Year-End Pow, Nov/Dec 2015

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 6 Apr 2016 14:54:00 +0000

Here we go again. November through December in search of the endless white barrel ride. From the North Shore and Sea-to-Sky Corridor on up to the high peaks of the South Coast west of Pemberton, BC. Some of the best early season snow surfing we’ve had in years. Have we finally crested the last wave in this wretched set of non-winters?

Made Possible by Cortisone, Jan-Mar 2016

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 16 May 2016 12:14:00 +0000

Paying the price for a misspent youth of sprains, strains, contusions and judo airs gone horribly wrong. Cortisone to the rescue! Shots in both ankles barely a month apart, the first round to subdue inflammation triggered by nagging bone spurs. For the two weeks in the Dolomites the medicine worked wonders. Unfortunately my liberation from impairment was short-lived as I suffered a traumatic encounter with a rock on the last day and which landed me in the ER for X-rays. Miraculously back at it barely two weeks later thanks once again to the magic of modern medicine. But this time, not surprisingly, the relief was at best limited and only time and rest will heal my very sore and very bruised tibia. Fun!

January - February (mid)

February - March (early)

March (late)

Vashon Island Kayaking, April 2016

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 15:06:00 +0000

Spent an afternoon paddling around Vashon's Quartermaster Harbor because: (a.) as a longtime Seattle area resident I somehow haven't yet been to Vashon Island, and (b.) kayaking was probably the only physical activity I could tolerate thanks to the ankle injury mentioned in my previous post. We put in at the kayak rental and boat launch north of Burton Acres Park and toddled around the bay from Paradise Valley to Portage and back across to Jensen Point before calling it a day. Great view of Puget Sound looking east from the beach at Portage.

Church Mountain - Church Mountain Trail, June 2016

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 15:06:00 +0000

A mere 3,900 feet of gain and ~10 miles roundtrip, Church Mountain makes for a pleasant day in the hills. Its modest elevation (6,315ft), southern exposure and short class 3 - 4 summit ridge begets a venue ideal for spring or early summer. Scaling the exposed summit block also offers just enough excitement to satisfy a long neglected urge to scramble. For me in particular it was an opportunity to test the waters after far too many months of inactivity thanks to, among other things, a frustratingly slow to heal ankle ligament injury.

The well-traveled Church Mountain Trail leads to a false summit that was once the site of a fire lookout. The views from here are excellent and overlook a verdant valley traversed by the North Fork Nooksack River with Mounts Baker and Shuksan rising prominently to the southeast. Continuing on to the true summit, one is rewarded with outstanding 360-degree views that are difficult to leave behind.

Buckhorn Mountain - Big Quilcene Trail, November 2016

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:06:00 +0000

6988-foot Buckhorn Mountain is the highest in the Buckhorn Wilderness and ranks as the 23rd highest peak in the Olympic Range. It is named after the appearance of its twin summits, almost equal in height and which were apparently thought to look like deer horns. The route to Buckhorn's West Summit starting from Big Quilcene Trailhead isn't much more than 12 miles round trip and is under 4500 feet vertical. A good choice for those exploring the effectiveness of a third cortisone shot within the same calendar year, let alone having just recovered from surgery in the lower extremity.

Essentially a hiking peak, Buckhorn is a casual outing that culminates in a great view across the Dungeness River Valley towards peaks of the Deception Group just beyond. Other Olympic giants such as Mount Constance are also close by for your viewing pleasure. The high tundra-like summit ridge that extends from Marmot Pass over Iron Mountain towards Buckhorn is unique among the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and to me has a distinct aesthetic appeal.

Winter '16/17

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 23 May 2017 21:33:00 +0000

A Most Excellent Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:09:00 +0000

Again liberated from the shackles of corporate bondage, yours truly and his other took 2 months off and made a grand voyage south along the West Coast and across the Southwestern US just in time for monsoon season. After an exhaustive tour in which we bore witness to an endless expanse of coastline, forest, desert, sandstone and pavement, we set our sights on more rarefied climes and zig-zagged our modified VW T4, which we dubbed Ellen after the town in Central WA where we purchased her, north through the Colorado Rockies. We visited old friends living near Aspen and climbed a few 14'ers along the way (Mount Sneffels, North Maroon and Longs Peak). We eventually made our way to Jackson, again staying a few nights with friends before resuming the northward journey to the Disneyland of the north a.k.a. Yellowstone. After a couple days of sightseeing in the park and rather lengthy soak in the Boiling River, we reluctantly began the long drive back home.

All told, our journey encompassed 7k+ miles in 61 days, 22 national parks and monuments, 20 State Parks, 21 Mountain Passes, 10 breweries and untold numbers of local brews, 2 weeks of daily thunderstorms, a 110-degree heatwave followed by monsoon rains, snow and everything in between. Days and nights were consumed by immersing ourselves in the sights, sounds and smells of the Great West and included countless hikes, scrambles, kayaking, biking and yes unavoidably also lots and lots of driving. En route we celebrated an important birthday milestone and discovered the hidden happiness in the simple life of a modern nomad. Simply put, it was exactly what we needed and a most fitting start to a new beginning.

Details of this trip and others, chronicled in far too many photos (and far too few words) can be found here, or by clicking the various States links: OR, CA, AZ, UT, CO, WY and MT.

Dolomites & Stubai Valley, Dec. '17 - Jan. '18

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 08 Jun 2018 12:54:00 +0000

Scenery & descents from Sellaronda ski tour, Col Rodella, Pordoi Pass, Sass Pordoi, Porta Vescovo, Marmolada, Bec de Roces, Vallon/Piz Boe, Gardena Pass, Dantercepies, Ciampinoi, Mone Pana, Alpe di Siusi, Sella Pass, Forcella Pordoi, Val Lasties, Canazei, Lindau (DE), Innsbruck (AT) & Stubai Glacier.

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Needle Peak - West Ridge, May 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 11:08:00 +0000

Kicked-off the 2018 summer climbing season with a quick Coquihalla area scramble. The West Ridge of Needle Peak offers pleasant ridge walking, a short but exciting scramble and great scenery. Being right off Hwy 5 makes it an ideal Spring conditioning route with snow all the way to the base of the West Ridge and mostly snow-free thereafter. Contrary to the description in the Scrambles guide, I found the "crux" comes as one negotiates the headwall low on the West Ridge. It features an awkward move or two along a down-sloping ledge/groove which with a bit of good route finding can be bypassed. Either way, it is advisable to heed the warnings posted online stating that the obvious gully in this area should be avoided. As others have indicated, the trail does seem to lead to this gully and it is indeed loose and exposed. The correct route goes around to the left. Once on the ridge proper follow your nose the rest of the way to the summit. The summit block is much easier than it looks from afar. Only 3.5 - 4 hrs roundtrip thanks in part to the snow. It is a much more interesting outing than the standard route up nearby Yak Peak.

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Spring hiking, April-June 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 21:49:00 +0000

Along Vancouver's North Shore and Howe Sound lies and urban wilderness of inlets, fjords and densely vegetated mountains. Recreational opportunities are plenty here and include mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing and dare I utter the word, even hiking. Yes, hikes whereby only modest amounts of effort invested are rewarded with outstanding views.

In part to help prime the legs for more ambitious summertime outings to come, we set our sights on a selection of the low hanging fruit found in this new backyard of ours and tramped our way to some fine views indeed!

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The Black Tusk - std. via Taylor Meadows, June 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 23:49:00 +0000

Like Mount Thielsen in the Oregon Cascades, The Black Tusk is an ancient volcanic plug with a similar affinity for lightning strikes. It's all that remains of a once much larger volcano thanks to the ravages of time, erosion and apparently also sudden electrostatic discharges. Situated in Garibaldi Park - arguably Southwest BC's finest provincial park - the 'tusk is one of the most recognizable peaks along the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. Even though most parties never actually set foot on the true summit, a mere stone's throw away and only 10 feet higher, it is a deservedly popular scrambling objective and likely also the most climbed peak in the 'corridor. Reaching the top held extra significance for us, considering that Agata and I reluctantly abandoned our 2016 attempt just shy of the scramble portion of the route. No painful limping this time, just good fun and some very impressive scenery to boot!

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Tricouni Peak - South Ridge, June 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:58:00 +0000

Not to be confused with the Tricouni Peak in the North Cascades, this Tricouni is found in the South Coast Mountains near the town of Squamish, BC. Located amid an island of peaks sandwiched between the Squamish and Cheakamus rivers, Tricouni is an aesthetic mountain with equally as enjoyable scrambling route.

As far as difficulties go, the only drawback is the notoriously muddy trail encountered early on the approach. The crux, assuming one can call it that, is a small headwall separating the upper snowfield and summit ridge from the slopes below. Going right to gain a minor rib and following it to the base of the snowfield seemed a good way to overcome this obstacle. The final romp to the summit follows steepish rock on a broad ridge, whereupon one is greeted by a glorious expanse of rock and ice, and on this day also a thick blanket of low valley clouds. All in all, a day trip to Tricouni is a very worthwhile outing and a must-do for anyone keen on exploring the mountains in this neck of the woods.

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Brandywine Mountain - South Ridge, June 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 23:04:00 +0000

Overlooking the Cheakamus River Valley just southwest of Whistler, BC and directly opposite The Black Tusk lies Brandywine Mountain. It is one of the primary summits along the west side of the Callaghan Valley; an area I visited my very first time flying and riding with Whistler Heli.

The upper 4WD trailhead provides quick and dirty access to the alpine basin and meadows just below the peak. Based on the discarded beer cans and random snowmobile parts littered about the snow in said basin, it appears to be a popular venue for the sledding crowd. With numerous couloirs descending from a small glacier high on the peak and wide-open slopes below, the sled-assisted ski touring possibilities would seem to be palatable for those suitably equipped.

From the meadows, it is a relatively short and easy slog and/or scramble to Brandywine’s summit, whereupon the views are grand and dominated by a pair of nearby volcanic peaks – Mount Fee and Mount Cayley. Along with The Black Tusk, I believe these two are the next in a series of South Coast volcanos after Mount Garibaldi - all of which are part of the long chain of Pacific Northwest volcanos that extend as far south as Lassen Peak in Northern California. Something to contemplate while enjoying the long glissade back down the mountain!

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Helm Peak - South Ridge, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 19:40:00 +0000

We ended up on this after abandoning a climb of Castle Towers, which itself was substituted in place of a couple days climbing in the Chehalis Range. That’s right, we drove all the way to Chilliwack only to turn around in the pouring rain and drive back past North Vancouver from where we started and continue towards Whistler. The weather forecast seemed marginally better along the Sea-to-Sky corridor and we were determined to make something of the weekend. Alas, deteriorating weather and the appearance of a good dusting of fresh snow on the CT’s summit block caused us to reconsider our plans a second time. What to do, what to do?

Helm Peak lies conveniently near where we were camped in Helm Meadows and seemed like a reasonable alternative all things considered. Turns out that the short summit scramble is a loose and exposed affair that I’d not necessarily recommend to anyone, other than perhaps those in a similar predicament to our own. After dispatching Helm, we continued over Gentian Ridge to the saddle at the head of Helm Glacier with Gentian Peak just beyond. We had time to burn and figured why not at least reconnoiter the route to CT for next time. Along the way we apparently hiked over another named summit, Fuscian Peak, which leaves out only Victorious from the trio of 3rd century Christian martyrs whose names grace the peaks here. Curious.

We returned via the Helm Glacier and traversed beneath Cinder Cone to intersect the trail back to Helm Meadows and the Cheakamus Lake Trailhead where we were parked. Now armed with a better sense of the local topography and what the approach entails, we retrieved our trailhead beer stash and made a toast to someday soon being “victorious” on top of the prized summit of Castle Towers!

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Cypress Peak - North Ridge, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 20:48:00 +0000

Some 3.5 km north of Tricouni Peak is its slightly shorter neighbor Cypress Peak. Like Tricouni, Cypress lies within the Squamish-Cheakamus Divide, an area boasting several great scrambling routes that benefit from reasonably good access and relatively short approaches. I first visited the slopes around Cypress whilst cat & heli-boarding with Power Mountain and vowed someday to return and bag the peak itself.

The North Ridge route which Dan and I climbed is an enjoyable outing with a minimally exposed 4th-class step being the only real difficulty. The approach entailed an hour’s worth of walking along a forest road and a bit of overgrown climber’s path to reach a basin and headwall below a small glacier. Easy snow and glacier travel lead to the blocky ridge crest just before where it pitches up from horizontal. Another party climbed the East Ridge on the same day as us, which got me thinking – combining the east and north ridges would probably make for an aesthetic traverse of the peak. Much glissading on the descent made for a speedy return to the car and we found ourselves back at the Howe Sound Brewery enjoying a quaff in no time!

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Mount Strachan - Christmas Gully, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 17:54:00 +0000

With just a day to burn and lacking the ambition for a particularly early start or lengthy drive, we opted to stay local and bag a peak in our backyard, so to speak. Located within in Cypress Provincial Park, and only a short hike from the top of Sky Chair, Mount Strachan is a great year-round objective with good views overlooking Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet, Vancouver and a swath of the Coast Mountains to the north. The true summit is a short jaunt beyond the Cypress Mountain ski resort boundary, an area that has unfortunately been the scene of far too many SAR incidences over the years.

Making a clockwise loop from the resort base area, we followed the Howe Sound Crest Trail to the base of the infamous Christmas Gully, which we ascended more or less to the saddle separating the north and south summits of Strachan. After tagging the true north summit, we continued over the south summit and then descended a rough trail just to the left of a designated run (Rip Cord) passing by the remains of a Royal Canadian Navy T-33 Jet, which crashed in 1963, along the way. We eventually popped out of the trees onto a ski run and made a beeline for the Crazy Raven to enjoy some adult refreshments and reflect on what amounted to a pleasant day of North Shore tramping.

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Cayoosh Mountain - South Ridge, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:03:00 +0000

Cayoosh Mountain is a prominent peak directly opposite the highway from the ever-popular Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. It stands relatively isolated and boasts a fantastic 360-degree summit panorama overlooking the southern portion of the Duffey Lake Valley and surrounding area. While it apparently makes for a popular ski touring objective in Winter, its Summertime popularity pales in comparison to the park just to the south.

The standard South Route I followed entailed a fair amount of route finding and travel over hardened scree, dirt, and rotten snow to eventually reach a pair of slanting snow fingers, and arguably the crux of the route. After some shenanigans following the upper finger and rock rib to its right, I finally reached the mostly horizontal South Ridge...think sidewalk-in-the-sky. A small saddle separates the ridge from the blocky slabs that make up the final summit block. Once up on top, I briefly exulted in the view and choked down an energy bar before returning the way I came to relieve Dan from his nap in the basin below. I’d give this one a 3.5 - 4 out of 5 stars, with the deduction for the tedious boulder hopping and overgrown forest road on the approach and return.

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Marriott Mountain - Southeast Ridge, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:28:00 +0000

An outlier to a collection of crowded peaks ENE of Pemberton which include Cirque Peak and Cayoosh Mountain, Marriott Mountain is a sprawling massif that also bears the distinction of being the highest in the Western Cayoosh Range. Just shy of the 9000-ft mark, Marriott is characterized by a long SE Ridge that offers a most pleasant ramble on granitic rock. The recently renovated Wendy Thompson Hut, situated in the lake basin southeast of the peak makes for an ideal base from which to bag the peak, not to mention escape the swarming mosquitos.

We timed this one just right, taking full advantage of a still mostly snowbound basin well above the hut, sparing us from what would otherwise have been a lot of tedious boulder hopping. Some steep snow and hardpan had to be negotiated in order to gain ridge crest, after which a delightful stretch of sidewalk-in-the-sky ends with a descent to a large sandy saddle. I continued up from the saddle by passing a prominent gendarme to its left before regaining the blocky ridge crest for the remaining climb to the summit. If from any point along the ridge you find yourself thinking that the summit seems rather far away, rest assured that your eyes are not deceiving you. The SE Ridge does seem to go on forever!

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Recourse Peak - ESE Ridge, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:28:00 +0000

Unbelievably, 11 years have elapsed since my previous trip to the Chehalis Range. This time I was indifferent to going whole hog on the Viennese-Recourse-Clarke Traverse, as classic a route as it is reputed to be. Mount Clarke, the highest in the area (Grainger Peak to the north excepted) and typically the last of the three summits climbed on the traverse would be reward enough. Besides, the description in the Scrambles Guide speaks very favorably of Clarke’s standard Southeast Ridge route, an endorsement worth acknowledging IMO. So, with all that said one might ask why this trip report is for Recourse Peak then?

Recourse is the middle of the three summits and the second highest. Unlike Clarke and to a lesser extent Viennese, the route to Viennese-Recourse Col and start of the ESE Ridge is by far the most direct of the three. Factor in especially warm weather, a brutally steep and somewhat brushy grunt up from Lower Statlu Lake the previous day and an ugly vertical bushwhack in order to gain the upper basin and suffice it to say that certain member of this party simply had had her fill. For the third consecutive outing I was to complete the climb solo, oh and “please hurry” because there’s no shade (in the upper basin).

Recourse, as it turns out is a worthwhile climb unto itself and presents its own challenges and excitement, albeit short-lived ones. It’s position and perspective on the knife-edge WSW Ridge of Viennese is incredible. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t briefly consider running the ridge over to Clarke from Recourse’s summit and back, a kind-of half-traverse, but then there would surely be hell to pay for such indulgence! All-in-all a beautiful place and well worth a visit, but I might be another decade before I attempt a Chehalis Range hat trick!

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Weart Mountain - Southeast Ridge, July 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 17:57:00 +0000

Weart. An attractive mountain with an unpretentious name. Climbable as a somewhat long day trip, or as a casual overnighter with a camp at beautiful Wedgemount Lake, Weart is one of the classic peaks in the Whistler area. It is directly opposite majestic Wedge Mountain, which at 9488 feet is the highest in Garibaldi Provincial Park. It offers an excellent perspective on the stunning Wedgemount Glacier flanking Wedge’s North Face, not to mention its much larger cousin, Weart Glacier. The Southeast Ridge I followed makes for an aesthetic easy scramble, save for a bit of tedious boulder hopping up from the current Wedgemount Glacier terminus. The glacier has retreated dramatically in recent times and its snout now floats in a smaller lake/pond well back from its previous terminus in Wedgemount Lake.

An exposed ridge traverse from the summit over to Mount Cook, named the Armchair Traverse after the small glacier cradled in the cirque beneath the two peaks also appears to be a reasonably popular objective. A dusting of fresh snow on the upper mountain and horribly loose rock (initially at least), convinced me not to follow the fast-moving traverse-bound twosome just ahead of me. Either way, an awesome panorama of glaciated peaks to the south that include the Spearhead Range, McBride Range and even a glimpse of the very northern tip of Harrison Lake help to make Weart a memorable experience.

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Mount Gandalf & Aragorn - South Route, August 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 22:24:00 +0000

Akin to a remote group of peaks in the heart of the Buckindy Range of the North Cascades, the naming here follows an obvious Lord of the Rings theme. However, unlike my earlier exploits in which I only ever visited outliers of the range such as Mount Chaval, Snowking Mountain and Green Mountain, my feet (and hands) have touched the tippy tops of these two rock heaps. Well, almost. I chickened-out at the au cheval/arete section of Gandalf's exposed summit boulder a mere handful of feet below the summit proper. I suspect most that come this way are similarly repelled, no Orc's required. Fortunately, attaining the top of slightly higher Mount Aragorn is much less intimidating, albeit more difficult given that it's a boulder problem.

Anyway, the peaks here are predominantly composed of weathered granitic rock and have a distinctly "east-of-the-crest" feel. In fact, it reminds me a lot of the Pasayten Wilderness in the Northeastern Cascades of Washington. Except in place of long abandoned mining cabins, the VOC's lovely Brian Waddington Hut located on the west shore of Long Lake makes for a perfect base from which to explore the area. Nearby Mount Shadowfax also appears to be a popular objective, making for a neat trifecta easily doable in a day from the hut. Note that some maps have Gandalf and Shadowfax inadvertently switched. And beware the blood suckers along Phelix Creek Branch FSR, should you attempt to outrun them most of the way up to the trailhead as I did! Finally, a refreshing dip in nearby Birkenhead Lake and/or Anderson Lake is highly recommended following a sweaty, buggy couple days of rambling in the so-called Tolkien Group.

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Eastern Sierra & Colorado, August/September 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 13 May 2019 21:48:00 +0000

We escaped the Northwest smoke season by making another trip down south to the Eastern Sierra, and across to Colorado, returning via our default I-80-Jackson/Yellowstone-I-90 route. Speaking of, it eludes me when exactly it became the norm by mid-summer for smoke from forest fires to inundate the major metropolitan areas west of the Cascades and Coast Mountains. The smoke was usually confined to the mountains where the fires were burning and well east of the Pacific Ranges thanks to the prevailing Westerlies. Now instead it blows in from the north and east, blanketing much of the West Coast. It wasn't until somewhere around Reno when we finally saw blue sky again. That's about 850 miles of non-stop smoke!

Anyhoo, we experienced our first ever Westy breakdown down just shy of Willamette Pass and had to be towed back to Eugene where we burned two days at the Ninkasi Brewery waiting for parts. Highlights of a more memorable variety include a swing through Crater Lake NP, a hike around Olmstead Point in Yosemite NP, a walk amongst gnarled trees in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a relaxing couple of days waiting out thunderstorms at Great Sand Dunes NP and swing through Yellowstone NP to wrap things up. These compliment various POI’s, photo ops and snaps of life on the road. And now for the pièce de résistance (this was a peak-bagging trip after all): We climbed Mount Conness, Mount Lamarck, Wheeler Peak, Uncompahgre Peak, Blanca-Ellinwood Point Traverse, Mount Elbert, North Maroon Peak,

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Dreadnought Mountain - South Ridge, October 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 25 May 2019 21:48:00 +0000

Dreadnought Peak is the highest summit among a small group of peaks surrounding lovely Watersprite Lake. Previously little known to the general hiking public, the area has experienced a popularity explosion in recent years. This trend has been attributed to construction of the BCMC's new Watersprite Lake Cabin completed in 2016, trail improvements and the advent of social media. For me, it seemed like an ideal late season venue, one with a reasonably short approach and without an overly lengthy drive to get to. Trailhead parking here would seem more than adequate for most such trailheads tucked away at the end of a rather longish forest road, but not here, at least on this October weekend. Upon reaching the cabin later that afternoon, I was barred from entry by a territorial gang of Millennials three quarters of a way through a 5th of whiskey. Just wanted to check out the damn accommodations is all, but I accepted their bribe and had me a swig before making my way around the south shore to the tent platforms on the opposite side of the lake. Fortunately, there were still a couple available. The sun went down, I crawled into my sleeping bag with broken zipper and shivered through the chilly Autumn night.

Popular as the cabin and lake shore are, one can take comfort in the fact that nobody seems to go much further. Up from the lake to the obvious saddle just below Dreadnought's South Ridge, where a navigation blunder had me nearing the summit of Watersprite Tower before I realized my mistake. Back down to the saddle, then up a horribly loose gully on Dreadnought's West Face to near where the west and south ridges meet. The remaining bit along the South Ridge to the summit is a pleasant romp with outstanding views in all directions. This is about as close as I have ever been to the elusive Mamquam Mountain, so tantalizingly near at hand and yet such a pain to get to. One day!

I returned to the lake where, as expected an Instagram gong show was once again in full swing. I quickly packed up the tent and got a jump on the herd before they began their return en masse. All in all, a worthy outing with opportunities for further exploration running the ridges from Dreadnought to Watersprite Tower to Martin Peak, BUT don't come here expecting a wilderness experience!

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Tenquille & Goat Peak - East Ridge, October 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 30 May 2019 22:27:00 +0000

Capitalizing on the great Indian Summer we had last year, I escaped town for what I expected would be my last hurrah of the season. With the recently renovated Tenquille Lake Hut serving as a relatively cozy basecamp, I set my sights on Tenquille Mountain and Goat Peak. Both are located just east of the Hurley River FSR near Railroad Pass. I was already somewhat familiar with the area having spent an unforgettable day heli-skiing a variety of north facing slopes on either side of Tenquille Lake. I fondly recall shredding down the glacier between Tenquille and Goat for our first lap and dropping from a shoulder on Goat down towards the Hurley for a screamer of run to wrap up the day. There would be no shredding this time, although a healthy dusting of fresh now already graced the large summit plateau of Tenquille and taller Goat Peak.

Described here is a loop trip, ascending Tenquille via its South Slope and East Ridge directly up from the hut, then traversing over to Goat via the saddle between the two. I returned to the hut by taking the obvious and horribly loose gully that descends to the lake basin from the saddle. While either of these peaks don’t look particularly exciting when viewed from the south, the views from up top are superb! I had heard that grizzlies frequent the area and am pretty sure I saw their tracks in the snow around the saddle. Unlike the grizzlies however, my post holing through the unconsolidated snow on my way up Goat was tedious to say the least and made for some excitement gaining the exposed summit block. The view from the summit certainly takes the cake, revealing many familiar peaks and far more unfamiliar peaks. One really gets a sense of how large the Lillooet River Valley is from here, from its beginnings on the southern edge of the Lillooet Icefield towards the town of Pemberton and beyond. And then there’s Mount Sampson, taunting me from across the Hurley and knowing full well that someday I will be my turn to experience its brushy delights. In summary, the views here are well worth the effort, but be prepared to grow your climbing list as well!

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Mount Harvey - Southwest Ridge, November 2018

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 20:19:00 +0000

Located roughly between Brunswick Mountain and The Lions, Mount Harvey is a prominent peak along the east shore of Howe Sound and seemingly directly overhead of the Village of Lions Bay. Having worked on a project in said village for the better part of a year, I’d grown accustomed to seeing these peaks driving to and from the jobsite. While I’ve been up Brunswick, West Lion, Tunnel Bluffs, Saint Marks and Strachan before, Harvey remained an enigma to me and inevitably wound up on my list. It made for an ideal mid November day trip, with barely a dusting of snow gracing the north aspects of the tallest North Shore peaks. Winter was certainly off to a late start this past year but sneaking in yet another peak before the weather turned in earnest was too good to pass up. The views from the summit weren’t too shabby either!

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Winter '18/19

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 17:30:00 +0000

Rather late to start, ended much too soon, with several extended droughts in between and tragically all through March. Saw every 2019 supermoon, which would ordinarily be no small feat considering their unusual abundance this year, and well, the fact that they occurred during the winter months. You know, clouds, rain, snow…or the lack thereof. The local ski season aside, I did finally manage to tour around Teton Pass, ride “The Village” and explore Jackson Hole Valley in winter for the first time this year. Damn beautiful country out there, especially from 30,000 feet, but pity that mother nature wasn’t forthcoming with any fresh during our visit there either. What will be will be.

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Whirlwind & Fissile - North Slope/South Ridge, May 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 22:26:00 +0000

Rang in the season with a trip to Whirlwind and Fissile on the final weekend of lift operations courtesy of my Whistler Epic Pass. It should come as no mystery that as a lift-assisted ski tour, the trek over the Musical Bumps, even at this rather late stage of the snow season is about the quickest way to reach Russet Lake and beyond. The last time I ventured over the 'bumps was back in April of 2004 on the final day of the Spearhead Traverse trip I did with the 'ol crew, Eric, Jerry and Bo. Unbelievably I've not made it back past Flute up until now despite having frequented the resort every year since.

Anyway, the real motivation for this trip was to bag Overlord Mountain via the connecting ridge from Whirlwind. Essentially doing the Summer route rather than the way I came previously across the mighty Overlord Glacier itself. Alas, booting through bottomless isothermal mush high on Whirlwind and said ridge made for slow, exhausting travel and jeopardized my catching the last gondola ride down at 5 pm that day. I had no desire to walk down dirt from the bottom of Emerald and return home hours later than promised...been there, done that! So, I called it and set my sights on something a bit closer to home - Fissile's South Ridge. Despite occasionally punching through past my knees, I found the South Ridge as a snow climb to be a surprisingly aesthetic route featuring a couple short but exposed traverses passing cornices on the windward side of the ridge. Unlike the previous day, there was some smoke in the air which I feared was the beginning of yet another active Northwest fire season. The fires thankfully never materialized, in these parts at least; the smoke was supposedly from the large ones burning in Alaska at the time. While I was up on the summit a helicopter dropped in on the new Kees and Claire hut being constructed on a bench above the southwest end of Russet Lake. If you ask me, the word "hut" is a bit of a misrepresentation. Hotel might be a more accurate description! This is apparently the first of several huts to be built along the Spearhead Traverse route in the coming years. Except for the 2-person party with whom I shared accommodations in the old Himmelsbach Hut the night before, and the contractors working at the new K&C hut, there wasn't anyone else around.

Returning from Fissile, I booted back down the steepish, breakable crust slope at the Overlord's western terminus and retrieved my split for a glorious but all-too-short ride back to the hut. It was an absolute scorcher of an afternoon and I seriously thought I was going to collapse from heatstroke on the interminable skin back up from Singing Pass and again from the Oboe-Flute Saddle! Eventually made it back to the runs where an epic shitshow of well lubricated and half-naked skiers and riders alike was in full swing. It was quite comical to watch, topless ladies, bloodied knees and all. Grabbed a beer at The Roundhouse right at last call and jumped in the gondi with maybe 15 minutes to spare on the last day of normal operations for the '18-'19 season. Prost!

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Coquihalla Mountain - East - West Ridge Traverse, June 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 17:13:00 +0000

Not 5 miles as the crow flies from Coquihalla Pass lies its namesake peak, Coquihalla Mountain. Unlike the granitic domes and peaks in the immediate vicinity of the pass however, Coquihalla Mountain is an extinct stratovolcano and therefore features rock quality of a somewhat dubious nature. Serious rock routes probably aren't as much of a draw here as are the scrambling routes on both Coquihalla and neighboring Jim Kelly. I first stumbled upon these peaks in an older ClubTread thread discussing potential candidates for inclusion in a hypothetical second edition of the Scrambles in Southwest British Columbia guidebook by Matt Gunn. While a doubt this second edition will ever see the light of day, the CT thread did pique my curiosity about a handful of peaks at least that I'd otherwise not have previously considered. Coquihalla's east-to-west ridge traverse especially seemed like an area classic that's not to be missed.

Like my Needle Peak climb in May the previous year, I timed this trip for the Spring when I expected conditions to be prime. While I may have just gotten lucky both times, this part of the far-North Cascades seems to come into condition relatively quickly, with some unavoidable snow travel on the hike in but snow-free on the forest roads and climbing routes alike. Snow in the basins surrounding the peak certainly helped expedite the return, allowing me to plunge-step and glissade steep snow slopes on the north side then working back right to where I first gained the ridge. The traverse itself is an enjoyably casual, sidewalk-in-the-sky affair climbing into and back out of several notches between three distinct summits. Exposure never felt more than moderate at most. Just before the final notch, the only way forward seemed to be by leaving the ridge to the left (south) via a tight chimney and descending until able to traverse to the final notch below the true summit. Similarly, gaining the ridge when it begins to steepen below the first "East Summit" seems to be easiest by angling up and left to a notch, then continuing out of the notch by working up along the left side of the ridge until reaching the crest proper. Straight sailing from there to the aforementioned chimney. All-in-all a worthy outing, the crux of which may be trying to buff-out the scratched paint incurred on the drive to the trailhead!

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Goat Mountain - Goat Ridge Trail, June 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 22:24:00 +0000

Sharing the same approach as its taller and craggier neighbor Crown Mountain, Goat Mountain offers a unique perspective on the North Shore peaks as well as the urbanized expanse of the lower mainland some 4000 feet below. There's also a good overview of the Haines Valley with the Cathedral and Burwell area peaks just beyond – a place I wanted to visit sometime that summer. It all amounts to a quick and dirty getaway with great views and the option for a bit of hands-on climbing up a short gully. A good choice for those without a full day to burn or when cloudy weather persists further north in the mountains.

Hiking up from the bottom of the Grouse tram via the BCMC Trail this time, we had a good ~3,700 feet of vert ahead of us. Continuous wet snow somewhere beyond Dam Mountain slowed our travel a bit and guaranteed soaked feet by the end of the day. While there's and easier way around to the right, the wet chimney scramble added a bit of excitement to the hike, especially for Agata who recently underwent carpal tunnel surgery and endured some painful moments pulling through the moves. Resident grizzlies Grinder and Coola were out wandering about their pen once again upon our return, and the cold beer at the Chalet was by now a long-held tradition that shall never be broken!

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Blackcomb Peak - Northwest Ridge, June 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 21:09:00 +0000

The higher of the two mountains that make up the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort, Blackcomb Peak requires no further introduction. In terms of climbing, it features a variety of routes ranging from technical rock and scrambles to walk-ups. Starting from the top of the 7th Heaven Chair, we climbed the Northwest Ridge as featured in SSWBC and descended the Southeast Face, returning to the Rendezvous Lodge via the Overlord Trail. As far as approaches go, this is about as civilized as it gets with a mere 650 feet vertical gain to reach the summit. Note that the 7th Heaven Chair stops running sometime in June and that it is technically prohibited to climb up past the top of the lift prior to that time, and so long as the private ski/board camps are underway on the Horstman Glacier. We were lucky and managed to convince patrol to allow us to proceed, provided that we walked along the south-side a bit before turning up to gain the ridge.

The ridge itself made for an enjoyable romp with unique views of the terrain park action on the glacier far below. The "crux" of the route comes towards the end and features an exposed ledge traverse followed by a boulder problem up a short chimney. We experienced some stressful moments when it was Agata's turn up the chimney. It amounts to no more than a big right-handed side pull, but is clearly no place to be if one is only about 4 weeks post carpal tunnel surgery. She backed-off the move and took a moment for the blinding pain to subside. We regrouped below the chimney and took an alternate route via a loose gully down and left to reach a large talus slope below a saddle. A short scramble from the saddle lead easily to the summit where great views in all directions were had. We shared the summit with just one other party who had come up via the Blackcomb Buttress route...might have to come back and give that one a whirl someday. All-in-all, a fun and relaxed day in the mountains (hand drama excepted) with options for extra credit link-ups such as The Spearhead and/or Decker Mountain!

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Birkenhead Peak - Microwave Ridge, June 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:41:00 +0000

Flanked by deep valleys on all sides, Birkenhead Peak is very much an island in the sky. Coincidentally, or perhaps appropriately, the peak features a clean prominence over 5500 feet which makes it one of few "ultra prominence" peaks in Southwestern BC. It shares this elite status with a small list of familiar (to me) peaks that include Skihist Mountain, Wedge Mountain, Golden Hinde, Silvertip Mountain, Overseer Mountain and Mount Judge Howay to name a few. Birkenhead is also unique in the fact that the trailhead sits at a relatively lofty ~6500 ft. One of the highest forest roads in these parts, it is unfortunately deeply cross-ditched and requires a good amount of clearance to navigate. For those with the means to drive this road to the microwave towers at its end, the reward is an ascent of just ~1660 feet and a distance less than 1.5 miles (as the crow flies) to reach the summit. And while it does make for a relatively short daytrip, my round-trip time of about 6.5 - 7 hrs suggest that there's more to this outing than what one might expect.

In short, the stats belie not only the indirect route taken to approach the peak, but also the gain/loss over the summit of so-called "Microwave Ridge", return included. Microwave Ridge also happens to be cursed with an abundance of loose talus and choss and makes for slow and unpleasant travel (i.e. forget trying to shortcut it by side hilling across). Lastly, the initial part of the approach entails traversing loose gravel and friable rock across steep debris chutes via a somewhat exposed goat trail. Didn't find this particularly scary per se, but one certainly needs to be on their toes here. Anyway, an approaching weather system robbed me of what I'm sure are excellent summit views and what felt like ~60+ MPH wind gusts on my return added some excitement to what amounted to a surprisingly full(ish) daytrip.

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Tszil & Slalok - West Ridge, July 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:23:00 +0000

Overflowing parking lots, overcrowding on the trail, litter and toilet paper scattered about along the 3-mile hike to the upper of the three Joffre Lakes, all this and more have become par for the course in the uber-popular Provincial Park that goes by the same name. Up until recently I've only witnessed this mayhem from a distance, driving by an endless string of cars parked illegally in the vicinity of the trailhead. Nowhere else can one enjoy "wilderness experiences" such as queueing up for photos standing on the infamous Instagram Log or lines 30-40 people long simply to use the trailhead pit toilets. Who can hold it that long anyway!

Don't get me wrong, the park is undeniably idyllic and a must-see when visiting the area – a point not lost on the tour promoters and throngs of tourists that flock to this overrun gem of the South Coast Mountains. What's not to love, with views of towering peaks, dramatic hanging glaciers and picturesque turquoise lakes seemingly tailor made for the average pedestrian to enjoy. Having been drawn to these peaks myself, whereupon I climbed both Mount Matier and Joffre Peak, only Slalok Mountain remained for me to complete the Joffre Group triumvirate. Whereas the previous two were approached via the far less popular and sadly now defunct Cerise Creek Trail (a significant landslide in Spring 2019 took out a good portion of the trail), Slalok Mountain is normally approached via, you guessed it, the Joffre Lakes Trail. Alas, the time had finally come to partake of the Joffre Lakes gong show!

Slalok's West Ridge scramble route is an aesthetic line that's preceded by a pleasantly solitary approach once beyond the upper lake, and entails a bonus summit going up and over smaller Tszil Mountain via Taylor-Tszil Col. There's fun scrambling up through a smaller cliff band shortly after the Tszil-Slalok Col then over some easier terrain to reach a steep rock face barring access to Slalok's summit ridge. The SSWBC guide is uncharacteristically vague in describing where to go next from here. Straight up the middle of the face where ledges give way to blocky but steep, down sloping, lichen encrusted rock seemed the most obvious. The dusting of fresh snow visible on the high peaks in the days prior had thankfully melted off, but the lichen was still a bit slick where it mattered the most – the crux. Truth be told, I was more concerned with reversing the moves than I was with pushing the line up. Not to be rebuffed, I tried traversing ledges going right, but with 1000+ feet of mostly vertical rock on the peak's south side this was obviously a no-go. Tackling the ridge head-on seemed to entail a good 15 feet of 5.Hard climbing right off the deck. Also, a no-go. I tried far left, up a steep, exposed dihedral of sorts and got to within a few feet of the ridge crest before a large block I was climbing on threatened to free itself from the mountain and take me down with it to the Tszil Glacier far below. I carefully backed down and called it. A rope, if for no other purpose than to rappel this pitch would have been welcome. To each their own.

I regrouped with Agata who was waiting patiently for me on Tszil and rested for a bit before starting the descent. We encountered the only other party we would see that day at the Taylor-Tszil Col and wonder if they made it up Slalok as they had intended. Only two other souls just off the beaten track and yet the lake shore is a zoo of people. Funny creatures we humans are. Then finally back down the trail with the rest of the herd we go and promptly to the Pemberton Brewing Company for an unremarkable pint of beer before the long drive back home. And despite all this I haven't quite given up on Slalok yet. Rex's Pillar next Spring anyone?

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Cassiope & Saxifrage - W & SE Ridge, July 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:38:00 +0000

Located at the southern end of the Birkenhead-Cayoosh Divide, Cassiope Peak and Saxifrage Mountain are a couple attractive peaks endowed with excellent scramble routes. This is an area with a high concentration of popular climbs including Cirque Peak, Cayoosh Mountain and Mount Marriott just to name a few. Clearly visible from Highway 99 just downstream of the Joffre Lakes parking area, Cassiope and Saxifrage both make for an enjoyable day trip starting from the Birkenhead River Valley and Spetch Creek FSR. The approach takes one through a delightful moss carpeted forest followed by several less than delightful boggy and mosquito infested meadows, then along the shore of lovely Valentine Lake to eventually reach a large col between the two peaks.

Notices posted on trees along the trail and at the lake urge visitors to be on the lookout for anything that may offer up clues as to the whereabouts of a couple that presumably went missing somewhere in the area back in 2010. Despite extensive SAR efforts to solve the mystery of their disappearance in the years since, including prominent local mountain guides and the like, nothing has ever turned up. No tent, no packs, no clothing...nothing other than their vehicle parked at the trailhead. More info on this here.

After a short rest to wring out our socks and swat mosquitos at the lake, Agata and I made our way up through talus and the occasional snow patch to the aforementioned col. I made a quick dash for Cassiope while Agata stayed behind to massage her aching feet. The route up Cassiope is obvious, going right initially up a heather and rock ramp to gain the ridge. Easy scrambling then leads to a false summit with an unusual down-sloping slab feature on the opposite side. Unsure of how well my boots would grip the rock, I skirted the slab by following ledges at right. The summit is a short scramble up from the base of the slab. I had no trouble smearing and hand-over-handing along the edge on my return. Soft snow on the east side of the ridge enabled me to shortcut the return by plunge stepping and glissading back to the col. As for Saxifrage, the gist is to follow the broad talus crest to the point where it steepens, and the climbing becomes more difficult. Traversing ledges, ramps and gullies to the left until able to easily climb up again overcomes these difficulties. Repeat as necessary till you run out of mountain. An abundance of cairns helps guide the way. Views from up top are fantastic and offer a unique perspective on the Cayoosh Valley and Joffre Group in particular.

More trench foot action on the descent back to the truck, but by that point we couldn't be bothered to try and tiptoe around all the waterlogged and muddy sections of trail. We clocked-in at about 11.5 hours round-trip, which given our mid-morning(ish) start meant that we made full use of the long July daylight hours. Spicy Baken-Ets (why-oh-why aren't these available in BC?) and chilled beer on the bouncy ride back down to the paved road rounded out another excellent day in the South Coast Mountains!

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Dickson Peak - South Ridge, July 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:44:00 +0000

With the resumption of logging operations off the old Roxey Creek mining road, there was no time like the present to stage a smash-n-grab operation for Dickson Peak! Active logging brings roads that have been cleared, graded and generally improved for vehicular travel, in this case the high-clearance kind of travel. I've had my eye on Dickson for some time now and this was just the nudge I needed to once again make the long drive up and over Railroad Pass and down the Hurley FSR to the "town" of Goldbridge. Already familiar with this auto route thanks to previous climbs of Mount Vayu and Mount Sloan, Dickson itself represented a couple firsts for me, namely my first summit in the South Chilcotin Mountain Range. This is the farthest north I have ventured in the Coast Mountains of BC, which honestly isn't saying much considering the incredible vastness of the mountain ranges between here and Southeast Alaska.

But I digress. Leaving North Vancouver on a Friday afternoon, I drove to Goldbridge (or thereabouts), car camped and then completed the remaining drive and climb the following day. Active logging meant weekdays were a no-go, which to my dismay also meant that all the public camping spots at the tiny Gun Lake South Recreation Site were occupied by the time I showed up that evening. No worries though, as there are numerous (free) spots along the Slim Creek FSR to pull out and call it a night. The final few miles up Roxey Creek road was indeed in good shape, albeit steep and with good sized water bars. While others report to have driven up here in compact SUVs, I was happy to be behind the wheel of a proper 4x4. YMMV.

As far as the climbing route goes, Dickson isn't much more than a long and interminable plod up a seemingly endless talus slope. But all that comes after turning the corner at the head of the small but scenic Roxey Creek Valley. To get here entails about 30 minutes of hiking on an old road bookended by a couple cold creek fords. After the second ford, forget the confusing description in SSWBC and instead just pick up the path that starts from the back of the old cabin. You'll know you're on route when passing a small pit littered with discarded plastic bottles and other floating garbage. Following occasional flagging, the path soon exits the trees after which a swampy meadow and yet another creek crossing stands between you and what appears to be an old terminal moraine just beyond. Follow the path of least resistance up and over the moraine to eventually reach an unusual sand basin with towering peaks on all sides. Turning right, I continued up aiming for a gap with a waterfall which I passed on the left before finally gaining the upper basin. The remaining route to Dickson is obvious from here and as I stated previously entails a whole lot of boulder hopping.

But wait, there's a silver lining to all that talus tedium! As expected, the view from up top is nothing short of outstanding. I'll spare you the florid language this once and let the photos speak for themselves. The summit register contains entries from the late 50's which is remarkable when you stop to think about it. One entry by a Kent Heathershaw from Bremerton, WA got my attention for some reason. I inquired with my long-time climbing buddies stateside and it turns out 'ol Kent is still alive and well back in the Evergreen State! The 1972 Mountaineer Annual mentions him in a "Cascade Pass to Rainy Pass" traverse circa 1970. An impressive feat, particularly for that time considering that the North Cascades Highway hadn't officially opened yet. An interesting and unexpected bit of history for such an out of the way place, I think. Cheers to you Mr. Heathershaw and may climbers 60 years from now gaze out upon a vast sea of peaks and glaciers as we did and delight in the majesty of these mountains!

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Mount Callaghan - West Route, July 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 16:40:00 +0000

Tucked away at the back of Callaghan Valley, Callaghan Mountain is a glaciated massif from which incredible views of the Pemberton Icefield and the glaciated peaks of the Ashlu-Elaho divide are to be had. I'd always been a bit curious about what was up there having driven past the turn off from the Sea-to-Sky Highway countless times over the years. I did check out the newly constructed Whistler Olympic Park facilities located a short distance up the valley sometime before the 2010 Olympics, but that didn't do much to satisfy my curiosity. And yes, I suppose it also bears mentioning that my very first time with Whistler Heli we boarded slopes on the south side of the valley in a zone called Cal-Pow. But alas, I had no idea what I was looking at at the time.

My first attempt at the peak this year was thwarted by weather and amounted to little more than a soggy night in the campervan at Callaghan Lake. I returned some weeks later and made my way up the trail, past Journeyman Lodge and Ring Lake to the high pass between Ring Mountain and the Callaghan massif. As expected, the views from this spot offered up one of the finest vantages from which to behold the Pemberton Icefields I've seen to date. I'd gone a bit out of my way to reach this pass and decided that it now made more sense for me to scramble up the peak just to the northeast in hopes that I could follow the connecting ridge towards Mount Callaghan. Fortunately, this proved to be a viable route with a short snow gully down the north side offering a timely exit just as the ridge began to cliff out. Skirting the cliffy difficulties now to my right, I soon reached a prominent saddle. From there, I swung left onto the glacier to avoid some steeper rock on the crest and made my way up to the summit, bagging a neat looking spire along the way. Ah yes, the views! But then a quick study of a topographical map of the area prior to coming here would suggest as much.

I returned to the saddle on my way back, then bashed down the large south-facing talus basin to intercept my up-route from Ring Lake. While somewhat longer than descending from summit to the lake directly, this route avoids much of the steep heather and grass side-hilling horror stories I'd read about while researching the route. Back at Ring Lake, I followed an intermittent trail now on the north shore, wishing I'd done so on my way in. From there it was just a matter of blindly following the trail back the way I came, eventually reaching the car about 10 hours after having left it that morning. Bit of a long haul getting in there with some tricky route finding, occasionally tedious travel over loose rock and of course the unrelenting mosquitos, but worthwhile nonetheless.

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Overlord Mountain - West Route, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 12:50:00 +0000

I've had my eye on Overlord Mountain for some time now, and for good reason I might add. I don't consider myself a seasoned veteran of climbing in the South Coast by any means but based on the trips I do have under my belt; Overlord is a classic! I had the intention on bagging the peak back in May this year but was thwarted by poor snow conditions (climbed Fissile instead). Turns out it was a blessing in disguise. For what it's worth, I'd suggest leaving Overlord for later in the summer. With the seasonal snow gone, the colors and contrast of mid summer really do this corner of Garibaldi Provincial Park justice. Combine that with a gondola-assisted start, then a pleasant hike along Whistler's summer trails and past the resort boundary over the infamous Musical Bumps to lovely Russet Lake for the full meal deal. The approach over the ‘bumps is truly unique in that it comprises an ~8-mile “ridge” of subalpine meadows linking a world-class ski resort to the edge of a vast wilderness. Known as the Fitzsimmons Range, this “ridge” essentially culminates with Overlord Mountain itself. As the highest summit within the headwaters of Fitzsimmons Creek, Overlord offers a commanding perspective on the Spearhead Range to the north, the McBride Range to the south and a seemingly infinite ocean of peaks and glaciers that lie beyond.

The summer route to Overlord entails climbing up and over Whirlwind Peak (or close to it), then scrambling along the connecting ridge by going over Refuse Pinnacle along the way. There isn't much hands-on climbing on route, but the position and setting is about as good as it gets! Obviously, the views from up top are simply outstanding. Since I happened to be in the neighborhood, I went and tagged Mount Benvolio, just a short skip across the Overlord Massif plateau. From Benvolio, I enjoyed unobstructed views of Cheakamus Mountain and countless glacier-clad peaks behind it, not to mention the mighty Diavolo Glacier right below my feet and of which I have fond memories from when I did the Spearhead Traverse.

Returning from the summit, we made it back to camp without incident, packed up and invited ourselves to a comprehensive tour of the new Kees & Claire Hut nearing completion on a bench above the lake opposite where the old hut is located. I've commented on this before but suffice to say that the K&C hut makes for some damn fine backcountry accommodations! Ok, it's not exactly a rifigio in the Dolomites, but then this ain't the Alps either. For something different, we decided to return via the Singing Pass Trail rather than going back up and over the ‘bumps. Not sure it was any faster than taking the high route back to Roundhouse Lodge, but then again, we didn't have a gondola waiting to take us down to the village. Preparations for Crankworx were underway once we finally made it back to civilization, and so we decided to stick around and watch some MTB action while enjoying a well-deserved meal from the patio at the GLC. That's right, food service with entertainment practically at the trailhead. I'll take that over driving down a bumpy forest road and spilling my beer and spicy pork rinds all over myself any day!

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Overlord Mountain - West Route, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 29 Jan 2020 18:47:00 +0000

We intended on climbing Beaujolais and Mystery (aka Sockeye Horn), going so far as to drive up the forest road as far as we dared and completing the remaining miles to the trailhead, assuming one can call it that, on foot. Alas we could have spared ourselves the hassle, the needless "Canadian pinstriping" and sweaty FSR walk with overnight packs. And no, the grizzly paw imprints in the mud wasn't why we turned back either. Don't ask. Long story short, we eventually found ourselves at the Semaphore Lakes Trailhead with plans to climb Locomotive Mountain instead. Although easily doable in a day, the long drive from Vancouver and subsequent shenanigans had consumed most of the daylight hours. We resigned ourselves to making the short hike to the lakes and camping there that night, then climb the peak the following day returning home a day earlier than scheduled. All of which worked out just right considering the unexpected change in weather headed our way.

I've visited the Semaphore Lakes area previously, having climbed taller Face Mountain back in July 2010. Locomotive shares the same approach and is a shorter climb overall with better views. From the large moraine basin beneath the two peaks, we aimed for a talus saddle just left of the reddish cliffs directly beneath the objective. Continuing over the saddle, we followed the outlet stream upwards to reach a large, plain-like area which we crossed aiming for Locomotive's South Ridge directly ahead. Contouring around a small glacial lake not visible from below, we made the final push to the ridge crest. Traversing steep talus and hardpan made for tedious travel here. We took to the remaining snow on return and had a much easier time of it. Once on the broad South Ridge, we turned right and followed the path of least resistance to the rounded summit.

The unobstructed views of the Pemberton Valley did not disappoint and is probably the main reason for climbing Locomotive. I also enjoyed the different perspective on Train Glacier cradled in the cirque between Locomotive and Face. The blue skies we awoke to that morning had given way to clouds, which were building around us and starting to cling to the higher peaks. Rain certainly wasn't in the forecast before we left the house, but it sure seemed like it was coming. A flock of birds repeatedly circled us on the summit, reminding me of a similar experience I encountered on top of Mount Baring. Then, like today clouds had been building and rain was on the way. We decided not to push our luck and returned to camp after about 15 minutes up top, packed-up and hightailed it back to the truck. Got to within a couple miles of Pemberton before the first drops of rain hit the windshield. Phew...no rained-out weekend for Team Verdina. Been there done that!

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Mount Burwell - via Seymour Valley, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:30:00 +0000

Mount Burwell is the tallest of the North Shore peaks described in SSWBC, not including those in the Howe Sound corridor, and amounts to low-hanging-fruit for many Vancouver-based peak baggers. Located on the divide between Lynn Creek to the west and Seymour River to the East, Burwell is easily visible from various spots in Vancouver's Lower Eastside, the Burnaby area or when driving across the Ironworkers Bridge. Closer in, nearby Mount Seymour, Crown Mountain and Goat Peak offer differing perspectives on the peak. Similar to Seymour, the area is characterised by extensive exposed granitic bedrock that extends between Burwell and it's sub summit Coliseum. For me this was one of the main attractions for visiting the peak.

I've previously hiked up to Paton's Lookout (aka Seymour Valley Lookout), utilizing the same approach via the Seymour Valley Trailway. As far as I'm concerned, ~5.5 miles by bike (one-way) on a paved trail certainly beats the alternate and longer Hanes Valley hiking approach. It's also hard to beat the 5 minute drive from my house! Were I to do it again, I'd forego the car and just bike to the trailhead. From the summit, there are good views overlooking the Lower Mainland to the south and the NS peaks in Burwell's immediate vicinity, not to mention the usual suspects farther out in the North Cascades and South Coast. The outing makes for a surprisingly full 8-hour day, considering it's just a "backyard" hike!

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Gott & Gotcha - via Blowdown Pass, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Oh joy, another weekend of marginal weather in August. Agata at least had the good sense to schedule her annual trip visiting friends in Wenatchee, WA for this time, rain shadow and all. Hoping to discover a rain shadow of my own here in the South Coast, I gambled with the forecast and set my sights on a couple mildly interesting objectives off the Duffey Lake Road. Specifically, I was curious what all the fuss about Blowdown Pass was, having read reports of folks driving 4x4s up there, doing short afternoon scrambles on nearby peaks and generally enjoying the mountains without too much of an agenda. Similar to Harts Pass Road near Mazama in the WA Cascades, Blowdown is one of the highest driveable passes in these parts and offers quick and dirty access to a collection of peaks of which Gott and its slightly lower neighbor Gotcha are probably the most visited. Both are really just hikes starting from either side of the pass, but the area was new to me and seemed like a reasonable objective considering the weather. In other words, I wasn't going to be too upset if all I saw up top was the inside of a milk bowl.

In the interest of preserving the paint on the freshly detailed truck, I parked on the side of Blowdown Creek FSR directly opposite the spur road leading to Blowdown Pass and biked up. I stashed the bike in some trees at the pass, and waited around hoping the low clouds would lift. The stunted trees didn't offer much respite from the cold west wind and so I didn't linger for long before heading up into the murk, starting with Gott first. A climber's path leads up the grass slope from the pass and more or less goes over a false summit before continuing along the now more defined ridge to Gott proper. Visibility was practically nil when I got there but gradually improved over the course of the day, especially after I departed from the summit. Figures! Interestingly, Gott is really just a sub summit of Moomin Peak a good ~2 miles and countless ups and downs further along the ridge. Whatever, not on the agenda for this day.

The clouds had lifted by the time I returned to the false summit, revealing a range of distant and mostly unfamiliar peaks and glaciers in the remote Stein Valley area. Southwest BC's tallest mountain, Skihist Mountain, is located here and it was an unexpected surprise to finally lay eyes on it. It is reportedly a royal pain to get to and sees very few ascents, if any, on a given year. The peaks here boast SW BC's eastern-most glaciers, which given their size is remarkable considering the source of all that snow and ice, the Pacific, is some 250 miles to the west! Back at the pass, I walked down the road a short distance before starting up Gotcha. Upon reaching a saddle at left, I turned up and followed a wide talus crest up through a bit of a headwall to reach lower angled terrain of Gotcha's broad summit area. More good views towards Stein Valley and beyond, across towards Gott Peak and down Blowdown Creek Valley from where I started earlier that day. Apart from the jeep that drove up to the pass while I was ascending Gotcha, it was just me up to this point. But that was soon to change considering the countless parties plodding up the road with overnight gear as I was riding back down. The "freedom camping" spot off of the highway where I had spent the previous rainy night was unfortunately already occupied by the time I got there, but this ended up being a good thing. I located a better site adjacent to the river and bathed in the afternoon sun; a perfect spot to dry out the tent. It was also close to the Downton Creek FSR turnoff, which I'd be using for the following day's misadventures in the clouds, rain and snow!

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Statimcets Peak - Southeast Face, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Downton Creek Peak, Peak 8700, Statimcets Peak, whatever one chooses to call it, is a rounded summit of shattered shale in the northern Duffey Lake Road region. Enclosed within the concavity of an arc of lakes and rivers near the eastern edge of the South Coast Mountains, the area here is characterised by craggy ridges and large cirques dotted with a profusion of scenic alpine lakes and tarns. Glaciers aren't nearly as prevalent here as are the high plateaus and tundra one commonly finds in some parts of the Rocky Mountain ranges of the US. If you take delight in this type of environment, you'll certainly enjoy climbs in the Front Range, San Juans or the Beartooth Range for that matter.

This trip was part 2 of a two-part weekend of "peak bagging" under less than ideal weather conditions. Having climbed both Gott Peak and Gotcha Peak the day before, the idea was to visit another reasonably popular objective further along off the highway. I say, "reasonably popular" but that may change soon based on the deteriorating condition of the numerous bridges that cross Downton Creek en route to the trailhead. Already there's a sign posted right before the first bridge indicating that the Downton Creek FSR is officially closed, despite the absence of barricades or enforcement of any kind. The FSR drive takes a bit of faith to be honest, especially towards the end where the it narrows with deep waterbars and sections where the roadbed is eroding away and slumps downslope. Just as I concluded that I had gone the wrong way, the road opened to a large landing with a half-dozen vehicles parked on the side. The trail starts up through a cutblock a bit further up the road.

Hiking up the trail now in a light rain, I soon reached a camping area in a meadow near a lake. Everyone I encountered here was either packing up camp or just starting to hike back down apparently after having endured a day and night of continuous rain. Hmm...what was I getting myself into? Unable to make sense of the route description in SSWBC at this point, I instead just followed the trail as it contoured along the lake and continued up into the cirque cradled between Mount Schroeder and Linus Mountain. The trail eventually petered-out at a large heather bench at which point the large rounded Southeast Face of Statimcets first came into view across a wide basin at right. The rain had stopped by now with intermittent breaks in the clouds revealing a good dusting of fresh snow on Statimcets' upper flanks. I turned right, walking along the bench aiming for a prominent crooked thumb of a peak protruding from Linus' Northeast Ridge. With the "thumb" now close to my left, I followed the path of least resistance up a series of heather steps to eventually reach a tundra flat of sorts with a tarn in the middle. I turned up here and two-steps-forward-one-step-back my way up loose, steep choss on the SE Face. Through a small band of cliffs then an upward traverse to eventually intersect the trail coming up the East Ridge. From there it was just an easy hike to the summit rocks. Whiteout and the occasional blizzard guaranteed no views, despite my hopeful waiting around to at least get a glimpse of what lay on the opposite side of the mountain. Naturally, by the time I returned to the heather bench the clouds parted once again to reveal a snow dusted Statimcets cast against a deep blue sky. Grr! In better conditions there's lots of extra-curricular peak bagging to be had out here: Statimcets-Linus Traverse or Soprano Peak for instance. Nearby Mount Seton is the highest in the Cayoosh Range and seems like a reasonably interesting objective as well. Something to keep in mind for the next Downton Creek adventure, assuming the bridges hold out!

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Blanca Peak - South Ridge, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:20:00 +0000

Not to be confused with Blanca Lake near Kyes Peak in the Washington Cascades or Blanca Peak in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains of Colorado for that matter, this Blanca is found in the South Coast Mountains near Squamish, BC. It isn't a particularly high or prominent Peak per se, but what it lacks in stature it makes up for in position. Surrounded by large, deep valleys on all sides, standing atop Blanca affords one with an unbeatable 360-degree panorama. With the high glaciated peaks of the Cheakamus-Squamish divide to the east, the Ashlu-Elaho divide to the south and west and the sprawling icecap encircling Exodus Peak to the north, the scenery here is simply outstanding! Few peaks I've visited rank as high in terms of bang for the buck.

News of renewed logging up the E300 branch of Elaho Main spurred us into action to take advantage of the improved access thanks to a regraded forest road. The only drawback was the possibility of encountering logging trucks laden with the day's haul on our drive up. Coming face to face here with the kind of trucks we crossed paths with thundering down Squamish Main was a game of chicken I wasn't particularly keen on playing. Got lucky and dodged the bullet this time! The original trailhead was of course a thing of the past, lost somewhere in a tangled mess of deadfall and recently cleared forest. On the other hand, with the cutblock now extended further upslope, we could drive higher making for a shorter approach. We clocked a little over 9 km on E300 after which we began to wonder where the trail was. We parked at the apex of a large bend in the road on the left side of the new clear-cut area. As of this writing, the road crosses back to the right after the bend and seems to come to an end shortly thereafter. We located the new “trailhead” along the left edge a bit further up from where we parked. The trail proceeds up though forest paralleling the cutblock for a bit before angling up and left to eventually reach a meadow area. From here the trail continues up along the left side of the basin following the Blanca Lake outflow stream. We arrived at the lake and took a short break before resuming our hike up to the South Ridge. Turning Right, we proceeded up heather and talus making an ascending leftward traverse to eventually gain the crest. We then followed the ridge easily to the summit, climbing into and back out of several small depressions. The rock here is all granite with opportunities for the "choose your adventure" kind of scrambling. So much fun and oh, my are the views easy on the eyes!

Looking north from the summit, Exodus Peak with all the ice surrounding it demanded my attention and inspired me with possibilities, as did the Matterhorn-like Mount Tinniswood to the northwest. To the south, the glaciers flanking Mount Ashlu and others on the divide are a sight to behold. Need I say more? Bonuses such as a fun little ridge romp, a scenic lake in which to soak the feet and relatively short drive back to Backcountry Brewing in Squamish, and I dare say you have the makings of a classic here!

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Castle Towers Mountain - West Peak, August 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:04:00 +0000

For someone that spends any amount of time skiing or snowboarding at Whistler, Castle Towers Mountain is the unmistakable glaciated massif looking due south across the Cheakamus Valley. Easily visible from Whistler Peak, Piccolo Summit and especially Flute Summit, the mountain is quite frankly impossible to ignore. If you've visited the resort on a sunny day and you have any interest whatsoever in peak-bagging, Castle Towers has most likely captured your attention.

I first attempted the peak in July 2018, but for various reasons Dan and I ended up climbing Helm Peak and then scrambled over Gentian Ridge to the head of Helm Glacier instead. From there he walked down the glacier and through the canyon below Cinder Cone to intersect the Helm Creek Trail. Essentially a reconnaissance trip, with a couple bonus summits thrown in for good measure. Fast forward to August 2019 where my appeal for partners on social media went unanswered. Solo it would have to be.

From the Cheakamous Lake Trailhead, I hiked the now familiar trail past the Helm Meadows Campground and up to a wide pass of sorts between Cinder Cone and Black Tusk. I turned left and made my way down into the canyon and out the other end to eventually reach the lake in which the snout of the Helm now rests. The glacier was all ice by this point and fractured by countless water-filled crevasses. I proceeded up the headwall near the top passing a few interesting moulin features along the way. The ice was peppered with small bits of gravel which aided traction and allowed for a crampon-free ascent. I stopped at the large, sandy saddle atop the glacier and pitched my tent by a small rock windbreak. An existing fire pit and errant aluminum pole which I split in half came in handy as I somehow managed to forget to bring fuel for the camp stove. After a gorgeous sunset the cold of nightfall ushered me into my sleeping bag for a restful night under the Milky Way.

Departing from camp the next morning, I descended talus and scree slopes on the opposite side of the saddle towards the pass between Gentian Ridge and Polemoleum Ridge. Once below the talus I followed marmot trails down a steep grass pitch adjacent to a ravine on the left side of the basin, then angled back to the right through some trees on what now looked like a climber's path. The path led to a slippery seep area which I carefully worked across and down to finally reach the valley bottom. With a charming little lake off to my right, I proceeded up heather slopes on the left edge of Polemoleum Ridge, following intermittent bits of trail. The trail disappears once again where heather gives way to talus, but I generally found good travel along the left/north edge of the wide ridge for the remaining distance to a highpoint. There's a fantastic view of Castle Towers and the dramatic glacier tumbling down the peak's Northwest Face from this spot.

A steep path leads down the right/south side of the highpoint to a saddle. There's a short, somewhat exposed step just above the saddle, but otherwise no real difficulties encountered here. I crossed a small grass bench and picked-up the trail again on the other side. It climbs steeply up a moraine and through a small headwall to a notch. I turned right and despaired at the sight of the seemingly endless boulder slope that stood between me and the West Summit. This was easily the most tedious part of the ascent, but one can take comfort in the fact that it goes faster than it appears. Finally, after having dispatched this final slope I pulled myself up onto Castle Towers' glorious West Summit.

Suffice it to say, the views from here are among the best in Garibaldi Provincial Park. What a truly awesome spot! Separated by a deep notch, the true (middle) summit was just stone's throw away and only a few feet higher. In planning this trip, I decided that going for it was optional, depending on how motivated I was in the moment. Granted, it's just a head game, but the peak is remote and being all the way out here by myself felt a bit unnerving. Decided not to push my luck and made peace with the West Summit being "it" for me. Just as I was leaving camp the next morning, I saw the first humans I'd seen since leaving the Helm Creek Trail two days prior. It was raining lightly by the time I reached Helm Meadows Campground and with the first of several unseasonably vigorous storms in the forecast for the coming week, my timing couldn't have been better. Not a bad way to celebrate the coming end of Summer, not bad at all!

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Central OR & Eastern Sierra - September 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 12:04:00 +0000

Ahh...the freedom to roam and explore, seems so exotic considering the plague-wrought lockdowns currently in effect around the globe. Strange days these are. As it hopefully will be again someday soon, last September was the time for our annual Get The Heck Out Of Dodge © road trip, if only for a couple weeks to escape the early arrival of Fall-like weather to the Pacific Northwest. Loaded up the campervan and high-tailed for the Central Oregon sunshine before resuming our southbound journey to Owens Valley and the rarified air of the Eastern Sierra and White Mountains. I promised Agata a return to Crater Lake National Park following the previous summer's smoke-out anyway. No "Westy" breakdown at Willamette Pass this time, and we did tack on a few objectives and POIs that eluded us previously, namely Dee Wright Observatory, Lava Lands and Newberry Volcano.

As a powerful windstorm was wreaking havoc across Northern California, we delayed our departure from the Beaver State by a few days and bagged a couple peaks: Mount Scott and Mount Washington. Officially, wind and whiteout did cause us to retreat from Mt. WA shortly before the crux, but we did successfully scale its chossy ramparts upon our return from Cali. High winds were also prevalent up on Crater Lake NP’s official highpoint, in this case heralding the arrival of a massive frontal system spanning the coast from Southern Oregon all the way up through BC. Message received; we’d outlived our welcome and it was time to get a move on. Made a beeline for the brewery in June Lake where we enjoyed some of JLB’s finest suds with ex-Seattle ski-touring compadre Preston F. The power was still out when we arrived, ostensibly to prevent faulty transmission lines from igniting more forest fires. Appropriately though, the brewery was only place in town with power and business was booming!

The next morning saw us packing our bags for a couple days out climbing the beautiful peak at the head of Little Lakes Valley and gem of the Eastern Sierra, Bear Creek Spire. Unfortunately, our friend THE WIND was still with us especially above 13k feet, making for some incredibly tense moments up on the summit ridge. Oh, and did I mention it was c-c-c-cold?! Back down to the Owens for a much-needed warm-up and well-deserved brew and burgers at Mountain Rambler the following day. Love that place! But we finally learned our lesson: just a walk-up to wrap-up our little vacay this time, and so off to hike the “ultra” in the White Mountains we go! I’m referring to White Mountain Peak of course, the occasion being a long birthday celebration hike to the top of a 14’er with a commanding panorama of the Owens Valley and Eastern Sierra from Mount Whitney in the south to Mount Ritter in the north.

We continued the celebration of all things Virgo with a soothing soak at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs before embarking on the long journey home. Made good on Mt. Washington on our way back north and bid Oregon farewell as we perched above the north bank of the Columbia, at Maryhill Winery and reflected on our good times on the road.

I love me good road trip.

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Mount Cheam - Mount Cheam Trail, October 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 21:20:00 +0000

Capitalizing on a rare window of dry weather after what had been a rather cool and wet first few weeks of October, I made a dash for the Cheam Range's namesake peak. It isn't the highest-that distinction goes to Welch Peak-but it apparently boasts one of the best views of the Fraser Valley from its summit. I can't confirm nor deny this as I was engulfed in white-out while up there. More frustrating is the fact that the clouds parted shortly after my leaving the summit area, despite having shivered in the cold waiting around for things to improve. Seems to have happened a lot this year.

Cheam and neighboring Lady Peak benefit from relatively short approaches thanks to the trailhead being near treeline. Both could easily be climbed on a Summer afternoon, which would be far more enjoyable to the tedious post holing in fresh snow that I endured on this day. Unsure of how well the truck tires perform in snow, I parked at a small pullout a mile or two shy of the end and walked up from there. Last thing I needed was to slide off the road and go tumbling down the hillside, which in hindsight was not likely to happen. But anyway. I should have gotten a later start and let others not only do the trail breaking but also track-out the road for me. Ha, and here I was thinking I'd have the place to myself! Encountered quite a few parties as I was heading back, both on the trail and during my walk-of-shame back down the now snow-free road to where I was parked. Meh, all's well that ends well, right?

Not entirely. Got a flat somewhere before the paved road and spent the next hour or so struggling to extricate the spare from beneath the truck bed. Aha! So that's what the extra long jack handle is for! In any case, I’ll have to come back and do this one right. The short approach, being a 2'fer and reportedly great views would seem to make Cheam (and Lady) worth the hassle.

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Mount Beautiful - Swan Falls Loop Trail, October 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 6 Apr 2020 14:01:00 +0000

I stumbled upon this at about the two-thirds mark on the Sendero Diez Vistas hike I completed this past October. There at Buntzen Lake's North Beach stood a sign with, among other things, details of various local hikes and whatnot. One in particular, describing a loop just east of the lake and crossing over the top ~4200-ft Mount Beautiful (aka. Eagle Peak) caught my eye. A new area for me, it seemed like a great lower-elevation choice for the short days of late October. With a good blanket of early snow and ice up in the alpine, Old Man Winter had already claimed the high country by this time anyway. Known as the Swan Falls Loop, the 11-mile route I took follows the east shore of Buntzen Lake before making a gruelling ascent from the north end of the lake up to the granite slabs on the summit of Mt. Beautiful. From there, the trek follows the forested ridge southwards into and out of a couple saddles before reaching an area dotted with numerous small lakes appropriated named the Lakes District. A final steep descent leads back to the beach and parking area where I started from at Buntzen's south shore.

It all amounts to a uniquely satisfying trip complete with rushing waterfalls, scenic lakes and a neat summit area with surprisingly grand views including the elusive Coquitlam Lake tucked away east of the divide. The ideal venue for a peakbagger looking for one last hurrah in the waning days of Indian Summer if you ask me. And if you hustle, there'll even be time for a refreshingly arctic dip in Buntzen Lake afterwards!

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Mount Windsor - Northwest Ridge, October 2019

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:28:00 +0000

One of the northernmost peaks on the Howe Sound Crest Trail, Mount Windsor it is both a short drive from my home in North Vancouver and also a relatively obscure objective as compared to Brunswick Mountain, Mount Harvey and West Lion just to the south. A great outing in which to practice "social distancing" it turns out, never mind that it was still a good few months before most of us would first learn the term. Ah, those were the days!

I got the idea for this from The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver's North Shore guidebook which Agata recently gifted me. It describes an interesting bit of history regarding the peak's name. To quote, Windsor is "The adopted family name of the present royal family of Britain and Canada. The family's German name of Saxe-Coburg became less popular during the First World War, so they borrowed the name of their castle." In that context, some of the other names in the area-Brunswick, Hanover Lake, Coburg Peak and Gotha Peak-would seem sehr appropriate. Ja sicher! Having driven past Deeks Creek and the Deeks Lake Trail on the Sea-to-Sky Highway so many times over the years, I was a bit curious what I would find up there. Either that, or I'm just a sucker for a good trail to a scenic lake with a bonus peak to bag nearby.

The trail initially parallels the highway on a gravel road, before turning east and following Deeks Creek. There are a few nice waterfalls along the way before reaching Deeks Lake. I contoured around the lake's north shore and picked up a climber's path which I followed to a small meadow between Deeks Peak and Mount Windsor. A small tag nailed to a tree at a junction shortly below the meadow indicates the way to Peak 5400 is at right and Windsor at left. At a saddle just beyond the meadow, I turned up and proceeded along the left edge of Windsor's Northwest Ridge. Upon reaching a small basin on Windsor's north side, I encountered firm snow which with increasing steepness became difficult to kick up in the light-duty trail shoes I was wearing. Went back to the right over the now more defined ridge crest to find mostly snow-free conditions. Up through some bits of brushy jank then over the final summit rocks and the peak was bagged.

Enjoyed great views in all directions and soaked in the weak late October sunshine. In the spirit of yet another last hurrah in the waning days of Indian summer, 5541-ft Mount Windsor is a good choice. Prost!

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Dolomites, Dec. '19 - Jan. '20

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 10:42:00 +0000

Our biennial Dolomites ski trip! Descents and scenery from Col Rodella, Passo Pordoi, Sass Pordoi, Forcella Pordoi, Canalone Joel, Marmolada, Porta Vescovo, Pralongia, Passo Falzarego, Lagazuoi, Champinoi, Val Mesdi, Col Raiser, Seceda.

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Hat & Fat Ass - via Sunset Trailhead, May 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 21:12:00 +0000

At long last an update to this site! Now that things are winding down here in the Northern Hemisphere I'll be kicking out more reports going forward. It was a rather productive Summer by Sverdina standards...

Presenting Hat Mountain and Fat Ass Peak, bagged May 8 during a globe-spanning pandemic. The inagurial hike of the 2020 "climbing season" for yours truly. Parking permit left over from a Lions Bay project home we had recently completed helped with the notoriously limited trailhead parking spaces. Never mind that the village would impose a riduculous Covid-induced $3/hr parking fee here some months later. Whatever. Maybe just go up via the Tunnel Bluffs Trail instead...yes, its got more elevation gain, but it's more direct.

Anyhoo, it's still a steep ass grunt of a hike as ever up from Sunset Drive. Continuous snow started just before Crest Trail junction and required some careful postholing down steep slopes off Brunswick's WSW Ridge/Spur into the west basin. Easy travel from there to the saddle overlooking Brunswick Lake and on up to the summit of Fat Ass Peak. Down to a notch and back up a final pitch of sloppy snow to reach Hat Mountain. Fantastic views overlooking Howe Sound and especially Brunswick Mountain's North and West Faces! This is a great early season objective, even if the route causes one to briefly trespass into a temporarily "closed" provincial park, courtesy once again of said pandemic. And no, didn't encounter a soul out there all day.

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Mount Bishop - Vicar Lake Trail, May 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 20:55:00 +0000

A fine May 10 trip up Mount Bishop via LSCR and Vicar Lakes Trail. About 22 km on bikes and another 10 km on foot up and down the steepest, scramble-e-est approach imaginable. Countless rope-assisted sections, a pleasant grove of ~800 yr old giant cedars and an easy albeit sweaty slog up from Vicar Lakes. Continuous snow started just below the lakes but going fast. Markers on trees from here guide the way up to the alpine. Kicked steps in snow up to the saddle and completed the remaining slog to the summit. Outstanding views overlooking Indian Arm, Seymour Lake, and watershed area and of course Greater Vancouver to the south. Another great Spring outing in the so-called Fannin Range!

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Mount Crickmer - Mt. Crickmer Trail, May 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 20:53:00 +0000

A quick jaunt up a snowy bump on the only half decent day of the May Long Weekend. Located between Stave and Alouette Lakes, the broad plateau-like summit barely reaches the alpine. Nevertheless, it's high enough to offer good views ranging from the uplands of Mission District to the far North Cascades. To the west are the Golden Ears and just to the north is Robie Reid - my primary motivation for hiking Crickmer, being that I had RR in my sights for later in the summer.

Unfortunately, the wished-for views of Robie Ried would only materialize after I returned to the truck thanks to a late afternoon break in the clouds. Since I was in the area, I wrapped-up the day with a reconnaisance drive to the RR trailhead, a good 20 km from the end of the paved road. I expected something much more overgrown and obscure, but found it to be anything but. Okay, all set for later this summer then! All things considered, despite low clouds robbing me of everything but local views and a mostly boring FSR bike'n hike, that which I did glimpse of Stave and Alouette Lakes made Crickmer a worthwhile outing nonetheless.

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Frosty Mountain - Frosty Mtn. Trail, May 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:51:00 +0000

Frosty's East Summit via Lightning Lakes on 05/27. A Manning Park first for me! Great views of the Pasayten Wilderness big boys, the Chilliwack Bulgers and Northern Pickets looking south from up top. The slightly higher West Summit looks like a fun scramble from the East Summit, not quite sure why I didn't just go for it.

Either way, looked like an above average snowpack, in the NE corner of the Cascades at least. Snow started at about 3 kms up the trail and continuous from that point onward. GPS mighty helpful in navigating the forested section thereafter and especially on return as my tracks were barely discernible by that point. Wallowed through knee deep mush for a portion of the East Ridge finish and glisaded back down via the north bowl for a speedy return and shorter than anticipated day overall (about 5-6 hrs round-trip).

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Seed Peak - South Route, June 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 13:35:00 +0000

Our first summit in Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park! The Facebooks were abuzz this past Spring with reports of this and some of the neighboring mountains. FSR conditions were reportedly about as good as they could get, and snow no longer presented much of an impediment. Ripe for the picking as they say, so we decided to go and add our names to the list and see what all the fuss was about. Over 30 kms of forest road to get to where we were stopped by snow about 1 km shy of the "trailhead". Found the 103 Hikes driving description misleading after the ~23 km junction - we lost an hour probing various spur roads before another party set us back on course. Thanks to renewed logging activity, the road end has been pushed up higher. Good for us!

Biggest cornice I have ever seen on the summit! It's obviously long gone by now, but best to give the edge an extra wide berth come next Spring. 'Twas a 100% snow slog from where we parked - snowshoes and axe weren't necessary even though we schlepped the gear around with us. Great views in all directions, despite the increasing cloudiness and only one other party encountered as we were returning. 5.5 hrs round trip at a moderate pace and sadly no pitstop at Backcountry Brewing afterwards, coz um, well by now you ought to know why.

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Crystal & Elliott - Barkley Valley, June 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 16:15:00 +0000

Endured the long ass drive to Pemberton-Portage country for a quick Twin Lakes Peaks area smash'n grab before the onset of the next round of rain. About 7 kms road/atv track walk from current "trailhead" to hut & camping area. Snowline started at the first lake and got progressively mushier and unconsolidated the higher we went. Very unusual so late into June. The preceding week and a half of rain and cool weather here in town deposited what looked to be about a foot+ of new snow in the alpine, much more near ridge tops. Wished we brought snowshoes. Point releases and sluff slides on sun exposed aspects. Felt like April or early May out there.

Abandoned Elliott after punching through past my waist in mush on the exposed gully traverse a couple hundred feet or so below summit. There are ways to avoid this traverse, but with the prospect of more of the same crap snow complicating the narrow ridge finish to summit proper, we called it and slogged up slightly higher Crystal instead. Fantastic views from up top – Birkenhead, Duffy-Pemberton Portage Divide peaks, Joffre Lakes Group, south towards Wedge and countless others I cannot name all on full display. Neat area to explore and a great "east-of-the crest" objective for early summer!

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Lady Peak - North Ridge via Spoon Lake, June 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:05:00 +0000

Took me lady up Lady Peak for a fun Cheam Range scramble on yet another brief fair-weather window. Drove the FSR to ~4400 ft and about 1.5 km shy of the trailhead before being stopped by snow. Alternating dry and snowy sections thereafter with some ATVs making it all the way to the end. Encountered all snow travel from just before Spoon Lake to the rubbly slope directly below Lady's North Ridge. Crampons and ice axe handy for occasionally steep snow up to the is point as well as the notch with gendarme further along the ridge.

Easy ridge ramble once past that spot to the top. Upper mountain engulfed by cloud from orographic lift shortly after having gained the crest and dissipated only after we made it back to the trailhead. Figures. Same thing happened when I hiked up neighboring Cheam last October. About 7 hrs RT, making for a longer than anticipated outing thanks in part to slow travel over slick lichen-covered rock.

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Rainbow Mountain - SW Route via Rainbow Lake, June 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:32:00 +0000

Yup, another escape to the hills before the arrival of yet more unsettled weather. Some excitement right off the bat upon encountering a group of panicked hikers (you know the type) scurrying down the trail claiming to have been followed by a black bear. Kept going and immediately ran into a trail runner who had also been followed by the bear and exhorted us to turn back. This too we ignored and carried on up the trail. As expected, the bear had wandered away, nowhere to be seen. Watching from a safe distance, the trail runner apparently satisfied herself of the imminent threat to life and limb and decided it was now safe enough to continue, prancing past us in short order. The remaining hike to Rainbow Lake went without further incident, the only wildlife we saw no larger or more menacing than a squirrel. Very well-maintained and scenic trail I might add.

Ran into patchy snow just before Rainbow Lake and still very much snowbound thereafter. Annoying post holing getting 'round the lake but otherwise fast travel thanks to buried talus. Made camp on snow and lounged on a large flat rock for the remainder of the afternoon. Up and at 'em first thing in the morning, reaching the edge of a large, flat glacier in good time. Here we traversed far to the right, contouring around a giant scoop in the ice and continuing up to a rocky saddle. Then turned left and scampered up rock and some snow, reaching the summit about 3hrs after leaving camp. The last time we were up here was March '09 on our very first outing with Whistler Heli. Nice to finally get back up there on own steam this time and hang out up top for as long as we wanted, savoring the incredible 360-degree views!

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Sun God & Seven O'Clock - standard via Tenas Creek Valley, July 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 16:35:00 +0000

Finally, a fair-weather weekend day! Went for the twofer up the Birkenhead River FSR way. Road to where the hiking starts in reasonable urban SUV shape, despite some overgrown pinstriping bits. Description in SSWBC spot on - flagged climber' s path starts right where the road makes a sharp turn to left. Well flagged and relatively easy to follow up to saddle with lake, ~1 hr from road. Turn right and follow yer nose to Sun God summit, 2:15 from road. Take to the ridge crest at left for more interesting scrambling or just plow up talus and scree to your heart’s delight. Neat perch up top and great perspective on Mount Ronayne across Tenas Creek and the route over to 7 O’Clock. I could even make out the truck parked way down there in the valley!

Head back down, take high route above lake and continue up to 7:00. Despite being lower I found the latter more interesting, both on the way up and in terms of views. The summit area features a unique tundra plateau reminiscent of Burroughs Mountain NE of Mt. Rainier or peaks out in the Pasayten Wilderness. And oh my, what outstanding views: Birkenhead and Marriott looking east with the unmistakable Seton Massif looming off in the distance, looking to the west with Overseer and Sampson not to be missed and peaks of the Meager Group beyond, to the northwest towards Chipmunk with unmistakable (and memorable) Vayu farther off behind, and finally the view to the southwest across Pemberton Valley with icefields at head of Ryan River Valley and the impressive glaciers on Rhododendron and Ipsoot. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that I can identify all these in the first place! As a bonus, soft snow enabled much boot skiing on descent arriving back at truck for a 7.5 hr day incl. breaks. Yet another enjoyable day trip out in the Pemberton backcountry!

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Williams Peak - Williams Peak Trail, July 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 17:05:00 +0000

Ended up on this as plan C after plans A & B in the area fell through. Speaking of plan B, the community of Paulsen had (or still has) signs posted at the Radium Lake Trailhead and elsewhere stating that the area is closed to non-residents due to the Plague. This affected our access to Mount Webb and MacDonald, although as I found out later trails from the Chilliwack Provincial Park day lot can be used to approach these peaks as well. I guess that’s what happens when one has a 2005 edition guidebook to go by and no cell data. Wireless issues aside, one can’t complain really. Factoring in the time it took Gunn to climb and publish everything in SSWBC, some of the information therein must now be almost 20 years old! Certainly, a lot of deterioration has occurred to the FSRs and trails in the years since, exhibit A being our failed plan A!

Fortunately, in the case of Williams Peak the trailhead starts from the paved Chilliwack River Road, which ironically may not have been paved that far up the valley back in ’05. Given such relatively lowly beginnings, it should come as no surprise that hiking Williams is an interminably steep affair up from the valley floor several thousand vertical feet to a forested ridge. Only then does the trail ease back for a mostly rolling stretch eventually leading to a talus basin on the west side of the peak. Wrap around to the south side and turn up a grassy gully system for the finish to summit. Steep snow lingering in the upper gully was avoided by taking to rock and moats as needed, clocking in just under 4:30 to top. Great perspective on Chilliwack Lake, Rexford Group, Slesse and peaks in NCNP to the south. Welch and Foley looking nice as well. Weather moved in that afternoon with light rain on the descent from the ridge. Snuck this one in just in time!

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Chipmunk & Tenquille - via Hope Creek FSR, July 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 22 Nov 2020 21:54:00 +0000

Another 2fer this time up'n over the Hurley and down Hope Creek FSR. Road to washout/ditch was in great SUV driving condition, surprisingly better than the description in SSWBC. Hallelujah! Proof that rarely but occasionally conditions do improve with time! Hiked to end of deactivated road about 2 or 3 kms total (?) then continued across the cutblock on a bit of a path and thankfully picked up a flagged but bushy "trail" through the forest. Trail intersects the creek that drains the glacier between Tenquille & Goat and turns up parallel with the creek before vanishing in the large alluvial basin below said glacier.

Gained the pass between Chip & Ten and angled up and right on steep grass to reach the basin below the peak. Easy cruise from there reaching the summit a little over 3 hrs from the truck. Back down to the pass and up again this time via Tenquille's North Ridge. Gained ridge early by kicking up steep snow, then easy but enjoyable rambling past the "crux" to a steepish snow patch right where the ridge pitches up shortly below the summit. Minimal exposure here and snow was soft with steps from a party camped at the pass - a primo camp spot BTW!

Second time on Tenquille, having climbed it and Goat a couple years back via Tenquille Lake. Views still do not disappoint! Didn't feel the need to bag Goat a second time, but I did briefly consider descending via the north glacier as it seemed like it would make for a quicker return. Decided to play it safe and returned the way I came, enjoying much boot skiing for a speedy descent all the same. Back at the truck for a total of about 8.5 hrs. Only bummer was that bug season had finally arrived and the mozzies were determined to make up for lost time. In other words, no tailgating with a beer before the long haul back home!

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Mamquam Mountain - North Route via Darling Lake, July 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:24:00 +0000

Long time coming for this one, a rite of passage for South Coast peak baggers complete with the infamous au cheval over the log spanning Paranoid Creek, a brutally steep trail, and finally an otherworldly trek across the expanse of the Mamquam Icefield. Been on my radar for years but was put off thanks to news of a critical bridge over Paranoid Creek having been decommissioned back in 2015 or thereabouts. Didn’t give it any further consideration up till now, figuring it wasn't worth the hassle. In the end it was just a simple footbridge over a fallen log and certainly not the impediment I imagined it to be. The log remains, though the cable handline was apparently removed by the authorities to limit access to an area frequented by mountain goats. A single mountain goat we did see up in the alpine that weekend, but I don’t see how the removal was warranted. The "authorities" ought to visit Olympic National Park sometime if they're that hung up on some goats. Curiously, there's a cable or two suspended across the creek a few yards upstream of the old "bridge", but no log. Not sure what's going on here. Either way, just do a butt scoot over the log or failing that simply ford the creek as Agata did on return all "no shits given" style.

We unfortunately did give more of a shit than hoped for on the hike up to camp at Darling Lake on what was so far the hottest, most humid day of the year, taking us a seemingly endless 5.5 hrs of sweating, mosquito swatting and cursing. Up and at 'em first thing next morning making good time to the edge of the northern icefield (aka Winter Route). Excellent travel to base of final headwall with cracks just beginning to show and some minor sagging over the larger crevasses. The bergshrund was easily passed on left up existing buckets then a final short scramble on notoriously loose rock to the summit proper. Enjoyed the awesome views both near and far despite the constant threat of being engulfed by whiteout on the summit not to mention the trek back across the icefield. Back to camp without incident thankfully and down to truck for an 11-hr summit day, 3 hrs camp to car thanks to a well flagged trail back to the log crossing. Big thanks to those that provided the route beta and GPX track, as well as the BCMC for flagging the route to the alpine!

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Ossa Mountain - West Ridge, July 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:01:00 +0000

A fine 1.5-day trip at the northern end of the Tantalus Range with Bryant whom I met a couple weeks earlier up on Williams Peak. Sweating like never before on the ~4 hr approach to the Moraine camp thanks to the midsummer heat and Bryant's crushing pace. Bridge over Sigurd Creek is gone or has been washed out but it's a trivial ford either way. Downdraft from glacier above moraine basin camp area made for a pleasantly mosquito free evening, although to be honest they weren't otherwise all that bad. Too hot perhaps? Got moving shortly after sunup the next morning and continued past the lakes camp higher up (moraine better IMO) before gaining the lower NW/W Ridge. Cruise from there to crux notch/gully. Exposure relatively moderate here as well as the final bit to regain the ridge, reaching the summit shortly thereafter.

Views were outstanding of course, especially of the mighty Tantalus! Me thinks it's getting to be time to put that one in the bag once and for all. But anyway. No snow on ridge itself but helpful on north side for a fast return thanks to glissading and boot skiing. Encountered one party of 4 descending from the tower just below the crux as were heading up, a twosome already on the summit as we topped-out and countless other parties on the way up as we were descending back to camp. Ossa has clearly become a popular objective! Its slightly higher neighbor Pelion Mountain, however, sees far fewer ascents but seems a worthy objective as well. Might have to give that one a go the next time I find myself kicking dirt up the Sigurd Creek Trail. Overall, it took us about 3 hrs camp to summit and about 11 hrs total camp-summit-car. Neat little scramble, attractive scenery, decent approach, and a relatively short drive from home. I give Ossa 2 thumbs up!

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Beaujolais & Mystery - via Hope Creek FSR, July 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 14:47:00 +0000

Back up over the Hurley to the headwaters of Birkenhead River and the land of wildflowers, granite, and skeeters. Drove up Hope Creek FSR as far as our tolerance for pinstriping allowed and hoofed the remaining couple kms along with several thousand of our closest mosquito friends to the switchback that marks the trailhead. New(ish) flagging eliminated any guesswork with where to go and we gained the treed saddle from where the normal routes to Beaujolais and Mystery diverge (hereafter B & M). Followed flagging leftwards for B eventually reaching a heather bench which we crossed, contouring below some minor cragginess above. Fairly obvious where to go from here - traverse the flowery meadows!

Unrelenting mozzies kept pushing us upwards in search of a flat spot to camp, which we eventually located at about 6500ft. A passing disturbance resulting in a good couple hours of rain (not sure how I didn't notice this brewing) put the kibosh on climbing B's aesthetic East Ridge on this day. The plan therefore was revised for both B & M the following day, returning from camp the way we came in. Yup, that means an additional 1000 ft on return from M up and over the ridge separating the two mountain basins. Oh joy!

Dispatched B in 1.5 hrs the next morning, thoroughly enjoying the crux slab pitch. Yay, no bugs finally. Then down scree and gravel on the SE side to the pass between B & M and over towards M's west basin. A final grunt up snow and talus saw us to the 7500 ft col on the South Ridge. Turned left and followed the path of least resistance through enjoyable scrambling terrain with relatively moderate exposure to reach M summit. Hung out for about 30 before starting the long trek back down to "Mystery Lake". Then back up the opposite side via an endless heather pitch, traversing left shortly before the crest to reach a high snow and scree slope allowing for a relatively straightforward forward descent back to camp. Packed up and hightailed it out of there for a fine ~12 hr day of alpine rambling. Mosquito misery aside, this is a very scenic area and makes for an enjoyable outing. Highly recommended!

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MacDonald Peak - North Ridge, August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 13:03:00 +0000

A return to "The Chilliwacks" this time up on the crest directly west of Chilliwack Lake. Parked at the prov. park day use area as the trailhead described in SSWBC is off limits due to that thing we'll forever associate 2020 with. Easy from there across lake outflow then parallel to the river before reaching the TCT-Radium Lake junction. Hike to Radium Lake kinda long and boring, despite significant investment into 3 newish aluminum bridges that cross the same creek. Radium Lake not much to look at and just a couple groups camped at the sites nearby. On up to the Webb-Macdonald Pass, then turned right following a bit of a path initially along the left side before gaining the ridge. At the headwall, I went low and right across snow and talus, passing a shitty looking gully, aiming for the rib at right skyline. Later, I saw others go directly up over the headwall – looked like more interesting scrambling, shoulda gone this way. Choose your own adventure.

Turned up the rib and scrambled over blocky terrain to reach a false summit. Down into a notch then back up the other side for a short scamper to the summit proper. Nice views despite the increasing cloudiness, especially looking over towards past Cascadian conquests I could make out through the clouds –Redoubt, Spickard, Luna, Fury, Challenger, Rexford and the Esawkwatch Spires. Good times! Mount Lindeman looked good as well and was beckoning me, but it seemed too far away and the connecting ridge with MacDonald either uncharted or technical, or both. Left it for my next adventure out this way, via the standard Center Creek approach. Took a brief nap a bit lower down on the ridge and decided to pass on Webb as I was feeling pretty pooped from not much rest this past month. Back to the lake shore where the usual gong show was underway with countless boaters and their Tonka Trucks jockeying for a turn at the boat ramp. Hopped back in the car after a 9-ish hour day, luckily escaping the rain which started falling again shortly thereafter.

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Mount Tantalus - SE Spur, August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 13:07:00 +0000

Fast forward 11 years since my previous attempt and off for the mighty Tantalus we go again, this time with Agata the Alpinista and via the classic SE Spur. Excellent snowpack and cool spring meant conditions for early August were about as good as they get, and we reached the base of the rock without much fussing with moats or 'schrunds for that matter. From there, our guide Andrew (Zenith Mountain Guides) led us on the "upper" variation of the SE Spur. With dizzying exposure pretty much the entire time, this is easily one of the more complex routes I have been on. Not particularly technical, but a challenging route-finding adventure with a notorious reputation for...um...interesting situations.

The rock features a bit of everything with some exciting traversing to reach the notch at top of Heart of Darkness Coulior, and again across a ledge below Witches Tooth. A short down-climb into another crappy gully and then up the 5.6 "crux" crack pitch to another notch, which we crossed over and traversed once more into a small cave. Up out of the cave for a steep pitch to the classic knife edge arete and the highlight of the route. Finally, some easier scrambling along ledges and broken terrain led to the summit. Put succinctly, up and right, up and right (and repeat) was the theme of the day. Note that Alpine Select is woefully outdated and there are now bolted stations at all the key raps/belays. In total we did two raps on our way up, 5 raps on return from the summit block, another 3 raps down the gully to Dione Glacier and about as many belayed and/or simul pitches. A 7pm heli pickup completed a very enjoyable ~12 hr day. Big thanks to Andrew and Zenith for making it all possible. Highly recommended if considering a Tantalus climb or anything else for that matter!

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Mount Seton - South Face via Saddlebag Lakes, August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 12:59:00 +0000

A taste of the San Juans of CO right here in SWBC, complete with the endless scree treadmill and top shelf views! I’m speaking of course of Mount Seton - the highest peak in all of the Cayoosh Range. At 9380 feet, the rounded summit rises above most everything in the vicinity, Mount Brew and Whitecap Mountain excepted. The peak sits smack dab in the middle of the hydrological crescent formed by Anderson and Seton Lake, making for a unique position and of course the views to go with it. With the glaciated crest of peaks to the south and west, to the dry and bare mountains to the north and east, the contrast in scenery is apparent. Oh, and is that the elusive Skihist Mountain peeking off in the distance? The highest in SWBC, this was the first time I positively identified the peak from the summit of another. One of these days... One could spend hours up on the summit gawking at all the sights both near and far.

The approach to the picturesque basin cradling Saddlebag Lakes is relatively quick and easy thanks to recent trail work by the good people of Lillooet (you didn't hear it from me). The azure-colored lakes lie directly beneath the peak's towering South Face and just beckon for a swim, were it not of course for the swarms of mosquitos awaiting anyone who dares to get too close. Like nearby Statimcets Peak, the lakes basin is very reminiscent of the CO Rockies with its high-altitude plateaus and rubbly shale slopes descending from the peaks towering above. And speaking of, if it were up to me, I think Seton should replace Statimcets in the SSWBC guide. After all, they share the same FSR approach, the views from Seton are better and approach scenery is more or less the same. Oh, and did I mention that it's the highest in all the Cayoosh? Certainly, both are plagued by the same heinous two-steps-forward-one-step-back scree slopes guarding the summit ridges, so why not make the effort count? All in, it’s about 7 or so hours round-trip for a most satisfying day of alpine tramping!

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Mount Robie Reid - Southeast Ridge, August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 13:53:00 +0000

Driving northbound on I-5 through Bellingham, the highway crests a minor hill as it crosses over Lakeway Drive to reveal a tantalising glimpse of the land north of the 49th parallel. During the dark Winter months one can see the glistening lights of ski resorts Grouse and Seymour from this location and in daylight a pair of towering peaks are visible - the iconic Golden Ears and Mount Robie Reid! Sighted from this spot over my 20-some odd years of commuting from Seattle for adventures in the North Cascades and beyond, the time would inevitably come for me to explore this enigmatic duo overlooking the Fraser Valley. The highest of the former, North Ear was dispatched as an easy day trip back in Summer '06 leaving pesky Robie Reid for me to scale years later. Unfortunately, most reports from that time described the approach as being a royal pain, requiring a ~10-mile paddle in a canoe followed by brutal mosquito-infested brush bash up some 4000-ft over about 3 miles to reach high camp. The peak didn't seem to get much traffic back in those days, which, approach considerations aside, was unusual considering its prominence and proximity to a major metropolitan area. All that changed at some point in the intervening years, with today's good forest road access and a steep but well-established trail leading to the alpine. And so, it came to pass that Team Verdina would finally make a go at the mighty RR!

True to form, we set out on the hottest and most humid day of the summer yet and staggered into camp after a good 7+ hours of blood(letting), sweat and tears. A word to the wise - although it amounts to a stout ~7-thousand-foot day, I HIGHLY recommend foregoing the overnight pack and doing this as a day trip. Also, there's no water to be found shortly after leaving the lakeshore, so don't skimp on weight as I did and assume a single liter is anywhere near enough! On the other hand, we could have left the sleeping bags behind it was so warm that night. Shoulda, woulda, coulda... Got rollin' shortly after sunup and caught up with a Chinese party whom we shared the "tarns" camp with just before the crux chimney. The chimney entails a short but stiff(ish) move right off the deck, followed by a somewhat easier move aided by a handline at a second crux a bit higher up the same gully system. I soloed up through these but rapped both cruxes on return (30-meter scramble rope is plenty). Crossed over a notch at the top of the gully and followed a somewhat exposed ledge at right to eventually gain the crest of the Southeast Ridge. Easy travel from there, past the radio repeater towers, to the base of the final summit tower and where a short scramble up steep, blocky rock led to the glorious summit.

The view from up there was outstanding of course with a stunning panorama of the Fraser Valley to the south and a sea of peaks to the east, north, and west. Mount Judge Howay rises conspicuously from across the valley and beckons to be climbed, if only it wasn't so difficult to access. Sound familiar? I didn't linger up top for long as Agata was waiting for me back on the slabs below the crux chimney. Back to the tarns where the swarming mosquitos expedited our breaking down camp in preparation for the dreaded descent. And oh, how jealous we were of the day hiker who started out from the trailhead at the same time as us but wasn't seen again thereafter. With a rather tardy mid-morning departure, I remarked privately that he'd not get back to his car before midnight. My aha moment came after spotting a private helicopter land near the summit the following morning. Well played sir well played! As a poor consolation, we took a refreshing dip in Alouette Lake on our way back before the cursed uphill road walk to the parking area. Stoked to have finally gotten 'er done, but I sure ain't coming back for seconds!

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Mount Niobe - South Route via LLW, August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 17:56:00 +0000

A gem of the South Coast, Lake Lovely Water lies at the southern end of the Tantalus Range and makes for a great base for bagging peaks such as Alpha, Omega, Pelops, and Niobe, just to name a few. Having previously flown over the lake on return from adventures elsewhere in the range, most recently this past August after climbing Mount Tantalus, I've long had it in the back of my mind to visit this area. As with some other local mountain destinations, thanks in large part to the scourge of social media, LLW has unfortunately suffered from a popularity explosion in recent times. Not sure what it is exactly, the otherwise lovely Tantalus Hut situated at the east end of the lake or convenient float plane access from downtown Vancouver; either way everyone seems to have a weekend of 'glamping' here on their bucket list. But enough about the conformity of the insta-herd.

I arranged for a canoe shuttle across the Squamish River and pick up the following afternoon at 4 pm. With my sight set on Niobe (incl. Iota and Pelops), I had to hustle to make I back in time for my return shuttle and ended up with a mere 15 minutes to spare. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The hike up to LLW from the east bank of the Squamish is a beautiful albeit steep affair with rushing creeks and countless waterfalls to distract from the 3800+ vertical feet plus overnight pack required to reach the lake. I planned on pitching a tent at the now infamously overused Sandpit Camp, and so passed the hut and adjacent camping area after a quick look-see and continued along the southeast side of the lake for another 30 minutes or so before reaching my home for the night. To my pleasant surprise, a rather large group was packing up and preparing to leave when I arrived, though it wasn't immediately obvious how they were planning on hauling their various coolers back down the trail. No sooner did I recognize a bartender from one of the local breweries that I frequent, than a floatplane suddenly appeared above the lake, landed, and taxied over to the beach where the mob was congregating. I've taken a floatplane a few times to and from the dock at Stehekin and Chelan in my day, but this was something else entirely and to be honest pretty darn cool to see. Nevertheless, I was relieved to see only a couple parties and their tents remaining after the plane and its passengers departed, and enjoyed a peaceful afternoon and evening before turning in.

Got moving at dawn and made my way up along the creek that flows down through camp, scrambling over slippery boulders to reach a meadow. Then up from there to the crest of a lateral moraine which I followed to eventually reach a headwall. A funky move or two got me through a tight slot at the very back of this feature but found easier travel over ledges just to the left on return. A short descent along a ramp then led to the 'glacier' below Iota and Pelops, which I booted up before exiting left onto slabs just before where the ice pitches up. On return, I donned crampons and simply descended the right margin of the glacier down through this area of steep snow and ice and had an easy time of it. Got back onto snow after scampering up the slabs and continued to the Omega-Iota Col without further difficulty. Up n' over Iota, then down to the saddle between Iota and Pelops, before climbing again this time up Pelops. Then down the opposite side of Pelops to the col between it and Niobe and where a short brush bash guards easy heather slopes leading to Niobe's summit, and where a fantastic view overlooking the LLW basin and surrounding peaks awaits. Behold Alpha, Serratus, Ionia, and Red Tusk! And then there's the elusive Mount Sedgwick standing there all by itself to the WSW tempting me to contemplate a traverse over Mount Conybeare as a means by which to bag it. Hmm...that's not a bad idea, but I'll be reserving my seat with Harbour Air the next time I head up this way!

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Diamond Head - South Route via Elfin Lakes, August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 23:07:00 +0000

Not to be confused with the infamous volcanic tuff cone on the outskirts of Waikiki, this Diamond Head is a satellite of BC's iconic stratovolcano, Mount Garibaldi. Its position and composition remind me somewhat of Disappointment Peak adjacent to Glacier Peak in the North Cascades - a gently sloped pyramid of pumice and other igneous rocks beside a large, heavily glaciated volcano. But there the similarities end. Nobody seeks out Disappointment Peak other than a means by which to tag the real prize next door, whereas Diamond Head arguably makes for a worthy objective unto itself. This is in part because it benefits from easy access via a mostly bikeable trail making for a very reasonable day trip. For the ambitious, it offers a launching off point for those seeking the summit of Atwell Peak, the second tallest of Garibaldi's three summits. For everyone else, it is a destination that offers a unique perspective of the country on the south side of the Big G including the uber-popular Elfin Lakes area. Trail runners, mountain bikers, hikers and ski-tourers have enjoyed this corner of Garibaldi Provincial Park for generations. The time had come for me to add my name to the list.

By far the crux of the outing was obtaining the recently implemented and universally hated day-use permit the morning of. I drove on up to the trailhead empty handed, hoping not to get turned back by Larry the Tool. Lo and behold, a very reasonable park ranger exercised discretion and allowed me to proceed! My faith in humanity restored, I hopped on my bike and cranked up the trail to Paul Ridge on what is a wide gravel road by any other name. A short descent saw me to Red Heather Hut near Elfin Lakes, whereupon I stashed my bike and continued on foot along the Mamquam Lake Trail to the junction with "Saddle Trail". This I followed to the Gargoyles-Columnar Peak Saddle then descended the opposite side to a pass of sorts before making the final ascent of Diamond Head's rubbly south slope. Enjoyed great views ranging from the Garibaldi Neve to the cascading glaciers of Mamquam massif and the silty water of Howe Sound some 21 kilometers to the southwest. Clouds had been gradually building all day with a forecast for precipitation late that afternoon or evening. I started back down after about 30 minutes up top and abandoned my plans for bagging The Gargoyles and Columnar Peak on the way as it looked like rain was coming sooner than I expected. Encountered the first drops upon my return to Paul Ridge with steady showers by the time I reached the parking lot shortly thereafter. Timed this one exactly right! Lovely scenery, easy access, and spit sizzling brake rotors to wrap things up attest to an enjoyable "biathlon" kind of day!

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Mount Currie - South Face, September 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 21:43:00 +0000

With an impressive 7800+ feet of vertical relief over a scant 5.5 km, Mount Currie towers over the confluence of the Green and Lillooet Rivers where the Village of Pemberton is located. From the imposing North Face rising at the edge of town to the aesthetic glacier cirque at the headwaters of Gravell Creek, one's eyes will inevitably be drawn to gaze upon the peak when approaching Pemberton via three of it's four main arteries – Pemberton Meadows Road, Pemberton Portage Road and Duffey Lake Road. It's also a prominent mountain and easily identified from various spots both near and far, be it Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Peak 20 km to the south as the crow flies, the significantly more distant Railroad Group to the northwest (Face Mountain, Locomotive Mountain) or the Joffre Group right across the valley to the northeast (Mount Matier, Mount Joffre, Slalok Mountain and Tszil). Basically, if you spend any amount of time hiking, biking, skiing or simply driving up and down the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, you've noticed Mount Currie.

Far from it being my first sighting, Currie got my attention in a big way back in January 2017 when I had the opportunity to enjoy a ripper day heli-boarding her glaciers and those of neighboring Hibachi Ridge. Since then, I hadn't really considered bagging the peak on foot, that is until I got wind of a "new" trail having been sponsored by Pemberton's tourism board in an apparent attempt to attract more tourist dollars. Granted, the trail had been in existence for about 6 years prior to my learning of it, but this was just the nudge I needed to make a go of it. But first I had to endure an epic 7-hour backup just south of Whistler thanks to a serious crash involving a totalled Gallardo and a couple other mangled vehicles. Finally reached my usual "freedom camping" spot off the highway overlooking the Green River at dusk, abandoning any hope of hiking in to camp as I had intended. A 7500-ft day trip it would have to be, I guess!

Got going at first light and finished the short drive over to the "trailhead". Chickened out and parked a kilometer or so shy of where I should have and then walked another kilometer more from there along what remains of the road to an abandoned trail kiosk. The trail starts here in earnest, initially climbing up through a cutblock before entering forest and making a long leftwards traverse above a lake. Surprisingly quick going on smooth tread up some 4000-ft, passing another smaller lake and fork (leads to a lookout) to reach an open heather-and-slabs camping area beneath the peak's West Summit. Following intermittent paths and the odd cairn here and there, I made my way up through a small canyon to reach a grassy bench now on the south side of the peak. Turning east, I traversed along the bench for a while before descending a bit to avoid the worst of the talus. The idea here is to aim for the toe of the large Southwest Spur that descends from the summit area, staying low to minimize side hilling on steep grass. Turned up the large talus apron at the base of the spur, following an exposed path up through a grassy gully system to finally reach an immense talus slope spanning the upper South Face. The grind up from there seemed to go on forever but made it to the ridge crest in good time, enjoying the final scramble to the top.

Morning clouds had mostly burned off by then, revealing phenomenal views looking down the Green/Cheakamus River Valley towards Squamish and Lillooet River Valley to Pemberton Meadows and beyond. Fantastic! Lotsa peeps out on the mountain this day, most of whom had started from the camp area that morning. Also, not sure if the winds ever turned favorable for the paraglider I briefly chatted with up there, but boy was I envious! Okay, enough stalling, time to go down...all 7500-ft of knee-knackering DOWN! Which, much to my surprise went far quicker and far less painful than I was expecting. Back at the kiosk in a very satisfactory ~10 hours round-trip, but dammit Sergio for not parking at the trailhead!

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Kokanee Glacier - Esmeralda & Conde via Keyhole, September 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 19:52:00 +0000

Took a mini vacay and escaped the smoky September skies by escaping to the BC interior. Started out social distancing with the in-laws on Shuswap Lake, although we only enjoyed a single day reprieve from the smoke before it caught up with us at the far end of Seymour Arm. Either way, this was probably my 3rd time houseboating the Shuswap. Good fun as always! Parted ways with our boat mates and the pup after about a week of otherwise stellar weather and commenced the second leg of our trip touring through the Kootenays. Sandwiched between the Okanagan to the West and Purcell Mountains to the East, this is an area of southern BC we have previously only scratched the surface of. I was particularly intrigued by the numerous large finger lakes and rugged peaks in between that characterize the geography here. It is as if a giant hand clawed the Earth applying increasing pressure as it pulled back, culminating with the deep gouges and high ridges known collectively as the Columbia Mountains. This is an area of great alpine diversity ranging from the famous granite spires and sprawling glaciers of the Bugaboos (Bugaboo Spire & Pigeon Spire) and the bocky quartzite ridges of the Rogers Pass Group (Uto Peak & Mount Sir Donald), to towering gneiss monoliths that drop precipitously into those long, narrow lakes.

We had modest peakbagging ambitions for the remaining week of our trip, complicated in part by crummy weather. Accordingly, Mount Gimli was not to be, but we did manage to sneak up Kokanee Glacier and bag the summits of Esmeralda and Cond for good measure. This is considered one of the southernmost glaciers in Canada, though I think the Border Peaks in the North Cascades for example are more deserving of this title. But anyway. The glacier, after which the provincial park is named, and its highest point, Cond Peak, lies within the Selkirk Mountain Range. Looking to the east one can clearly make out the Purcell Mountains extending north along the east shore of Kootenay Lake. Looking west, the mountains of Valhalla Provincial Park, also in the Selkirks, are easy to make out. To the north lie the remote peaks of Goat Range Provincial Park, while the view to the south into the US of A is primarily forest and low mountains. It is an impressive view from up there and given its location has an "island in the sky" feel to it. The glacier itself is quite large and interesting to explore. Oh, and best of all no smoke!

The unpaved Kokanee Glacier Road leading up to the trailhead is steep and rough in spots and best negotiated with a 4x4 or capable SUV. Starting at the Gibson Lake Trailhead, we hiked the main trail for about 3.5 km before taking the unsigned junction at right onto the Keyhole Trail. This we followed with ease to where the trail officially ends at what appears to be an abandoned mine below a large talus slope. If it was not obvious, a signpost here states "end of trail". The next objective, a notch aptly named The Keyhole is directly above and easy to make out. A tedious grind up talus and large boulders finally saw us to this notch and from where we would first behold a view of Kokanee Glacier. We turned right and completed the short scramble up to the summit of Esmeralda, with me proceeding on my own to tag Cond Peak. All in, it is about 12.5 km round trip to The Keyhole and maybe another couple kms wandering about the glacier and ridges between the peaks. About 7 hrs in total at a moderate just-spent-a-week-houseboating pace. The rain returned by afternoon the following day and put the kibosh on any further gallivanting. Our trip was coming to an end anyway, so homeward bound we went, taking the scenic route along Slocan Lake and the cable ferry across Lower Arrow Lake on our way back. Good times on the road 'splorin' new country and a great send off to a most productive Summer of peakbagging!

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Mount Outram - Southwest Route, October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 23 May 2021 09:30:00 +0000

At 8074 ft, Mount Outram is the highest Cascade Range peak north of highway 3 and shortly east of the town of Hope, BC. Part of the Hozomeen Range, Outram boasts over 1000 ft of prominence and is easy to make out from a variety of North Cascade summits in the vicinity of the US-Canada border, including Mount Larrabee, Mount Rexford and the Ensawkwatch Peaks, North Hozomeen and MacDonald Peak, just to name a few. With a trailhead just off the highway, a well-established trail to the alpine and short but enjoyable scramble, Outram makes for a very reasonable 6000-foot, ~20 km day trip.

It is an ideal objective for the Fall being that the entirety of the hike ascends the peak's South Face and thus, remains snow-free later into the season than most other objectives of a similar stature. The autumnal colors, despite some smokiness on the day I happened to be there added contrast that only a transition between seasons can bring. The large talus slope above treeline was easy going as well thanks to a worn path up through the looseness. The scramble to the summit proper offered some mild excitement which unfortunately came to an end much too soon. The views from up top aren't too bad either and give a great perspective on the swath of peaks north of Ross Lake. And yeah yeah, Silvertip Shilvertip...it’s impossible to ignore from up there and I know all too well that it too will someday need to be bagged, sufferfest and all. But that pesky "ultra" can wait her turn. Got some other low hanging fruit out Skagit way to attend to first...

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Stawamus Chief Mountain - Backside Trail, October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 24 May 2021 17:57:00 +0000

The iconic granitic dome overlooking the town of Squamish, BC, Stawamus Chief Mountain is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. It is featured in countless movies usually set in places other than Squamish and is a magnet for big wall and trad climbers, and increasingly base jumpers. Prior to this trip I had already frequented "The Chief" numerous times, climbing routes on The Apron, a sweep of lower angled rock below the Grand Wall, as well as an afternoon of sport climbing friction slabs just below the summit of the lower of its three peaks (report and photos here). A relatively new addition to the BC provincial park inventory, Stawamus Chief Provincial Park seeks to protect this geologic marvel as well as the creatures that inhabit its forests, nooks, and crannies. The park also maintains a steep hiking trail on the back side of The Chief, appropriately named Backside Trail. This trail serves as both a descent route for climbers as well as a hiking trail to reach each of the three peaks.

On an overcast but dry October day I set out with my JRT in tow up the Backside Trail to once and for all tag the remaining two peaks of The Chief. Having already been up the lower First Peak, I stayed right at the junction and continued up to the Second Peak. The fixed chains and peg ladder near the top made for an enjoyable "via ferrata" vibe, which ended up being the highlight of the day. It was also a bit challenging being that I was clutching a terrified 17-lb dog in one arm! Lotsa folks chillin' up on Second Peak, so I didn't linger and continued along the wide crest down into a forested saddle before scrambling back up along ledges and ramps to the broad dome that is the third and highest peak. Enjoyed unique views looking north over lower Squamish River Valley and town of Squamish as well as Howe Sound to the southwest. On return, we took the trail from the saddle between 2nd and 3rd directly down to the trailhead for a most enjoyable half-day romp. Not sure how I managed to overlook this gem hiding in plain sight for so long. Highly recommended!

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Evans Peak - Evans Peak Trail, October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 22:57:00 +0000

I was flipping through the online table of contents of 105 Hikes by Steven Hui in search of a good shoulder season summit hike. You know, something a relatively short drive away, not too terribly long or time consuming, doable with some snow up high and above all, good views. Basically, the same discovery process I employed for my preceding Sumas Mountain hike, except this time without the view-robbing clouds! 3714-ft Evans Peak out in Golden Ears Provincial Park seemed to meet those criteria, and so on a crisp and cloudless October morning I set out to bag this "beast" of a mountain. I had climbed the park's highest and namesake, North Ear several years back so I guess it seemed fitting to also stand atop one of lowest named summits in the park. Hoo boy!

Not too much more to say other than it's a steep forested grunt of hike before reaching a series of short rocky steps near the top, which by this time of year was coated in verglass and made for some tricky moves. Good views from the summit of the precipitous east faces of Edge and Blanshard peaks as well as Alouette Lake with Mount Crickmer on the opposite side. Usual suspects Mount Robie Reid and Mount Judge Howay also on full display to the north. All in all, a worthwhile Autumn jaunt with a unique perspective on familiar peaks!

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Panorama Ridge - via Rubble Creek Trail, October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 22:25:00 +0000

Situated between Garibaldi Lake and The Black Tusk, aptly named Panorama Ridge offers unobstructed 360-degree panoramic views of some of the best mountainscapes in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Typically accessed from the Rubble Creek Trailhead, it is a popular hiking objective for at least 3 seasons out of the year. At about 30 km round-trip, it is also a longish one which thanks to a network of well-maintained trails results in a very manageable day trip for most. Taking advantage of another favorable October weather forecast, I set aside my lack of desire for yet again hiking the Rubble Creek trail and made tracks for Panorama Ridge.

With a foot or less of snow accumulation starting around Taylor Meadows and a well trod path the entire way to the summit, I found it to be an enjoyable albeit somewhat frigid ascent. The route finale follows a bit of a rock spur to reach a prominent bump on the summit ridge. Most appear to stop here, despite the actual summit being a short walk down to a saddle and up to the next highest point away. The view overlooking Garibaldi Lake and the peaks and glaciers that surround it most certainly do not disappoint and is the big draw for those that come this way. Mount Garibaldi rises conspicuously from the opposite side of the lake while the mighty Castle Towers Mountain looms just off to the ESE. Turn 180-degrees and The Black Tusk steals the show with an unending sea of peaks spread out behind it. The Tantalus Range is of course ever present there to the southwest and makes for an inspirational backdrop for much of the return to Taylor Meadows. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars with the half point deduction for the bruised butt courtesy of the icy Rubble Creek Trail descent!

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Mount Seymour - Mt. Seymour Trail, October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 22:45:00 +0000

Late October now and I was looking to my "back yard" peaks for something in the 'hood to bag. Set course for Mount Elsay, the next peak after Seymour (and Runner). Alas a late start combined with verglass covered rock on shaded aspects made for slower than normal travel and ultimately conspired against me. Called it good at the final saddle where the routes for Elsay and Seymour diverge and just continued another ~5 mins up Seymour instead. If anyone's counting, this would now be my third time following previous ascents in January 2002 and October 2015. Fantastic views as always from up top, one of the best for the North Shore peaks and always a fun little hike for an otherwise "urban peak". Witnessed a rescue helicopter come to the aid of some teen sitting beside the trail just below the intervening Tim Jones Peak while I was up there. Asked if help was needed but couldn't quite make out what if any his injuries were, nor am I sure was he. Not that he seemed motivated to bother trying being that a helivac was on its way. God help us all. Anyway, made a short detour to catch the sunset from nearby Dog Mountain on my return to wrap up yet another fine Autumn day in the hillz!

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Slollicum Peak - Slollicum Peak Trail, November 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:22:00 +0000

With great Fall weather continuing into November and the expectation that much of the early snow had melted off the lower peaks, we made a dash for Slollicum Peak. Here's yet another that I plucked from the popular local hiking guides boasting a good trail and outstanding views, particularly of Harrison Lake - SWBC's largest. Except for a couple trips to the Chehalis Range, I'd not yet been up on top of anything near this lake. A stroll along the beach at Harrison Hot Springs aside, my only glimpses to this point had been from Welch, Lady and Cheam some ~13 miles away to the southeast. A Harrison-area peak bag was clearly overdue! This is an enjoyable hike, following a relatively well-marked and frequently traveled trail interspersed with sections of forest road. It concludes with a pleasant stroll along an undulating tree-and-heather ridge leading to a small rocky summit.

Overlooking the east shore towards the southern end of Harrison Lake, Slollicum offers a commanding view of said lake as well as the various peaks and mountain ranges that flank it. To the north is the elusive Mount Breakenridge with the remote Mehatl and Stein area ranges beyond it, while Urquhart and The Old Settler rise prominently in the northeast. The Anderson River Group, Mount Outram and some other stuff out in Manning Park are visible to the east with Mount Baker and the Cheam Range dominating the southern view. Closer in, the Harrison and Fraser Rivers could be seen glistening in the golden Autumn sunshine as was Sumas Mountain sitting there in the middle of the Fraser Valley. Finally, looking west the giants north of Mission District, Mount Robie Reid and Judge Howay are easy to make out as are the Chehalis big boys Clark, Recourse and Grainger. Fantastic! With so much to feast the eyes on it was difficult to leave!

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South Needle - Hydraulic Trail, November 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 19:28:00 +0000

A classic among the North Shore scrambles, the Needles Traverse combines three mostly vegetated summits along the divide separating Lynn Creek and Seymour River. Typically done north-to-south starting from a trailhead far up Seymour Valley, the traverse is a bit of a rite of passage for local baggers. That said, it makes for a big day with a ~9 km bike ride along the Seymour Trailway followed by a steep trail up to just below Coliseum before even embarking on the traverse. Deep, bushy notches separate the three needles followed by steep brushy pitches ascending to and descending from their small rocky summits. For the full value experience, one can continue past South Needle up and over Lynn Peak and the lookout beyond to eventually end up on the gravel road linking the Conservation Reserve and Lynn Headwaters Park. A shorter alternative would be to simply take the Hydraulic Creek Trail after South Needle back down to the trailway. Either way, there's the problem of having to return via the trailway some 4 kms on foot at the very least to retrieve the bike stashed earlier in the day, followed by a 9 km ride back. Um...I'll pass, thanks.

Middle Needle is the highest of the three and all I was really interested in. More importantly, it avoids the above logistical headaches. So, 5 km along the Trailway, then up the Hydraulic Creek Trail to the crest trail coming from Lynn Peak, up'n over South Needle and finally up Middle Needle (and back). Easy peasy, right? Not exactly. The crux of the traverse happens to lie on South's steep north slope, which I would have had to both descend and climb back up upon return. It's a matter of a short cliff with some exposure that in dry summer conditions would go just fine. A fixed handline just out of reach to the left would have facilitated my return nicely as well. The problem was that said cliff was on the shaded aspect with slick, frosted rock and frozen duff and dirt. Getting good purchase was next to impossible. Shoulda brought a scramble rope, but I didn't, and wasn’t in the mood for trying my luck. Had a nice long break on top of South instead soaking in the weak November sunshine and remarkably good views!

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Croker Lookout & Little Horn - Dilly Dally Trail, November 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 22:00:00 +0000

Damn, a couple months shy of a year in the backlog here! Wait a bit longer and I could just pretend the posts are current. Anyhoo...

Went for this on a damp and dark November day because well, the mountains were calling, and the objective seemed fitting for the time of year and conditions. The allure of this hike is Croker Lookout which amounts to a neat view framed by trees of Indian Arm with Croker Island lying there in the middle. Nearby Little Horn Mountain provides a named summit to satisfy the peakbagger in us, although there's not much of a view from its treed summit other than a glimpse of the Vancouver skyline with a sliver of Burrard inlet as well as a peekaboo view of Buntzen Lake. I was familiar with the approach, having previously hiked the Diez Vistas and Swan Falls loop trails, both of which start from Buntzen Lake. Fun little area to explore, not far from home and just enough of an "out there" feel for both dog and human!

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Tantalus View Lookout - High & Cheakamus Loop Trails, November 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 22:35:00 +0000

Another fine November day, another reason to milk the last of the hiking season before the lifts start spinning and my priorities inevitably change. Never been to Brohm Lake before and always wondered what all the fuss was about, with the always-full parking lot and such. Yes, it is a fine place to burn a summer afternoon, relaxing on the lakeside slabs and enjoying a refreshing dip, but there's more to it than meets the eye! Set amongst a beautiful forest, the park has several trails that circle the lake and climb up to viewpoints overlooking the Cheakamus River with outstanding panoramas of the Tantalus Range. From the main parking lot, I did a counter clockwise loop around the lake and took the longer, more scenic route following High Trail and Cheakamus Loop Trail before returning back via the wooden bridge at south end of the lake. With a lovely lake, lush forest, stunning mountain and river valley views, this is a great little outing for the Fall and Winter seasons!

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Mount Crumpit - Clockwise from Westway Ave, December 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 23:10:00 +0000

Mount Crumpit is an unremarkable forested hill within Squamish city limits with surprisingly good views. For the peakbaggers among us, it provides a satisfying loop hike with several viewpoints that look towards Mamquam Mountain, Stawamus Chief, Howe Sound, and across the town of Squamish towards the higher peaks to the west and north. It makes for a great shoulder season venue, particularly on a crisp and clear December day like I experienced.

The trails here are popular with hikers and mountain bikers alike, and are a bit of a maze for those without a keen sense of direction. Starting from a trailhead off Westward Avenue, I made a clockwise loop starting with the S&M Connector trail as it proceeds up a small valley. From there I turned right onto the Fatherside Trail at which point the climbing begins. There were several junctions and other trails that I followed beyond this point, but won't go into any of that as details for this hike abound on the interwebs. A short bit of hands-on scrambling just below the treed no-view summit provides a bit of excitement for human and pup alike, followed by several more viewpoints along the trail now descending from the highpoint. I eventually rejoined the S&M Connector trail and returned to where I started a few short hours earlier. Downed the obligatory brewski and commenced my "essential travel" back home. Cheers!

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Zoa Peak - Ski Touring, December 2020

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 21:03:00 +0000

Ski season at last! Paired up with Bryant for my first turns off the "Coq". A popular year-round objective, Zoa's a good venue during times of questionable avalanche conditions as well as shaking off the dust after a long summer of no shredding! Parked at the large, plowed parking area off Falls Lake Road and made short work of the skin up to the summer trailhead. Up through forest for a bit then gained a broad ridge with increasing views. Crested a subsummit whereupon we could see the objective and slopes we intended to ski. All looked good with just a handful of tracks from prior parties. A short ski down to a saddle and final skin back up saw us to summit proper. Great views towards the Andersen River peaks, Coquihalla Mountain, Yak Peak's impressive North Face, a range of distant peaks flanking the west side of the Fraser Canyon and finally the rolling hills that dominate the country to the east. Made a few enjoyable laps down Zoa's NE slopes before calling it a day. Easy access, great snow and options for further exploration; were it not for the long ass drive, I'd give it 2 thumbs up.

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Coquitlam Lakeview Trail, January 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 18:28:00 +0000

An area of the GVRD "front range" I hadn't yet explored, I was curious about hill country bound between Coquitlam Lake to the west and the much larger Pitt Lake to the east. This slice of the South Coast encompasses Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, a large swath of remote wilderness that extends north to meet with better known Garibaldi Provincial Park. This is where the best parts of Pinecone Burke are found, with Seed Peak being the one summit I've stood atop out thataway thus far. At its southern end and my entry point for this hike, there's not too much of interest to us summiteers other than perhaps Coquitlam Mountain and a couple others; at least not something that's within reasonable striking distance of the metropolitan areas of greater Vancouver.

Coquitlam Mountain it also turns out lies wholly within the Coquitlam Lake Watershed and is therefore illegal to ascend...not that that deters the hardened peakbaggers out there mind you. This leaves lesser peaks such as Mount Burke and Widgeon Peak as the runner ups. Perhaps someday I'll look upon the two with more desire, but for now the time and effort to reach these lowly peaks doesn't really inspire me. So, with all that considered I settled on this gem (JK) of an outing instead – Coquitlam Lakeview Trail! This is a semi-popular local hike that barely scratches the surface of said provincial park. It features, not an actual summit but rather a lookout with a decent view, of...you guessed it, Coquitlam Lake, as well as a chunk of the Lower Mainland with the Fraser River meandering across it. Also, a great perspective on Point Roberts with the Salish Sea and Vancouver Island in the distance. Anyway, this was our first outing for 2021, and at about 13 km round trip also a good choice for when Winter conditions prevail. We returned via Sawblade Falls making a bit of a lollipop loop out of it for a pleasant day of "Pinecone-Burke'ing".

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Mount Saint Benedict, January 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:18:00 +0000

Taking advantage of a spell of nice weather, the high snow line and absence of POW, we set out for a day hike up Mount Saint Benedict. This is another great year-round objective in an area which I refer to as the uplands of Mission District. The peak lies across Stave Lake from Mount Crickmer which I bike'n hiked in Spring '20. Due to the high snow line, we were able to drive the Lost Murdo Creek FSR several km's to where we were stopped by a water bar. Had we driven the truck, we could have continued up the snow-free road to the upper trailhead. Water bars aside, the road was reasonably SUV'able otherwise.

Didn't encounter snow until shortly before McKay Lake, after which it was all snow the rest of the way to the summit. There are orange diamonds on the trees marking the trail and it wasn't long before we found ourselves on an open bench in the sun contemplating the peak's steep north face. Starting from the west side of the peak, the trail essentially corkscrews around the north side before finishing with a short, steep pitch up the east slope to the summit plateau. We enjoyed pleasant views of Mount Robie Reed, Mount Judge Howay, Stave Lake, the Golden Ears range and Fraser Valley from up top. We heard what sounded like a helicopter flying overhead as we were contouring around the lake earlier that morning. It seems to have landed on the summit as we could see the imprint of the skids in the snow up there. Curious... Headed back down after a quick bite to eat as a cold wind was making us shiver. Back to the car without incident, making a short detour to check out nearby Cascade Falls on the drive home. All-in-all, a fine little outing with good access, great views, a pretty lake and a stunning waterfall to round out the day.

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Saint Marks Summit, January 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 18:52:00 +0000

Had myself a lovely birthday hike out to Saint Marks on a beautifully sunny mid-winter day. Second time for me, the previous one being on an overcast day in October a couple years back. This is a justifiably popular hike starting from the Cypress Mountain base area, a mere 25 minute drive from my house. Truth be told, I had the intention of carrying on and bagging Unnecessary Mountain, but the icy snow conditions beyond Saint Marks warranted spikes or even crampons which I unfortunately didn't think would be necessary and so left at home. Called it and instead enjoyed a nice long break checking out St. Marks' various viewpoints and tagging the actual summit, itself just a nondescript bump in the trees a few paces east of the trail. The views looking out over Howe Sound, panning south-to-north from Bowen Island to the Tantalus Range are of course legendary and the main reason for this hike's popularity. Lesser known perhaps are the views from the other side of the crest that include The Lions, Cathedral Mountain and Meslilloet Mountain to name a few. With the sun beginning to wane and having gotten my fill exploring every nook and cranny up there, birthday beers started to preoccupy my mind and so I started down the cattle trail back to the parking area. Should it be necessary for me to make another attempt at Unnecessary, I think I'll try something new and take the direct trail from Lions Bay instead.

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Mount Price - Ski Touring, February 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 16:32:00 +0000

Teamed up with Bryant and friends for a much-anticipated tour of Mount Price. I've hiked the Rubble Creek Trail 4 or 5 times now, but only once to Garibaldi Lake and that was way back in '00. A return visit was clearly long overdue! As a ski tour, Price is an obvious choice and a classic one at that. A 9-kilometer hike and skin up the trail leads to the mesmerizing expanse of frozen Garibaldi Lake with a panorama of peaks and glaciers visible beyond the opposite shoreline. From there we followed the route taken by the summer trail, now obviously buried under the snow, eventually gaining the steep North Ridge of Clinker Peak's east summit. From there, we traversed to a broad saddle southwest of Price proper before completing the short ascent to the large summit plateau. Lotsa oohing and aahing, high fives and congratulations ensued. Cut our summit stay short as high clouds were slowly advancing and we wanted to make the most of the still-good visibility.

Clicked/strapped-in and descended wind-affected snow to the saddle. Now with Mount Garibaldi to our backs and Garibaldi Lake before us, we dove in for ~1600-ft of bottomless pow down the money pitch on Price's north slope. Hell yeah! Back at the lakeshore, skins on and a long trek across the lake to intersect with the trail and return the way we came. Um, well...not exactly. Conditions seemed primed for it, so what the heck, why not take a shortcut and ski The Barrier as well! Snow wasn't the best here, but sure beats the horror of splitboard-skiing that icy trail in its entirety! A fitting finish to most excellent day on the so-called Price Is Right Tour!

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Mount Rohr - Ski Touring, March 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 21:45:00 +0000

Made tracks for Mount Rohr as my debut ski tour off the Duffey. Under favorable snow conditions, this is a relatively straightforward outing leading to a high and rewarding summit. As with most tours in the region, the zone doesn't come into shape until around midwinter when the snowpack is deep and allows for unimpeded travel into the alpine. Been out this way previously, climbing Mount Marriot back in July of '18, following the same early part of the approach to Rohr. Except this time, I'd be skinning from the highway to the trailhead and beyond. As I feared, Agata ducked out early and left me to fend for myself, making my way to a small basin where most of the tracks turned up and right towards Rohr Lake. Following a well-established skin track, I proceeded up a headwall, soon reaching the lake nestled at the mouth of a scenic alpine valley WNW of the peak. From there it was simply a matter of following the skin track up into said valley, eventually spotting those responsible for the track in the large basin below Rohr's West Face. I was relieved to see untouched slopes all 'round. Fresh tracks for the descent were guaranteed!

In hot pursuit of the party ahead, I followed their tracks up and left (north) to finish via the NW Ridge to the summit proper. Stellar views from up there of course, especially of the Joffre Group! Took a group photo of the party and let them enjoy the descent without the pressure of an impatient knuckle dragger bearing down on them. Having hung back long enough, I dropped-in on the obvious NW-trending pitch off the summit. When the grade eased back, I traversed left across a wide bench before turning back right for a final glorious descent on a large convex slope into the same basin where I first spotted the other party. Made sure to tuck the arms sliding into my turns for the finale as I now had myself an audience! As always, the fun was over with far too quickly and with more time I'd have gone back up for another lap. But not today, so switched to touring mode and followed the skin track back to Rohr Lake and down into the small basin below. Noticed some ski tracks traversing left well above the approach track here and so switched back to shred mode for an adventurous rip through some trees and a final avalanche swath to intersect with the main skin track. Back to the highway soon after, and THAT as they say was THAT! Listen carefully and you can still Hear Me Rohr down from the summit!

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Sasin/Pretty Peak - NNE Ridge, April 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:31:00 +0000

Sasin Peak, also known as Pretty Peak, is a somewhat obscure summit located near the community of Harrison Mills in the Fraser Valley. A report posted last winter to one of the local FB hiking groups I follow piqued my curiosity: good access, reasonable vert and mileage (depending on how high one can drive), ideal in winter or spring, and best of all great views overlooking the Fraser Valley...sign me up! I've not had the best luck with the views on my Fraser Valley hikes lately - Cheam Peak, Sumas Mountain, Vedder Mountain - all socked-in, so I was really looking forward to changing that.

Proceeding up the logging spur off the Chehalis FSR in my truck, I drove as high as I felt comfortable with summer tires and all, stopping at a landing with about an inch of snow on the ground. Continued up the road now on foot, soon running into continuous snow which quickly became deep enough to warrant snowshoes. Up past a switchback, then another long straightaway in the shade before rounding a corner to be greeted by the welcoming warmth of the sun. Kept going until reaching the base of a large clear-cut area on the east side of a broad ridge. Booted up this to reach a line of trees, thinking to myself that this pitch would have made for a nice ski descent with the cold dry powder I found up there at the time. Ducked into the trees atop the cut block and following the occasional shag of flagging made my way up along the ridge.

Fairly easy going now with the occasional steep, snowy step to contend with. Towards the end, the route traverses the peak's east slopes before turning up for a final steep grind up deep powder to the flat summit area. Unfortunately, the scattered clouds from earlier in the morning didn't dissipate as I had hoped, but thankfully remained above the summit of Sasin. While the summits of the higher Cheam Range peaks were obscured, the elusive Fraser Valley views I was ultimately after were not. Great perspective on the Harrison-Fraser confluence and Harrison Mills peninsula, the Chilliwack plains and the Sumas Prairie from up there. Well worth the effort and a bit of a hidden gem, especially on a cold, late-winter day with a deep snowpack!

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Mount Elphinstone - Mt. Elphinstone Trail, April 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Having satisfied myself of Fraser Valley hikes for the time being, I ventured west once again in search of a "backyard" mountaintop I'd not been to yet. And by backyard, I mean about 38 km as the crow flies from my front door, even if a short ferry crossing is involved. With an established trail all the way to the summit and the prospect of great views overlooking the mouth of Howe Sound as well as a portion of its lower midsection, Mount Elphinstone out on the Sunshine Coast fit the bill perfectly. Averaging about 13 km round-trip this is a very reasonable day hike just a mere 3 clicks from the Langdale ferry terminal. If for no other reason than to avoid potential ferry delays, I might suggest just leaving the vehicle at Horseshoe Bay and walking on with a bike instead. Either way, the trailhead is just to the right of a T-intersection off the Sunshine Coast Highway, following signs for SprocKids Mountain Bike Park. I parked on a gravel shoulder adjacent to a yellow gate marked as "private" and proceeded up the wide trail directly opposite the parking area.

Bit of a maze of trails down low here but I found the yellow "summit trail" markers relatively easy to follow. Soon enough I came upon a small clearing with an automotive relic or two slowly being reclaimed by nature before proceeding up through a pleasing grove of second growth. Came upon a few more junctions along the way, but had no issues staying on course. After about 3.5 km I encountered a sign indicating that the trail ahead is both dangerous and difficult in winter, just the way it ought to be! Continuing up, a dusting of snow quickly turned into a foot or more, warranting the use of snowshoes. At some point the trail traverses right following what I assume must be an old forest road, briefly interrupting what up until this point had been a monotonous forest plod with the first views of the day. Then back into the forest for the final ascent to the summit, now in deep powder snow. Following tracks, I came upon a short, steep headwall that I found somewhat tricky to ascend with snowshoes. Easy going once above this spot to reach a bench area where I encountered the first and only party out on this day. Tracks stopped here despite the summit being just 5 - 10 minutes beyond. Kept going, now in whiteout conditions ever hopeful for the miracle of a clearing.

Reached the summit antenna station and lo and behold a sucker hole almost immediately appeared overhead. It was a short-lived window, but one that nonetheless afforded a partial view north up Howe Sound overlooking Gambier Island and smaller Woolridge Island. Also managed to sneak in some views to the south over Keats and Bowen Islands with Salish Sea beyond before the clouds rolled back in. Hopeful for an encore that never came, I hung out up top long enough to get cold and reluctantly started back down. Back down the trail to my car without incident, other than the slap in the face of the clouds having vanished entirely by that time. T'was a perfect spring afternoon on the return sailing to Horseshoe Bay, all peaks with their winter blankets out on full display. Damn glorious this backyard is, clouds or not!

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Cloudburst Mountain - North Route via Chance Creek FSR, May 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:58:00 +0000

Cloudburst Mountain joins a handful of other prominent peaks plainly visible from the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler. Spend enough time commuting up and down this corridor and the peak will inevitably find itself on your tick list. At least that's how it happened with me. That, and I was looking to capitalize on the great weather without much driving or suffering for that matter. Timing is everything, and done right Cloudburst makes for an ideal Springtime venue with mostly snow-free FSR access but still plenty of snow down low to bury all the annoying brush. This "window" usually occurs in late April to early May, depending on how far up Chance Creek FSR one can drive. In my case, I was stopped by snow no more than a kilometer from an obvious fork and from where the trailhead more or less begins.

Turning left off the lower fork, I followed tracks along a lesser and very overgrown road before proceeding up an old cutblock aiming for a line of trees above. Made a tricky stream crossing and continued up to enter the forest, finding much easier travel from here on out. The forest soon gave way to a gladed area below the peak's northern flank. Still following tracks, I continued up and right to gain a wide bench with rolling snow slopes ahead. Into the alpine shortly after and where the angle pitched up to reach a shoulder with corniced summit ridge visible above. Gained this ridge and turned right for the final plod to summit proper. As the southernmost peak on the Squamish-Cheakamus Divide, Cloudburst offers an outstanding perspective on the confluence of these rivers with Sky Pilot Mountain towering just beyond. This view is complemented by the stunning Tantalus Range at right and the peaks surrounding Garibaldi Lake at left. Looking due north, there are the spires of Tricouni, Fee and Cayley with the glaciated summits of the Ashlu-Squamish Divide at left and the more familiar Whistler area peaks at right. Such a great view for so little effort! Returned the way I came for a very agreeable round-trip time of about 5.5 hours. Highly recommended!

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Capilano Mountain - NW Route via Beth Lake, May 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 21:58:00 +0000

Had this one on my mind for a while, alternating between it being a worthwhile objective that's relatively close to home OR an uninteresting and lowly summit that doesn't justify the effort of getting to. Having finally bagged it, I'm pleased to report the former is the correct description. Located between the Brunswick Group to the south and the Sky Pilot Group to the north, this is also an area of the North Shore Mountains I hadn't yet visited and therefore ripe for the picking. At about 26 km round-trip, it's no slouch of an objective mind you, but at least 14 km of that is biking up/down an FSR. This entailed some occasional steep sections, but nothing a fit mountain biker couldn't handle without the need to dismount and push. I ditched the bike just before a large washout, where the road narrows to a trail before resuming on the opposite side. The Beth Lake Trail, which is used by most if not all who attempt Capilano, branches off to the right a bit further along the FSR and is easy to spot.

Continued up towards Beth Lake, bit overgrown at times but generally easy to follow. I encountered continuous snow shortly before the lake, but boot prints and markers were easy to follow. A bit tricky crossing the lake outlet stream as the area was still flooded from snowmelt, but soon resumed the steep grind to reach a brushy cliff area above. Monkeyed myself up though here and found myself at the edge of a wide bowl shortly thereafter. Traversed this, trying to minimize elevation loss aiming for a treed ridge crest at left. I crossed over the other side and kept traversing across a short but steep forested section on the SW flank of Pk 1600 (same as seen from Beth Lake) reaching a wide-open alpine area with first views of Capilano just beyond. Took the path of least resistance from there towards the peak's SW Ridge, passing a bump along the way by contouring around its south side. Ice axe and crampons handy for some short steep bits both approaching the ridge as well as part way up. Wasn't much longer before finding myself trudging across Capilano's domed summit.

Nice 360-degree panorama from up there and not much nearby to block the views - think Island in the sky! I found the perspective on the Britannia Range particularly noteworthy. From nowhere else that I have yet been to can one appreciate the entirety of the range running south-to-north, its east slopes rising precipitously from the low footings of the Capilano River Valley. Had myself a nice long rest up there, soaking in the sublime views and was not in any hurry to head back down. It had taken me somewhere around 5 hours to get up there and like it or not I had to allow as much time for the unpleasant business of returning home. So off I go, back to where I had stashed my bike with just some annoying leg cramps followed by a fun, fast rip down 7 kms of FSR, encountering several parties laden with heavy overnight packs hiking up. It was after all the start of the May Long Weekend with Covid travel restrictions and park closures once again in effect, just in time to ruin everyone's holiday weekend plans of course. Well, except those determined souls tramping up to Beth Lake and Capilano Mountain; just around the corner...a million miles away!

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Mount Grant - South Route via Eaton Lake, June 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:47:00 +0000

Headed for Mount Grant at the crack of June for a fine Springtime romp up a prominent North Cascades peak. Drive up to the trailhead doable in any car, as of this writing at least, but do beware the abandoned homeless encampment there. It's like a small piece of the Lower East Side complete with drug use paraphernalia and garbage strewn about right here in Silver-Skagit country. How quaint! Beautiful trail from there up to Eaton Lake, complete with a raging creek and numerous waterfalls to break the silence. Crossed said creek on a couple good footbridges, right then back left, before encountering continuous snow. The third and final bridge, no more than a glorified footlog, sustained some damage over the course of the Winter and was a bit too sketchy for my liking. Up along the embankment I go, soon finding a submerged handline straining against the force of the rushing water. Probably as good a place to cross as any, so boots off for an icy creek ford! Picked up the trail on the other side and followed it to the lakeshore. Scenic place with some nice flat camping spots. Sun was reaching its apex too, and boy was it a scorcher of a day!

My objective was off to the left, so back across the creek I go once more, crossing at the lake outlet where snow met a logjam. Soon picked-up some newish flagging, which with care I was able to follow to the obvious south face gully described in SSWBC. Encountered local peakbagging phenom Steven Song and party returning from the summit at bottom of said gully. Aha! I thought that might have been his red Toyota Tacoma at the trailhead! Shared some pleasantries before going our separate ways. Crampons on and followed Steven and co.'s boot track up soft snow to reach the summit area and from where there's oh-so much to see! Shuksan, Baker and the Border Peaks to the south along with the rest of the prominent "Chilliwacks" - Redoubt, Spickard, Mox Peaks, Rexford, Slesse, Lindeman etc. Great perspective on the north wall of the Cheam Range to the SW as well as the Payne-Rideout-Silvertip Group to the SE. Hope and Wells easy to make out looking north as well as Isollolock Peak looking across Silverhope Creek Valley. Judge Howay and the Chehalis Range to the NW with the unmistakable Outram massif to the NE. Darn good views in this neck of the woods folks! About 8 hours round trip and a very satisfying day in the BC Cascades!

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Mount Lindeman - North Route via Center Creek FSR, June 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 20:49:00 +0000

As any avid peak bagger in these parts knows, forest roads amount to essential infrastructure critical to the pursuit of our favorite pastime. Without active logging operations keeping the roads drivable, it's only a matter of time before they fall into disuse and are reclaimed by nature. Further deterioration caused by an increasing number of extreme weather events certainly doesn't help, and serves to remind us how fleeting this "infrastructure" can be. And so, motivated by reports of recent trail maintenance courtesy of the Chilliwack Outdoor Club, I jumped on the chance to tag Mount Lindeman. No time like the present given the FSR is (was?) still drivable, and the brush temporarily subdued!

Not my first time in the general area, having scrambled nearby MacDonald Peak the previous summer. MacDonald (and adjacent Webb) are popular local objectives given their inclusion in SSWBC and good trail access from the Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park day-use parking area. Popularity aside, Lindeman is the highest and southernmost peak on the Center Creek-Chilliwack Lake Divide where both Mac'D and Webb are also found. Knowing this, it should come as no surprise that the views from Lindeman are considerably better than those from either of the others. The summit is about a mile as the crow flies from the US border, south of which an unobstructed panorama of familiar (to me) peaks and glaciers in the North Cascades National Park and beyond are be beheld! Won't rattle them all off this time - photos speak for themselves.

Straightforward navigation as far as approaches go starting from the current parking area at a large washout (passable to ATVs). Just follow the deactivated FSR up the valley for several km's to its end, then turn left up a worn path steeply through forest to reach a meadow in the hanging basin below Lindeman's north cirque. Up an obvious gully at right side of the headwall to reach the alpine bowl above, after which it's an easy cruise to the stunning west col. Then finally, up and right across the West Face aiming for the spot where the South Ridge pitches down and meets heather and rock slopes. Just a short scramble from there up along the ridge to summit proper. A point further north on the summit ridge seemed slightly higher (it apparently isn't), so I went over to check it out. Turns out that it is guarded by a very exposed notch that likely requires technical climbing to get in and back out of. Not today, or ever, so back to the true summit where I enjoyed a snack with a killer view! Around 8 - 9 hours round trip at an average pace and my customarily short(ish) summit stay.

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Ipsoot Mountain - West Route via Rutherford Creek FSR, June 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 16:53:00 +0000

Ipsoot Mountain is a sprawling massif located north of the Rutherford Creek Valley, west of Highway 99 between Whistler and Pemberton. I've longingly gazed upon it so many times over the years, be it from the slopes at Whistler-Blackcomb or countless summits along the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and beyond. During a 2015 heli-ski trip I got the chance to shred a long, low angled pitch of wind-buffed pow from a sub summit at its western periphery before moving on for better snow elsewhere. Ever since that time, I toyed with the idea of bagging the actual summit on foot, but was put off by reports of heinous brush, and long and arduous approaches. All that changed come Spring '21 after reports surfaced on social media suggesting that the peak made for a reasonable day trip thanks to new logging roads having been cut high on its western flank. That's all the nudge I needed to get after it!

Up at zero dark thirty on a warm June morning, driving a short distance past Whistler and taking a left on the well-maintained Rutherford Creek FSR. First time up this way for me and stoked on discovering a new backcountry access route. I eventually left the main road and turned up branch 550 for a steep water bar ridden crawl to a landing at road's end just below the highest cutblock. So far so good and all tires intact! Now on foot, I continued into the forest above and then proceeded up and slightly left to intersect a prominent landslide scar visible on satellite images. Some tediousness over loose gravel and steep boilerplate here, but the scar facilitated for a good ~1500ft of brush-free travel up the west slope before abruptly ending at a cliffy impasse. This I passed by exiting stage right, taking to the trees again for a short traverse before turning back up to gain the toe of Ipsoot's West Spur. It had taken only a little over an hour to get here, and best of all the worst was now behind me!

Now on snow, I continued up and over a few sparsely treed rolls before reaching a point where the rest of the route up the spur was laid out before me. The objective was clear - aim for a minor ridge extending south from the rocky prominence directly ahead. Crossed over this ridge and followed a wide bench now on Ipsoot's south side before turning left and plodding up an aesthetic snow arete descending from the icecap. Big terrain here now as I turned right and traversed the icy expanse for a long slog towards the true summit at its east end. Zigzagged up the final headwall then did some boulder hopping ending with a short, steep snow pitch leading directly to the glorious summit. Holy moly, what a magnificent perch! With the mighty Rhododendron there close at hand, the nearby Pemberton Icefield and more distant Lillooet Icefield, the valleys of Whistler and Pemberton far below and all that lies above as far south as the Tantalus Range and beyond - all on full display! To summarize, a BIG mountain with even bigger views and averaging around 7 hours round-trip, a surprisingly not-so-big day!

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Sugarloaf Mountain - East Ridge/Face via Miller Bench Road, July 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 10:43:00 +0000

As with some other peaks in the area, Sugarloaf Mountain is a peak I've previously visited thanks to the aid of a Bell 407 in blue and white livery. Sugarloaf's sheltered north-facing bowl made for a very enjoyable ski/snowboard descent and was the highlight of a fine day of shredding back in December 2015. From an LZ just below the summit, we enjoyed a nice long run down into the valley stopping finally in the basin immediately west of Mount Ross. Not an inkling did I have of my future human-powered trek to the peak, but then this along with most of everything nearby was still very much a mystery to me.

Six years on and ever on the lookout for day trips that meet my criteria for location, access, views and aesthetic. Sugarloaf stood out, which was surprising really as it isn't featured in any of the guidebooks or appeared to be much talked about in the online forums I routinely scour for trip ideas. That said, with a couple primitive shelters situated along the (east) approach ridge and forest roads that end just below tree line, the only one for whom this is something new is obviously me. I get the sense that this zone is popular with Pemberton area snowmobilers in Winter and is used as a launching-off point for paragliders in Summer. It also happens to feature on the "P600M" BC prominence list, which makes it a required summit for the observing peakbaggers that then spray about it on Facebook, which is finally how I got wind of it.

Anyway, it took me two attempts to reach the summit, thanks to the unbearable heat we experienced during the June - July "Heat Dome" event. I've never turned back for fear of heat exhaustion before, but with the onset of dizziness and fatigue, I reluctantly aborted the hike in a desperate hurry to find shade. Presumably due to the sudden and unseasonable heat, the swarming mosquitos were also unlike anything I've experienced before; worse even than my previous experience in the Wind River Range en route to Wyoming's Gannett Peak, and that's saying a lot! I returned on my second attempt not two weeks later armed with a white pressed button-down shirt soaked in deet and a headnet. It was still stupid hot that day, but not nearly as bad as my previous attempt.

The details: to get there, simply leave the Pemberton Meadows Road shortly after the bridge over Miller Creek, taking a left right before the bridge over Ryan Creek. Follow the unpaved road parallel to said creek for a bit before it begins climbing, and following the main branch (left, right, right, left) to where it ends near the forested crest of Sugarloaf's lower East-Southeast Ridge. An obvious trail starts here and follows the ridge up to tree line where the shelters I mentioned are located. Here the trail ends, but the way forward is obvious - follow the ridge towards the peak just beyond. Up'n over a bump or two before it is straight sailing to the large snow patch on Sugarloaf's SE Face. Up the snow patch for a while, then right over talus and ledges to reach a spur on the peak's east side, which I followed to the summit. Hot damn are the views wicked from up there! Icefields to the west and towering peaks flanking the mighty Lillooet River Valley to the north and east with majestic Rhododendron and Ipsoot stealing the show to the south. Some smoke unfortunately as well, and sadly only the beginning of yet another active fire season, but great bang for the buck given only a 7-hour day round trip!

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Vicuna & Guanaco - via Coldwater FSR, July 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 17:42:00 +0000

Checked out the duo out in the Anderson River Group on a particularly smokey day this past July. Coldwater FSR was in decent shape to the Zum parking area, after which things progressively got bushier. Drove as far as I dared stopping about 2km shy of the trailhead and hoofed it from there. Trail generally well-marked to alpine. Some muddy meadows to contend with and still plenty of water sources to rehydrate with despite the overbearing heat. Up to the col and off for Vicuna first. Route seems improbable from afar but reveals itself as one approaches. A rope as well as a chain with extension composed of plastic-coated cable (attached to a bolt) provides aid up through the crux. 2 hours car to summit. Tagged Guanaco next. No rest up on summit there either thanks to mozzies. All in all, bugs were bearable and nowhere near as bad as they had been in the weeks prior, but still made for a continuous movement kinda day. As for the smoke, there was plenty to the east, somewhat less west and blue overhead. Seemed to improve as the day wore on probably due to a change in wind direction and/or sun angle. 6 hours round-trip, then off to my usual freedom camping spot out by Hope Slide in position for the following day's adventure!

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Hope & Wells - via Hope Mtn. FSR, July 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:39:00 +0000

Picked off the low hanging fruit out by Hope on my return from Coquihalla area. Hope Mountain FSR in great shape, a bit loose with softball-sized rocks in places, but otherwise doable in an SUV (as of last Summer at least). Water bars only on the final ~1km stretch. Easy trail up to Hope summit, 2hrs. Outstanding views! Much less smoke than the day before. Couple benches to take a seat and enjoy the views from up there as well as a toilet where one can do the same should nature come calling. Back down after about an hour wandering about and snapping photos. Didn't use the facilities. Wells next, quick but steep up to the meadows. Meadow area is festooned with new flagging, a bit overkill IMO. Traverse up and left to gain shoulder then short steep grunt to summit ridge, a bit over an hour from parking area. Great views from here too with evidence of fires burning somewhere north of Hope, SE towards Manning and a new one to the ESE that mushroomed dramatically while I was up top. Encountered a large buck with rack on my return from the summit, adding to what is an enjoyably casual outing with much to see both near and far!

Mount Brew (Lillooet) - via Hope Mtn FSR, July 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 17 May 2022 14:31:00 +0000

Following in the footsteps of the "Great Ones" of the SWBC Peakbaggers FB group I've been following lately, I made my way over towards Lillooet for a climb of Brew's NE Ridge. At just under 9500 feet, Brew is considered the 5th highest in SWBC and as such commands an impressive panorama overlooking the confluence of lower Cayoosh Creek, Seton River and the mighty Fraser River. It lies in a rain shadow of the endless valleys and peaks to the west and is predominantly comprised of fractured shale, reminiscent of what one might find in the Rockies.

Considering the long drive from North Vancouver, I car camped the night before next to what appears to be an old quarry over in Cayoosh Canyon, a few clicks from Lillooet. Drove Enterprise Creek FSR some 11 km to the parking area the next morning, fully expecting to be devoured by mosquitos the moment I stepped out of the truck. Lo and behold, NO MOZZIES! Left the head net behind and made my way up (down) the trail. As others have noted, a good amount of chainsaw woodworking went into the making of this trail. Trail is generally well flagged but does become indistinct when crossing through waist-high veggie patches higher up. Keep your eyes peeled for flagging and all will be good. Marked trail ends in a small meadow carpeted in mountain lupine below a headwall. Turned up and left and contoured along the base to eventually gain the broad ridge above the saddle at head of Enterprise Creek Valley.

Now in the alpine, I proceeded up and over various sub summits before finding myself at a notch contemplating the steep rock climb back up the other side. It does indeed look worse than it is but take care here as the first couple footholds crumbled beneath my feet as I started up. Cruiser up from there along the ridge, which becomes progressively narrower and more exposed the higher you go. Bailed on the rotten ridge near its end and cut left across the obvious ledge that spans the upper East Face. Much looseness albeit without too much exposure ensued. Turned up after crossing the ledge and endured an exhausting crawl up the scree treadmill for the final pitch to the summit plateau. 4.5 hours to summit. Bit cool and breezy up top with rain evident further off to the SW. Smoke from Lillooet and Lytton fires visible but remained confined to their immediate areas and/or were being blown eastwards. Returned the way I came and back at the truck for a 9.5-hour day including breaks. All in all, a worthwhile outing with unique scenery and fun scrambling, albeit quite loose at times. Oh, and did I mention NO MOZZIES?

Sootip Peak - via Soo River FSR, July 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 11:49:00 +0000

Just had a half day to play and made my way over to Sootip being it's a short hike overall and generally pup friendly. Something like 8 km RT & 2500 ft gain, although it felt like more. It's a steep and rough drive up to the hut at the trailhead, not so much a matter of clearance, just lotsa loose, sharp rocks. Then again, an older Rav 4 with a lift made it up soon after my return but left behind a portion of the exhaust system on the side of the road. You've been warned.

Not long before reaching beautiful alpine meadows dotted with countless small lakes and tarns. Pepper made a point of bathing in every single one of them. It was a hot afternoon. Left the trail at some point to take a more direct line to the peak, crossing though several ups n' downs before again reconnecting with the trail, now marked on occasion with small red flags bearing the letters EMCO. Not sure what bathroom fixtures have to do with any of this, but anyway. Trail becomes indistinct higher up, but it's pretty obvious where to go. Fantastic 360-degree panorama from up top! Has an "island in the sky" feel to it, 2 hours car to summit. Started back down after about 30 min up top, following the EMCO flags this time, expecting to intersect the trail I was on earlier in the day. Things were going well until the trail petered out far to the left (north) of where I needed to be. Others appear to have suffered a similar fate here as there are random cairns and indistinct bits of a path visible in the heather on the cross-country trek back to the main trail. Saved by GPS! Trail confusion aside, this is hands down a high value objective and well worth the effort!

Sunshine & Cadwallader (aka Crazy) - via Noel Creek FSR, August 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 11:28:00 +0000

Two tries at this one having previously called it at Sunshine summit after balking at the loss and gain (and return) necessary to bag Crazy from there. Predictably, I couldn't just let that be the end of it and soon found myself back on the slopes of Sunshine staring down that dreaded descent. The drive up and down the Hurley is, well, the same monotonous, dusty, and bouncy affair it always is this time of year. Except, the grader was back for my round two and as of this writing has "smoothed" the road from the Bralorne Connector up and over Railroad Pass. Good enough to sucker me into relaxing my brake foot a bit too much resulting in a punctured tire. Time for a proper set of tires! Anyway, dealt with that and rolled into Bralorne proper, looking for the start of Noel Creek FSR. Thanks to directions from @danemoreau, I made my up the landing with ski chalet without further difficulty. Just take the left fork after a couple kms and you can't miss it. Water bars not too bad; doable in a regular SUV.

Trail up to the alpine follows an ATV/moto track that starts behind the chalet. Since I'd been up Sunshine before, I skirted the first false summit to a notch, then followed Sunshine's NW Ridge before again traversing talus slopes on the right (west) side, aiming for a prominent shoulder of gray-colored scree and gravel. Angled down this to reach the basin south of Sunshine then made my way back up onto Crazy's long NW Ridge. Easy from there before reaching craggier terrain below the summit block, traversing once more at right to bypass a bump along the way. As the terrain steepened towards the top, I traversed right into an obvious gully system and picked my way up loose rock to the summit. No real hands-on scrambling unless you go looking for it. Flying ants and the occasional mosquito interrupted the savoring of the fruits of my labor and I spent all of 10-15 min up there before heading back down. Turned into a scorcher of an afternoon and had heck of a time grinding back up that gray scree treadmill slope on Sunshine! No water en route, except for the occasion drip from snow patches. About 3:45 hrs to summit and 8:15 round-trip, down takes about as long as up thanks to talus and loose rock. Final Sunshine pics from a scenic detour along Carpenter Lake Road to Lillooet following my first attempt. Lots more to explore out this way and access seems generally good - Truax, Whitecap and the obvious ones in the South Chilcotins: Dickson (July '19), Harris Ridge, Shulaps etc. Yup, will be back.

Mount MacFarlane - Mt. MacFarlane Trail, August 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 17:06:00 +0000

A quick rip up MacFarlane on a warm and mildly smoky August day. All pavement to trailhead parking and trail to alpine in great shape and easy to follow, albeit unrelentingly steep until reaching the meadow area below upper Pierce Lake. A new bridge crosses the creek now (as of June '21). There’s a short scrambly bit up the headwall just below upper lake and again at about midpoint on the East Ridge, otherwise just a casual hike. Good views of Cheam Range, Border Peaks, Shuksan and her infamous Jagged Ridge, Rexford Group and of course Slesse from summit! Damn you Slesse! Yeah, yeah one of these days...bite me! About 4.5 hrs up and ~8.5 RT with :30 spent up top. Bumped into fellow peakbagger James Patterson whilst descending the ridge and enjoyed his company for most of the hike back down. Conversation sure helps the KMs go by faster! Like the other Mc's/Mac's in the valley, this makes for a great late Summer or Fall objective with stellar views of the North Cascades. Highly recommended!

Vantage Peak - West Ridge via Cerise Creek, August 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:16:00 +0000

Inspired by recent online reports and of course the description in SSWBC, I organized a fun "family" jaunt up Vantage Peak. I was keen to behold a different perspective on the Joffre Range, not to mention getting up close and personal with the aftermath of the 2019 landslide that obliterated much of the Cerise Creek Valley. The sheer magnitude of the landslide is awe inspiring if not still somewhat terrifying. Having been up this way a couple times prior for both Matier and Joffre, I found the hike to Keith's Hut completely unrecognizable, in part because I used the old approach from the east back then, but also because so much of the old trail has simply been buried under tons of mud and rock.

We followed what is now considered the summer trail, ending with a somewhat brushy stretch of road, which thanks to the recent rain got us nicely drenched before arriving at the edge of the devastation zone. As others have noted, keep your eyes peeled for cairns and rocks with pink spray paint for the best path through this area. This "trail" now skirts the right edge of the slide path and turns up for a bit beneath Joffre's NE Face before crossing a creek to the opposite side. The orange diamonds on the trees pick back up and guide you on a good trail again to the lateral moraine below Anniversary Glacier. Skipped the hut and followed a marked trail branching off to the left to reach the small valley below Vantage Col. Then up to the col where much gawking at the excellent views was had. A trail continues from the col up Vantage's West Ridge.

As noted in SSWBC, krummholz on the lower portion of the ridge is a bit of a nuisance and isn't particularly dog friendly either. At a prominent knoll/headwall, the trail turns right and promptly disappears in some talus. Kept going right until reaching grass slopes on the peak's SW Face before turning back up and regaining the ridge. Steeper scrambling and a couple moves along a sharp crest leads to the summit area. Noted more than a good dusting of fresh snow on the higher peaks further east along the Duffey. Back down after a few minutes of snapping photos, rejoining the nappers for a short break before the long grind back down. About 5 hrs up at a casual pace and about 9 hrs round trip. Did the Van Life thing near Duffey Lake that night and enjoyed a lazy, no-agenda morning the day after. Although it can certainly be done as a quick out'n back day trip from Vancouver, we took our time on this one and made a chill weekend of it, finally blowing the spiders out the Westy's tailpipe after far too many months of disuse!

Stewart & Baby Munday (North) - via Airplane Creek FSR, September 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:16:00 +0000

Plowing through the backlog here, made it to September! Ahh, no better time of the summer for peakbagging IMO. Crisp mornings, warm afternoons, vibrant colors, sun angle conducive to great photos, stable weather (usually) and most importantly no bugs! Anyway, there's been a few reports from here in recent times, so I'll keep the prose to a minimum and just add a couple observations of my own:

Airplane creek FSR - dern rough initially, until reaching the infamous water bar that stops more than its fair share of drivers. Probably passable in a stock 4x4 such as mine with some well-timed maneuvering, but I lacked a spotter and didn't want to try my luck. Its only about 3 km from there, so I parked and hoofed it to the trailhead. Ugh! FSR is in great shape from that point onwards, with just a short stretch that been eroded on one side but shouldn't pose a problem for competent drivers. There's a fork after the water bar that isn't mentioned in SSWBC - stay right here! All in all, less sustained, not as loose, and notably better than the horrible road up to Williamson Lake Trailhead as far as I'm concerned. Note that since the November '21 floods conditions are likely to be much worse!

Baby Munday Trail - a bit overgrown on the initial stretch before the descent to Airplane Creek, although tame by local standards, avoid when wet or dew is present. Trail up to alpine below Baby Munday is a piece of work. Rooty, rocky, slippery, and steep as f#*k! Didn't notice so much on the way up, but OH MY was the down tedious. Trail forks just above tree line with the uphill/left fork presumably heading towards Knight. I went right traversing meadows and such following a path with some flagging heading for the basin between BM & Stewart. Scenic alpine basin up there with what looks to be a glacial remnant tucked away beneath Stewart and The Still. Headed up to an obvious saddle looker's right of Stewart, then scrambled broken rock to the summit. Descended the way I came and then headed for BM's north summit, because it's a 15-minute detour and there's probably zero chance of me coming back up here anytime soon. Views are outstanding though! Passed on Knight as all the talus hopping to get there didn't look all that appealing, and I had reached my turnaround time. 2 outta 3 ain't too bad, but no Peakbagger's Choice award for me on this day! 4 hrs to Stewart from where I parked and about 9.5 total. Neat zone to explore, right in the middle of the Cheam Range, but I gotta say that unless the roads are repaired soon, I regret to say that we're approaching the twilight years of favorable access to the core peaks here.

Mount McGuire - via Borden Creek FSR, September 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 15:29:00 +0000

Shit happened, plans changed, and I found myself heading for McGuire to salvage what was left of the day. My final Chilliwack area "Mc/Mac" listed in SSWBC, woohoo! Reports for this abound, so here are some tidbits that others may have left out. To start, turn up the FSR immediately before Borden FSR (dunno if it has a name) and take main/uphill branch at all forks. Didn't have much info to go on and wasn't sure I was even on the correct road until reaching the washed-out bridge after about 7 km. 4x4 recommend, maaaaybe passable in a SUV to this point, but there are some large-ish waterbars. Brush not too bad either, considering. I'd seen photos of this bridge, so all was good. Parked here as the bypass looked a bit too sporting. Unless you fancy driving up a shallow creek bed...

Road after defunct bridge in surprisingly good shape and without much elevation gain until reaching a fork a few kms later. Take right fork and continue uphill on an increasingly rough road leading into the valley below Mcguire's East Face. Road eventually makes a large 'S' and continues straight until reaching another fork with first good view of Mcguire up ahead (ignoring a steep, muddy spur at left shortly before). Left at this second fork and followed the road as it makes a big reverse 'S' now to the next couple closely spaced forks, going left on both. The last one has flagging, and an arrow fashioned from sticks lying on the ground. Follow this to a landing a couple mins later and locate the usual-for-the-area engraved trailhead post bearing the word "trail". Said trail is just off to right. No brainer from there to summit.

2.5 hours from where I parked to top, not going particularly fast. Lotsa runnable parts for those into that sorta thing. Being the highest peak at the mouth of Chilliwack Valley makes for a fantastic 360-degree panorama, with nothing obstructing the view over Fraser Valley and beyond. High value outing for sure. 6 hrs total with a good hour hanging out with the flying ants up top. Also note that following the November '21 floods, access to this area has changed.

Snass Mountain - West Ridge, September 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:06:00 +0000

Along with Mount Outram and about 13.5 km directly to its east, Snass Mountain is one of the bigger objectives in Manning Park. Approached from the south, the normal West Ridge route benefits from a paved highway to the trailhead followed by a good trail, albeit a somewhat long-ish one to a small pass overlooking Punch Bowl Lake. The peak also lies east of the Cascade Crest giving it a somewhat extended snow-free hiking season as compared to objectives further west. At least this strategy worked for me when I climbed Outram in October a few years back, so I’m sticking to it!

With just one other car parked at the trailhead, I started up the historic Dewdney Trail and continued up a forested valley for a couple kms to a junction with the Whatcom Trail. Staying right and proceeding up this other trail, I continued without issue to the pass. Leaving the main trail here, I followed a path branching off to the right now on the north side of the lower West Ridge of Snass. I followed this to where it petered-out in the heather, which on this day was still soaking wet from the previous night’s rain. I also came across a backpack lying on the ground at this spot, and rightly assumed that a Snass-bound individual had abandoned it here en route to the summit. It was also at this point that I had a decision to make – proceed steeply up wet heather on the lower flanks of the West Ridge OR traverse left below the ridge for a while longer and gain a large talus bowl that provides access to the ridge crest higher up. I went with the first option, literally crawling up the steep slope pulling on clumps of heather to keep me from slipping and sliding uncontrollably back down to the pass. As wet as it was, it might as well have been ice and I didn’t have crampons with me, plus I had a small dog in tow to boot. Going up was certainly doable, but I was concerned about the return. There was just no way to walk down that shit! Decided to do a test “glissade” before I got any higher to get a sense of how the descent would go. Managed a short and marginally controlled butt slide back to the area where the pack was. Returning in that fashion from the top would be treacherous at best!

Time for plan ‘B’. Off for the talus bowl I go, losing some elevation at first and then up a headwall comprised of hard mud, scree and such. Quite unpleasant and brave little Pepper was less than thrilled with this part. Much easier travel once in the bowl proper, soon gaining a prominent saddle in the ridge. Pleasant ridge ramble from that point on with just a couple spots of hands-on scrambling (with pup in arm). Soon ran into the owner of said pack Andriy (aka Sergei) Fendrikov (RIP) as he was returning from the summit. Chatted for a bit, confirming that it was in fact his pack that I had seen earlier and that he’d spent the previous night camping at Punch Bowl Lake. Also mentioned how greasy the heather was down below, but regrettably stopped short of asking him how he intended to return before going our separate ways. Soon made it to the top, complete with heli platform and the ubiquitous BC summit phallus. Mostly in the clouds up there with occasional local clearing. Hung out for a bit hoping for more of a view which sadly never materialized, then returned the way I came back to the backpack, which ominously was still there where I had seen it earlier in the day. Called out for Andriy a few times but heard nothing back. Figured (hoped) he was off to bag something else in the area and possibly stay another night out?? Made my way back down to the trailhead where, as expected the one car from earlier in the morning was still parked. About 8 or 9 hours round-trip.

It wasn’t until about mid-morning the following day that word of Andriy’s absence at work began circulating on social media. He apparently also hadn’t left a trip plan with anyone, and SAR efforts were being mobilized in areas 200+ kms away from where I’d seen him last. After several phone calls with the authorities and some hours later, the tragic news of Andriy’s whereabouts was made public. Confirmed it was now a recovery effort as he had been located lifeless somewhere below the West Ridge. Not sure of the details here, but my mind keeps going back to how greasy that heather was. Didn’t see any fresh tracks in the mud or elsewhere leading to or back from the talus bowl, so can only surmise that he’d taken the ridge up and back down to its end and in so doing had to navigate the sketchy heather. The thought of what may have happened next still sickens me. We may have just been ships that pass in the night, but I’m honored to have had just a few moments of your company. Rest in peace Andriy.

Stoyoma Mountain - East Route, September 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:39:00 +0000

In the far northern reaches of the Cascade Mountains lies a group of alpine peaks rising from the forested mountains that dominate this part of the range. The highest of these is 7437-ft Stoyoma Mountain, a prominence generally considered to be the "last big mountain in the North Cascades." At risk of overusing the term, the peak is like an island in the sky, without much nearby to block the expansive 360-degree summit views. With nothing but rolling bumps to the east and north, an array of peaks in the Cascade Range far to the south and most notably the glaciated giants flanking the west side of the Fraser Canyon, the perspective is unique and for me a big part of the appeal. For those based in Vancouver, Stoyoma is unfortunately also an objective where the time spent driving there and back greatly exceeds that spent hiking. All I can say to that is at least this was before gas prices hit the Stratosphere!

Turning off Hwy 8 at Petit Creek west of Merritt, I proceeded up the Spius Creek FSR for what seemed like an eternity before reaching the fork that leads up to Cabin Lake. All smooth gravel to this point and against my better judgement I decided to turn up this very rough fork trying to get as close as possible to the trailhead. Sure enough, the tire pressure light flicked on shortly before I parked the truck. Gave it a bit of time to see how bad the leak was but couldn't make out which tire was affected and figured it wasn't anything that needed immediate attention. So off I go for Stoyama, following a path of sorts, then losing it on a short descent through trees to reach a wide basin below the peak's east facing slopes. Then up, over heather, scree and finally a bit of talus to reach a prominent saddle in the north-south running ridge. Turned right here and finished with an easy hike to the summit proper, no more than two hours from where I parked. Great views as mentioned, with the ring of connecting ridges and peaks to the immediate west almost looking like a crater. Neat to see.

I still had time to burn but didn't fancy the long trek out to tag Stoyoma's Widow, so decided to go back and check on the truck instead and if all was well proceed to Cabin Lake and perhaps see if I could locate the wreckage of a Douglas A-26C that went down in the area back in '74. Back to the truck in no time, where the tires still looked okay. Phew! Okay, onwards on foot to Cabin Lake, smartly deciding not to push my luck any further. Pretty little lake with some picnic benches and such, and just one other vehicle parked. Wasn't obvious which way the wreckage was and with a long drive still ahead of me I decided to call it a day and head back. Alas, my luck finally ran out not five minutes down that rough ass road now with a hissing and rapidly deflating tire. To make matters worse, try as I might I simply could not loosen the lug nuts as the shitty OEM lug wrench was stripped. Fuck! With no alternatives, I limped back down to the main FSR and figured I'd drive slowly for as long as possible in hopes of running into someone that could help. Fortunately, it wasn't long before the jeep which was parked at the lake came up behind me, the driver of which being prepared for BC backroads graciously helped me remove and replace the flat. Pleasant fellow, we'd bump into each other again randomly at the Camelshoof Peak trailhead some nine months later. But anyway, can't thank you enough for saving my ass! Till we meet again friend...

Stoyoma Mountain - East Route, September 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:57:00 +0000

This is a peak I've left for when I can't think of anything else better to do. Ya know, one of those close-to-home, marginal weather, shoulder season kinda objectives. It's also one that I've attempted twice previously, first on my January birthday via Saint Marks only to be stymied by dust-on-ice conditions on the descent to the intervening saddle. Without crampons or an ice axe to stop an uncontrolled slide, I called it up on Saint Marks and wandered about the summit area finally ticking off the somewhat obscure "true" summit and savoring the excellent views from the usual lookout spots. For my next attempt, I set out the following Spring via the steep but shorter trail from Lions Bay. Here again, challenging breakable crust snow conditions significantly slowed my progress and made for a somewhat treacherous hike back down from my turnaround point. Then finally, back at it again in October, once more via Lions Bay for the win!

As stated, it's a steep but good trail that leads directly to the summit of North Unnecessary, complete with some fun scrambly steps mixed in there for good measure. Low clouds and fog meant views were non-existent from the summit, but thankfully just below the cloud ceiling the usual Howe Sound view revealed itself to me. Slightly higher South Unnecessary was just a stone's throw away but going there clearly offered no better views than from the north peak and so I didn't bother. Encountered just one other soul hiking up shortly after commencing my descent, otherwise just me and my thoughts in the fog up there. Good to finally tick this one off the list!

Runner Peak - Mount Elsay Trail, October 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 15:10:00 +0000

Continuing with the close-to-home, marginal weather, shoulder season theme, I made an easy day trip out to Runner Peak. Situated on the Indian Arm - Seymour Divide, immediately north of Mount Seymour, this is a minor peak popular with the local Bagger Challenge peakbagging community. It is typically hiked in conjunction with nearby Mount Elsay as well as Mount Seymour - an agenda which I initially had in mind for this trip. In this case, a loop starting with the Elsay Lake Trail and returning via the Mount Elsay Trail would be the more aesthetic option, but more on that in the upcoming report. Long story short, a lack of motivation conspired against me, and Runner (plus repeats of Seymour, Tim Jones and Pump Peak) was all that I managed to get my ass up on this day.

Starting from the notch between Tim Jones Peak and Mount Seymour proper, the trail to Runner descends before traversing north around the west flank of Seymour. For those with a keen eye, this trail is marked with a sign that reads, appropriately enough Mt. Elsay Trail. Bumped into non-bagger Ryan Fehr below said sign just as I was wrestling with my motivational challenges and accompanied him for the remainder of the hike to Runner. Thanks for breaking me out of my funk! We reached the small talus bowl with snow patch between Seymour and Runner and ascended this to the col at top before picking up a faint trail off to the left. In short order, we reached a ledge below the base of a prominent slab with an obvious diagonal groove towards its east end. We immediately recognized this feature from reports/photos as being the crux of the route and started up it. Some exposure here and a bit of delicate foot jamming on dewy rock before finding ourselves on the flat summit area. Local views mainly thanks to clouds, but I wasn't expecting much anyway. Returned the way we came, tagging Seymour once again for good measure - my 4th time in case anyone's counting - as well as Tim Jones and Pump Peaks on our way out. Probably the most chill "four for the price of one" outings anywhere!

Mount Elsay - via Elsay Lake Trail (loop), October 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 18:01:00 +0000

I still had unfinished business with Mount Elsay and so barely a week following my previous feeble attempt, I doubled down for another go. Doing a counterclockwise loop this time, I branched right off the main trail onto Elsay Lake Trail and quickly lost elevation on a stretch aptly named Wes's Staircase. From there I proceeded across the upper Coldwell Creek drainage, immediately below the east-facing cliffs formed by Tim Jones, Seymour, and Runner. Rounded Runner's east shoulder and continued to a boggy area at the edge of a small lake before realizing I'd gone too far. Hiked back up about 10 minutes and soon located the trail fork I had missed. Followed this up into the large talus bowl between Runner and Elsay, hopping boulders for much of the way to the forested ridge crest above. Picked up the Mt. Elsay Trail here. Climbing steeply now, I ignored the Vicar Ridge Trail branching off to the left and continued up to the granite slabs on Elsay's summit area.

Other than the unique perspective looking due south down the divide as well as deep blue Elsay Lake nestled there beneath Mount Bishop to the north, the views aren't all that different than from Seymour. For the return, I retraced my route along ridge trail directly to the talus bowl on the SW side of Runner. Bit overgrown and steep in spots but otherwise trail is quite easy to follow. From there on out, I was back in familiar surroundings and quickly made my way to the main Mount Seymour Trail. Skipped on any further peakbagging having been up most of the neighboring peaks several times prior and returned directly to my car instead. This is a decent tour of the Indian Arm - Seymour Divide area and North Shore Mountains in general I must say. About 6 hours round-trip with options for a fun multi-peak sweep of the area for those with more time and ambition!

Alouette Mountain - Alouette Mtn. Trail, November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:40:00 +0000

With a good dusting now at the higher elevations and ski season just around the corner, I made my way back to Golden Ears Provincial Park for one of my final sub-snowline hikes of the season. Like with Evans Peak, Alouette Mountain offers a good workout, suitable for the shorter days of Fall albeit with better views overlooking much of the Lower Mainland. Granted, the view is nothing like that from Golden Ears (North Ear) proper, but that was a whopping 16 years ago now and much has changed down there in there in the flatlands during that time!

The approach is the same as that for Evans, just take the signed fork to the left for Alouette and follow the marked trail up to the summit plateau with commemorative cairn with plaque thing there on the highest point. Just one other soul hiking up there on this day - a day where rain was forecasted to move in later that afternoon, so best to move quickly and not linger for too long! Wandered around the summit area for a bit, searching for the best photo ops overlooking the urbanized expanse spread out below. Great views also to the north of Robie Reid, Judge Howay and co. Interesting perspective on Alouette Lake, one of the prettier "front range" bodies of water in my opinion. Then of course there's the Golden Ears massif itself, its neighbor Edge Peak and the striking rock thumb of Blanshard Needle. There's an interesting route up that one, with a short 5th-class pitch followed by some fun scrambling - might have to come back for that someday. But not today, 'coz the rain she's a comin'! A satisfying outing with decent views, the first drops holding off just long enough for me to reach the car!

Sumas Mtn. & Dewdney Pk. - Std. Routes, November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 18:20:00 +0000

Following the unprecedented rains and flooding last November, I made my way towards the inundated areas of the Fraser Valley to get a closer look. No better place for this than from the lookout on Sumas Mountain, and besides, the last time I was up there all I could see was fog! Not quite satisfied, I next hiked up nearby Dewdney Peak for another perspective on the floods. Both hardly qualify as "peaks" if you ask me, their lowly treed summits festooned with communications towers (Sumas) and slopes laid bare by logging (Dewdney). In other words, a couple dumpster dives - except these two boast some impressive views!

For my second go at Sumas, I opted for the quickest possible route to the summit, foregoing the Centennial (Chadsey Lake) Trail this time and instead hike up the access road from the west. Took a rather indirect route to get there as many roads were closed due to flooding obviously, but eventually arrived at the Sumas Mountain Regional Park entrance and started hiking up. Here too is a nice trail that shortcuts the first major switchback and avoids the road for most of the remaining way to the top, no more than ~45 minutes from where I parked. Then continued to the familiar lookout spot overlooking a very swollen Fraser River. Lots of clouds still drifting by, so not as good a view as hoped for but still good enough - Sumas Canal spilling its banks, the highway submerged and the flooded agricultural pains which prior to the 1920's laid beneath a now nonexistent Sumas Lake. What a mess!

Dewdney Peak next, just a hair over 9 km to the NNE as the crow flies over the Fraser River Valley from Sumas. Starting from a bend on Norrish Creek FSR just after the gravel pit, the Dewdney Grind Trail, as it's called proceeds steeply up through forest to reach the edge of a large clear-cut area spanning much of the peak's south-facing slopes. Then back into the woods for a bit, passing a small cabin overlooking the valley far below before emerging once again at the edge of a cut block. The rest of the way to the summit continued in this fashion, alternating between open forest, FSR and cut block, which thanks to the lack of obstructions, offered up some stunning panoramic views along the way. A short descent from the "true" summit leads to yet another swath of freshly felled forest and arguably the best views of the day. From the giants of the Cheam Range far to one's left, to Chilliwack Valley, its peaks, and the fertile plains at its mouth, to the geographic constriction traversed by the Nicomen Slough and Fraser River directly below one's feet, to finally the flooded plains of Abbotsford with the San Juan Islands and peaks on the Olympic Peninsula far in the distance - that's one heck of a view for such an otherwise unremarkable peak!

Anyway, yup shit was indeed flooded. Let's hope for no encore in 2022!

Lower Seymour Perambulations, November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 15:59:00 +0000

Biding my time in anticipation of the snow piling up and the lifts to start spinning, Pepper and I dashed out to Seymour for an afternoon of wandering about its various lesser bumps. My main motivation was to tag Le Pencier Bluff, a minor knob popular with the Bagger Challenge crowd. The trail, now buried under a thin blanket of snow starts just right of the Mystery Peak Express chair and leads to Mystery Lake. Contouring around the lake's east shore, we proceeded up to a saddle between Mystery Peak and Brockton Point. Then went east, around a bump towards another saddle this time beneath De Pencier Bluff itself. Short boot up and we were there, contemplating the mostly cloudy view. Pepper, off leash, gave me a bit of scare as she was excitedly running about dangerously close to the steep cliff edge on the bluff's north side. No drama fortunately and soon we were once again on our way to see what else we could get ourselves up.

Brockton Point was nearby, so might as well. Getting there brought back fond memories of the time Agata, Dominic and I sessioned a booter there beneath the Brockton Chair - my first Frontside 540! Once on top, Pepper ever the terrier, expressed her disdain for the touring party about to ski down. Can't blame her as their skiing, assuming one can call it that, was quite painful to watch. Weren't quite done and Mystery Peak was right in front of us, so off we went to tag it. The clouds continued to part and finally got some views by the time we reached the top. Hung out for a bit soaking in the warmth before calling it a day, detouring up and over Dinkey Peak, now back in the clouds for one last named bump to add to the day's tally. A satisfying pre-ski season romp in the snow not 20 minutes from the house!

Mount Solmar - via Lovers Beach, November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 22:15:00 +0000

A few days in Cabo San Lucas for a surprise 70'th birthday celebration. No big agenda exploring the beaches and surf up the southeastern tip of the Baja Peninsula as I did back in '96, just kept it "local" and never too far away from the tequila bar. Seeing whales breach in the bay from a parasailer's perspective was a highlight! As usual, I "discovered" a small hike to do that promised some nice views. Normally accessed from the marina at the south end of Cabo's harbor, Mount Solmar is a short hike ending at the highpoint of the rocky outcrop known as Lands End. This approach crosses private property, and one must first register with some fellow named Enrique who apparently leads guided excursions to the summit 2x/day. Seemed like a bit too much red tape for us. Fortunately, the peak can also be reached from Lovers/Divorce Beach; conveniently served by water taxi starting from the beach directly in front of our resort. Like everyone else that visits Cabo, we had plans to do a boat tour around the famous arch and explore the beaches nearby anyway.

With the Pacific to our backs, we followed a twosome from Texas to a saddle on Solmar's East Ridge. Continuing up, we immediately encountered no trespassing signs and warnings that the area is surveilled by drones. Hard to tell if the signs are merely to discourage people from approaching cliffs on the north side or from hiking the peak in the first place. Whatever. Followed a well-worn trail that angled up towards the southern edge of the ridge before turning up the final steep pitch to the summit. Fantastic views all around as expected! Met a couple local youths up top, had a quick chat and our photos taken before I started to worry about them ratting us out. Didn't linger and made it back down to Divorce Beach in no time, whereupon we ran into the Texans from earlier and had a celebratory snort of tequila from a bottle they'd brought with. Wrapped up a fine Baja afternoon, toes in the hot sand watching the shore break with setting sun behind. Salud!

Whistler Heli - Petersen Creek/Wishbone Zone, December 2021

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:57:00 +0000

Spent our hard-earned coin on a mediocre day with Whistler Heli last December. Best as I could tell, we sessioned slopes around Wishbone Peak and Sneak Out E2, descending drainages towards Petersen Creek and Ryan River Valley. Conditions were a mix of wind buffed pow up high and blower on more sheltered aspects below, with much of the zone having been hit already by previous parties. Had a bit of drama right before our first lap when I snapped a critical ankle strap, the plastic having gone brittle in the -18 C temps, not including windchill. Fortunately managed to MacGyver a fix out in the field, as it were, salvaging the day for myself. Note to self, a heli day is no time to gamble with "antique" bindings no matter how loved they might be! Noteworthy were the couple runs from Wishbone's summit ridge down the glacier (Ryan Glacier?), although this too was a tad conservative and low angled for our liking. Excellent scenery as usual and good times had by all, but our guide's zone and run selection, not to mention the sloppy seconds left much to be desired! It's been 4 years since we last rode with Whistler Heli, probably be another 4 before memories fade enough to convince ourselves to give them another try.

Gin Peak - via Hanging Lake Trail, January 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 7 Nov 2022 18:52:00 +0000

Not to be confused with the so-called "Alcoholic Group" on the Squamish-Cheakamus Divide, a range of peaks with names such as Brandywine Mountain, Keg Peak and Mount Brew; nearby Gin Peak and its lesser neighbor Tonic continue with the area's boozy theme. Together with Sproatt, Rainbow and the Puma duo, these summits comprise the subrange sandwiched between Callaghan and Whistler valleys. With good access and well-travelled trails, the zone lends itself nicely to the short days of Winter. Approached from the groomed Nordic trails at Whistler Olympic Park, Gin in particular makes for a pleasant ski tour with excellent views of Rainbow Mountain, the Garibaldi Park giants and south down Cheakamus Valley.

Made my way over to the WOP entrance gate in time for a very civilized 9 am opening (8:30 on weekends), paying the silly entrance fee for the "privilege" to park there. Skinned-up and started navigating a maze of Nordic trails towards the Hanging Lake winter trail. As expected, the trail was icy towards the end and made for some tedious travel with splitboard. Nevertheless, I reached the lake in good time, now in total whiteout. Teamed-up with a couple guys who's splitboard tracks I had been following to this point and alternated leads up into the unknown. Topped out above the fog in short order, with a stunning in-your-face view of Rainbow Mountain to the northeast. Gained the broad summit ridge and proceeded on my own from there to tag the actual summit. Quite the winter wonderland up there with loads of ski descent options for those keen on exploring further! Didn't linger as the fog was slowly creeping upslope. Blower pow back to Hanging Lake followed by an icy sketch fest down the forest trail returning to where I started. Ice cold beer in lieu of G&T for apres to round-out a satisfying day in Callaghan Country!

Mount Chief Pascall - Northwest Ridge, January/April 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 17:32:00 +0000

Mount Chief Pascall is a lesser member of the famous Joffre Group that includes iconic peaks such Mount Matier, Slalok Mountain and of course Joffre itself. With good access from Hwy 99, it is a popular Winter objective for ski tourers and hikers alike. The route features travel along forest roads, a steep forest grunt up to the alpine and an aesthetic ridge finished with a short steep pitch to reach the summit proper. Its north face offers what appears to be a great ski descent down into the basin and where one intersects the forest roads from earlier, making for a nifty loop tour. Like with most peaks in this area, the views are nothing short of spectacular with a great panorama of the Duffey area from Cassiope and Saxifrage, Cayoosh, Marriott, Rohr and down Cayoosh Creek Valley overlooking Duffey Lake and beyond.

Truth be told, I had a bit of an ordeal with Chief Pascall, with repeated failed attempts for one reason or another. The photos shown here are from both a January '22 attempt and subsequent success in early April '22. In January I was stymied by unexpectedly firm snow on an exposed traverse just below the summit. I was wearing my snowboarding boots with spikes and still got zero purchase. Didn't fancy an uncontrolled slide a few thousand feet down into Cerise Creek, so called it and simply rode back the way I came. Better luck when I returned in April, this time coming prepared with crampons and ice axe. Snow was still quite firm in spots and the arctic wind blowing in from the east was just as strong as before. It all made for a short but satisfyingly fun mountaineering(ish) finish. As a Winter and/or early season objective, this one is deserving of classic status and is well worth the long drive and effort!

Cartmell Peak - Cartmell Peak Trail, February 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 3 Dec 2022 18:27:00 +0000

High pressure having returned to the South Coast combined with a lack of recent snowfall; we postponed plans for "slackcountry" touring in favor of snowshoeing up something we hadn't yet been to. Never been to Sasquatch Mountain Resort-a small ski hill north of Chilliwack formerly known as Hemlock Valley-but something there piqued my interest, and it had nothing to do with shredding the slopes! With good access from the resort base area and impressive views overlooking Harrison Lake from the west, Cartmel Peak has become an increasingly popular Winter objective. And so, on a crisp, cloudless morning in February we made the long drive up the Fraser Valley for a look-see around the 'squatch.

Having purchased our snowshoe passes, we set out along the edge of the piste just right of the main lodge towards a snowshoe trail named Old Yeller and marked with a yellow lollipop. This we followed to a three-way where we went left onto the Ridge Run Trail, now marked with an orange lollipop. Having gained the ridge crest, the trail forks again, with the right branch (green lollipop) leading to Cartmel Peak. Great views of Harrison Lake as expected, and of the surrounding peaks such as Robie Reid, Judge Howay, the Chehalis Group including Stonerabbit, Ratney and Bardeen, north towards Mount Breakenridge and the usual suspects flanking the east side of the lake such as The Old Settler and a striking thumb of rock that goes by Mount Urquart. After a good while of gawking, we retraced our steps back to the Ridge Run junction, this time taking a right and following a snowcat trail now as it follows the crest at the head of Hemlock Valley. Enjoyed great views overlooking the resort ski bowl area as well as familiar Cascadian peaks in the distance. We had toyed with the idea of bagging nearby Mount Klaudt as well, but the views from the Ridge Run Trail were much better than what Klaudt's treed summit apparently offers. Apres beers at the base area lodge made for a fitting conclusion to a fine day of 'splorin the Hemlock Valley backcountry!

Anif Peak - via Ray Creek, February 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 08:30:00 +0000

A relatively popular ski and snowshoe objective in the near backcountry of Squamish, Anif Peak is a good choice for those seeking a winter summit with excellent views but without the need for driving very far. Clocking in at about 16 km round trip and ~4000 ft of gain, depending on where one parks, the route is mostly a FSR hike followed by a series of steep steps up from a col to reach a short but aesthetic quasi snow arete for the finish. Approached via a rough road that branches right off Mamquam FSR about 3 km past the signed Stawamus FSR junction, the crux of the outing seems to be how high one can drive before being stopped by snow. For me, this happened shortly after the very first switchback, a scant four tenths of a kilometer from the main road.

It is a rather uninteresting plod until reaching a large clearcut area on the broad NW Slopes of Mount Mulligan and from where an unexpectedly expansive vista of the Squamish Valley and peaks to the west and north comes into view. From here it's just a short walk to the headwaters of Ray Creek, where the road finally ends. From there, a short steep pitch leads up a headwall to reach the Mulligan-Anif Col. Mulligan bound parties will want to turn left here, but as I had no interest in its lower treed summit, I turned right towards Anif instead. As mentioned, a series of steep steps punctuate Anif's lower NE ridge, ending finally at a sharp crest with the true summit at its southern end. A gaggle of hikers was already up there as I crested the ridge and so waited for them to vacate the area before proceeding to the highpoint. Pretty darn good views for such an otherwise lowly peak! Great perspective on the Mountain Lake area and Sky Pilot Group to the south, Sedgewick and the Tantalus Range to the west, northwest up the Squamish Valley with icefields and peaks on the Ashlu-Squamish Divide beyond, Garibaldi and Mamquam to the northeast, and finally the Seed Peak Group and Meslilloet to the east and southeast. Reasonable stats, fun finish, great views, short drive - can't ask for much more!

Phalanx Mountain - Stairmaster Coulior/Poop Chutes, February 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 8 Jan 2023 10:40:00 +0000

A classic among the Whistler-Blackcomb "slackcountry" ski tours, this features travel over the Blackcomb, Spearhead and Phalanx Glaciers, an ascent of the aesthetic Stairmaster Coulior and an exhilarating finish via the notorious Poop Chutes to the Glacier Road piste. We'd done variations of this tour over the years - Husume Coulior, Corona Bowl - but never up and over Phalanx and down the 'chutes, which up till this day remained high on our tick list. It was also with a fair amount of trepidation that either of us committed to riding out this way in the first place, having witnessed the aftermath of large avalanches throughout the area so many times over the years. Needless to say, stable conditions are essential to pulling this tour off safely, particularly the final descent. If in doubt, one can always punt down the lower-angled Phalanx Glacier instead, crossing back over in the relative safety of trees on the lower North Ridge. But we'd timed this one right and so kept our eyes fixed on the prize...or so we thought.

While the risk of avalanches was relatively low, I hadn't counted on such icy conditions, especially the lower Poop Chutes. I suppose I should have seen this coming, as it was close to -20 C out and the skin out from the backcountry gate was challenging right off the bat. Also, a bit of a sketchy descent from Spearhead, quickly forgotten thanks to a nice long run in glorious pow down the glacier. Skinned back up at the flats and began the traverse over towards the apron below the coulior. Then finally, up the Stairmaster bootpack to the notch between Phalanx's two summits, tagging both for good measure and feasting our eyes on the outstanding views. Didn't linger for long as the wind was making us miserable, and we were a bit nervous about what came next. Scooted out along the North Ridge to the drop in point and sighted our line. Fatty goes first as they say, so off I go with Agata hanging back to watch. Just a couple inches of fresh over a smooth but firm base, not quite dust-on-crust and certainly nothing to worry about. We leapfrog down to the top of the dogleg, at which point the snow turned to solid ice making for long slides between turns. Agata had a bit of drama here having lost her edge, coming to a stop at the last second just above a cliff. Some tense moments as she carefully inched her way back to the safety of the chute, after which it was all gravy down to the groomed run and straight to the Dublin Gate for a shot of Jameson with a Harp chaser to help calm the nerves! Slainte!

Alpen Mountain - West Route via Mamquam FSR, February 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 18:51:00 +0000

Across the valley traversed by Raffuse Creek and just under 5 kilometers as the crow flies east of the recently bagged by yours truly, Anif Peak, lies Alpen Mountain. Same as Anif, getting there requires driving up Mamquam FSR an additional ~3 km to a spur. The similarities do not end there, being that both are popular Squamish-area winter objectives with comparable KMs and vert, and feature the same monotonous snow-covered FSR walk for most of the approach. Both routes are also finished with a short but aesthetic summit ridge from where similar views are to be had. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but as a relatively "safe" objective not too far from civilization, it fit the bill for this solo peakbagger looking to capitalize on a sunny late February day.

Parked about 3.5 KM up the "Raffuse" FSR after which icy conditions made driving any further foolish. Commence the boring plod, soon reaching continuous snow for the remainder of the way to eventually reach semi-open terrain beneath a subsummit west of Alpen proper. Some apparently proceed up and over this subsummit, whereas I found it more efficient to traverse below it and in short order into Alpen's West Bowl. Crossed the bowl to reach the relative security of trees on the right skyline, then zigzagged up the West Face, kicking steps in steep snow overlying rock slabs shortly below the summit. Having reached a shallow saddle in the ridge, I grabbed my ice axe and turned right for a short but fun walk over to the summit proper. Stellar 360-degree views of deep valleys, striking peaks and glaciers near and far! Many familiar names, many more unknown to me - a stunning mountainscape pregnant with possibilities! All in, maybe 15 km and 6 to 7 hours round-trip, making for a very manageable and worthwhile day in the 'Squampton' backwoods!

Statlu Peak - NW Ridge via Lost Creek, March 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 11:24:00 +0000

This one saw a fair bit of attention in February and March last year following a post on SWBC Peak Baggers describing it as great snow hike with good FSR access, minimal brush, reasonable stats, and excellent views. My ears instantly perked up when I got wind of this, being that such outings, especially those reasonably close to home are increasingly in short supply for me. With a guaranteed track to follow and good weather in the forecast, I seized the opportunity to sample this peakbagging flavor of the month.

Turning off pavement near Mission, access to the trailhead is via the same Lost Creek FSR used for Mount Saint Benedict, except one follows the FSR several kilometers further towards Salisbury Lake. Potholes got annoying for the final km or two and lingering snow meant 4x4 or SUVs with decent clearance only. The first ~6km follows an old forest road, initially free of alders and snow and interrupted by a couple stream crossings. Just as the alders started to become annoying, snow coverage became continuous and helped to keep the brush at bay. Easy cruise now on snow all the way to the base of Statlu's SW Face and the start of steeper climbing. Following tracks, I turned off the forest road and started up towards the forested ridge crest above. Snow eventually became too steep and firm for snowshoes, so I swapped out for crampons and ice axe and continued up. Encountered a twosome returning from the summit near here – they seemed a bit disoriented and were relieved to see me, knowing that they now had my tracks to follow back down. Could have done without the lecture on hiking solo though...I wasn't the one lost up there after all. But I digress.

Snow got quite steep and firm for the final bit to the ridge, occasionally punching through to rock and tree wells. Continued up now in open forest to reach the last of the trees at a steep step. Up this and onto more gentle slopes with the rest of the route now laid out before me. Quite an aesthetic looking ridge crest from this vantage point and the inspiration behind my coming here in the first place. I could see tracks leading up a series of gentle steps to the summit, with a party of three about 2/3rds of the way there. I motored up, grateful for the tracks especially now in the deep powder snow. The threesome vacated the summit just before I arrived, leaving it for me to enjoy all to myself. Damn good viewpoint up there I tell you, especially of Robie Reid and the "Judge", the Chehalis Group, and Stave Lake with Mount Crickmer rising behind. Pretty sure I could identify St. Benedict from up there as well and couldn't help but think how much better of an objective Statlu is as compared to its more popular neighbor. But then I'm sure the brush can get bad here once all the snow has melted. Back to the truck without incident for a very manageable 13-14 km and about 4000 ft of total vert. Sure, it's got a short window, but timed right Statlu makes for a fine day out!

Decker Mountain - East Ridge via Decker Glacier, March 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 4 Mar 2023 17:14:00 +0000

Third time touring Decker zone but first time on tippy top. As with Blackcomb Peak, The Spearhead and arguably Phalanx Mountain, this is low hanging fruit for the WB slackcountry set. Across Blackcomb Glacier, up 'n over East Col and up Decker Glacier, this is a local classic that unsurprisingly sees a lot of traffic. Expect outstanding views, a variety of ski descent options/variations and generally casual vibe.

Following in the footsteps of my previous tour, I skinned up to near a prominent notch in the East Ridge, ditched my gear and completed the ascent on foot. A better option appears to be to contour around a prominence an the end of the East Ridge then traverse the south slopes to the summit. Either way, it makes for a fine outing with outstanding views and never too far away from civilization. Could have done without the wind hammered snow, but good to get out all the same! Oh, and speaking of snow conditions, consider giving a late afternoon return via the refrozen mank in Body Bag Bowl a miss and instead head back up 'n over East Col and ski the groomed down Glacier Road. As always, no better way to wind 'er down than apres at Dublin Gate. Love that place!

Musical Bumps - Oboe Summit Slackcountry, March 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 1 Apr 2023 11:47:00 +0000

Out to the zone around the middle "bump" a few times in March for some chill laps in familiar surroundings. Passed through the area a few times over the years to and from other objectives, but never made the 'bumps the destination up until now. Enjoyable Spring corn descents on the SE Faces of Flute and Oboe to Singing Pass. Had designs on riding down the infamous Cowboy Ridge, but time, ambition and changing snow conditions got the better of us. Either way, a good option for those in search of an easy day in the Whistler "slackcountry" and something a bit removed from the lift served rat race!

Suicide Bluffs - loop via Mt. Seymour-Suicide Bluffs Trail, April 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 4 Apr 2023 11:50:00 +0000

Needed a short frolic in the snow with the pup without an early wakeup or long drive for that matter. Off to Seymour I go, this time to bag my last remaining named bump on the lower flanks of said peak - Suicide Bluffs. As with some of the other nearby "bumps" - Dog Mountain, Dinky Peak, De Pencier Bluff, Mystery Peak and Brockton Point – this is just another subalpine rocky outcrop with views over Burrard Inlet, downtown and beyond. Seems a bit contrived naming all these little bits of nothing if you ask me, but hey it's something to do and no more than 20 minutes from my front door, and no there's absolutely nothing suicidal about it!

There are a couple ways to approach the 'bluffs, either via Dog Mountain or simply following the lower Mount Seymour Trail then forking left onto the SAR Cabin Trail as I did. Checked out the so-called SAR Cabin and enjoyed my first views of the day before backtracking a bit and continuing on. Following tracks, I contoured around the west side of Suicide Bluffs and kicked steps up a short steep pitch to reach the top. Enjoyed the views and chatted with another up there before heading back east along the ridge. Followed the established Suicide Bluff Route past Hidden Lake to eventually intersect the Mount Seymour Trail, reaching the parking lot shortly thereafter. Got some outside time, good views and Pepper got to romp in the snow - a win for all!

Slalok Mountain - Matier/Stonecrop Glacier touring, April 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:10:00 +0000

The lower of the three giants ringing the Matier Glacier icecap, Slalok Mountain is a trophy objective overlooking the incredibly scenic and deservedly popular Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. I'd already bagged both Matier and Joffre and retreated from Slalok's West Ridge/Face route on a previous attempt; a rematch was all but a certainty. Attempt aside, I had my eye on this as a ski tour/descent for a while now after being inspired by a post on TAY several years back of a party slaying bottomless pow down the North Face AKA Stonecrop Glacier. Bryant (and friend) were of a similar opinion, and so off for the iconic Slalok we go!

Mobilized shortly after sunup the next morning following a chilly night of car camping. Made good time to the upper lake where we stopped for a bite and powered up for what came next. The route ahead was clearly laid out, a couple parties having set the skin track up the slope on the opposite side of the lake. Gained a prominent ramp at the lower edge of the face proper, then followed that up and left onto the Matier Glacier. Could see parties on Matier's NE Face route, the apron below Joffre's Aussie Coulior as well as the West Face of Spetch. Quite the alpine playground up here! Turned right aiming for the North Ridge, with somewhat steep traversing towards the end and some cornice hazard overhead. Another break once on the ridge before continuing up and contouring right towards the summit block. Out with the axes and crampons for a short pitch of rime ice to the top and just in time for the clouds to steal our views.

The twosome ahead of us had just set first tracks down the face and per the order of our arrival - a couple parties had caught up to us on the summit - I was to be the third. So very considerate! A careful turn or two down the first steep pitch to spot my line, and then let it rip, managing my sluff by working skiers right across the face. Epic snow, epic pitch and turns-for-days days until reaching the top of the large gully skiers right, exiting onto the slope above the lake for the finale. Conditions are everything and, on this day, they were ALL TIME! Made it to the lake before anyone else dropped in and enjoyed my own live action movie watching a mob descend the face! A round of high fives at the lake and then back to the parking lot in no time with only a brief scootch and a couple short carries to break the flow. As a "road shot" this is about as good as it gets!

Grouse "Slogathon" - Dam, Little Goat & T-bird Ridge, May 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 7 May 2023 11:20:00 +0000

Nice weather was too good to pass up, despite the first significant warm-up of Spring and attendant avi risk. Kept it local and spent a day tootling about in the relatively safe confines of the Grouse Mountain backcountry. No doggo this time, partly because I opted for the lazy man's Sky Ride upload, resident discount, and all. Out past the groomed runs and then onto the snowshoe track up 'n' over Dam Mountain and Little Goat Mountain being that they were on the way, and I hadn't been up either of those two bumps yet. Had designs on Beauty Peak (AKA West Crown), as it's hard not to notice this off-limits yet aesthetic peaklet located on the edge of the Capilano Watershed. Reached the point from where I would have to descend steeply into the abyss to reach Crown Pass en route to Beauty. Snow here was deep and heavy with questionable stability, and I had been breaking trail since leaving Dam. "Yeah nah" as my mates Down Under would say!

Made my way over to another nearby bump that I'd not been up to yet instead - Thunderbird Ridge. More snowshoe wallowing, my boots soaking wet inside by the time I got there. Found the views of nearby peaks, the city and beyond a bit different and quite agreeable from here, despite having transited the area hitherto on the way to Crown and Goat. Excellent visibility to the south towards the Strait of Georgia with Gulf Islands and San Juans in distance as well. No cigar but another enjoyable day in the ol' backyard nonetheless!

Leading Peak - South Ridge (Anvil Island), June 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 18 May 2023 06:49:00 +0000

Leading Peak on Anvil Island has long captured my imagination, mainly since it sits right in the middle of Howe Sound and is impossible to miss driving the Sea-to-Sky between Horseshoe Bay and Squamish. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that at a certain time of day motoring northbound along said highway one may notice a bright flash or reflection of some sort emanating from the summit. It's as if there's a beacon up there calling out to all peakbaggers to come explore! Coincidentally, Leading Peak has also seen a recent surge in popularity thanks to its inclusion in the annual North Shore hiking brouhaha known as Bagger Challenge. Fast forward to June 2022, and the timing was right for me to join 6 other baggers in sharing the cost of the boat shuttle to and from the island and finally hike to the peak.

Disembarking on the private dock owned by the Daybreak Point Bible Camp, we were a bit concerned we'd be shooed away not having gotten their approval prior to our arrival. The "shooing" thankfully never materialized, and after a ceremonial dipping of the toes in the water by the 'Challenge devotees (extra points for a "water-bag"), we set out for Leading. While there are at least a couple established trails to the peak from the south, the route generally parallels Champside Creek reaching a small lake by the same name. Along the way are numerous steep sections aided by ropes and a couple bluffs with views such as the so-called "White Spot". After the lake, the trail descends a bit to reach a forested saddle before continuing back up along the left (west) side of the summit block. The final scramble contours around to the north side of the 'block and follows the north ridge to reach the top.

Wowzers! Heck of a view from up there! Mount Garibaldi dominates the view to the north, rising above the far end of a ridiculously turquoise-hued Howe Sound. Gambier, Bowen, and smaller islands dot the sound's mouth to the north and east, with the HS Crest peaks flanking the east shore. Fantastic! Oh, and surprise, the source of that reflection appears to be a solar panel. Back down to the dock just in time for our pickup, having been stopped for a brief check-in by the bible camp folks to register our names for whatever purpose they need that for. In summary, for a subalpine island peak with outstanding views, Leading does not disappoint!

Camelshoof & Askom - Southeast Ridge, June 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 9 June 2023 18:38:00 +0000

Needed to get the heck out of dodge for a couple days to see something new and clear my mind. I'd seen a report on Askom Mountain a while back - a relatively high peak flanking the west wall of the Fraser Canyon near Lillooet, BC and served by a good trail. To make the most of the long drive, I decided to motor over the day before and do a "warm-up" hike nearby on Camelshoof Peak before continuing to the Askom trailhead for the night. Camelshoof is the southernmost summit of the Camelsfoot Range just north of town. While it's not the tallest, it is easily the most popular one. There are excellent 360-degree panoramic views from the peak overlooking a large meander of the Fraser River, the Fountain Range and Mission Ridge, with a good trail leading up the SE Ridge to the lookout up on top.

As with any objective out this way, the crux is always the long drive, so splitting it up over two days is nice. Returning to Lillooet after Camelshoof, one continues onto Texas Creek Road and follows that for what feels like an eternity to the Texas Della Nesikep FSR junction. Drove up this for a while longer, making it to the clearing/campsite without incident and conveniently ignoring the First Nations "No Entry" due to Covid signs. Now that the WHO has declared the pandemic officially over, will they ever take down these silly signs? Anyway, for a car camping spot, this is a primo location with great views overlooking the Fraser Canyon. A popular MTB trail named Lower Della descends from here and is the continuation of the Upper Della Trail that I would be taking the following morning.

The upper trail starts at right just past the gate/cattle grate, but to save time one can simply continue along the road around the bend, past some fallen boulders for about 15 minutes to where the trail re-enters the forest at an obvious switchback. From here it becomes a steep trail into the alpine, great for descending by bike, not so much on foot. Lotsa horse poop on the trail as well, as they seem to run wild over in these parts. Breaking out of the trees, one then has some treadmill scree to contend with before gaining the ridge. Easy plod from there towards the true summit where expansive views are to be had in all directions! A striking Siwhe Mountain could be seen to the south with Petlushkwohap and Skihist peeking from behind, the snowclad peaks around Texas and Boulder Creeks to the west, the Mount Brew massif to the SW and finally the deep valley formed by the Frasier Canyon to the east. Outstanding! About 13 km round trip and about 4300 ft, for a very reasonable day exploring the easternmost ranges of the SWBC Coast Mountains!

Metal Dome - South Route, July 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 16 June 2023 19:02:00 +0000

Roughly 13-and-a-half kilometers west of Whistler Village and just to the southwest of the Whistler Olympic Park lies Metal Dome. Technically speaking, the peak is just a subsummit of Brandywine Mountain, a mere 2.6 km away, but is nonetheless a popular objective particularly in the winter or when a low snowline complicates access to the bigger peaks in the area. This is a great ski touring objective in late fall and early winter before the place becomes overrun by sledders. Timed right, spring is also prime season to bag Metal Dome, which it was in early July 2022 courtesy of the extended wet and cold we endured through June. While I didn't risk driving the increasingly rough FSR to its very end, I got close enough to park within a ~15-minute walk of snowline, just a short distance beyond the road's end. Perfect for an easy half-day hike with the pup!

Mount Sproatt - East Route (via Stonebridge), July 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 19 June 2023 12:49:00 +0000

On the west side of the Whistler Valley, directly above the Alta Lake and the village is Mount Sproatt. It is an understandably popular objective for Whistlerite hikers and mountain bikers, with multiple trails leading up to the summit area from the east, south, west and in winter from the north. The lower east summit has a viewing platform and benches with outstanding views of the valley, Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, and peaks beyond. The true summit, complete with summit dildo (AKA radio repeater) lies only a half kilometer to the NNE and about 200 ft higher. It makes for a quick add-on while significant others prefer to nap on the bench at the viewing platform!

Following the shortest of the various approaches starting from the top of Stonebridge Place on the east side of the peak, we soon picked up Darwin's MTB trail for a bit before taking a right on to the Rainbow-Sproat Flank Trail a few minutes later. We left the biking trail soon thereafter, turning right once more and following a somewhat indistinct path paralleling Millar Creek. The way up became much more defined after the creek crossing, leading up through pleasant old growth forest into the alpine below Sproatt. We eventually lost the trail in snow, but common sense prevailed, and we soon found ourselves out of the trees in the upper creek drainage contemplating where to go next. With the abundant snow coverage still, we elected to turn up and left into a gully of sorts rather than follow the standard route into the basin between the two Sproatt summits. Some steepish snow followed by a fun scramble up a series of ledges saw us to the summit plateau with the viewing platform off to our left. Went there and hung out enjoying the views for a while before continuing solo to tag the summit proper. Respectable scenery for an otherwise lowly peak - the resort peaks, Spearhead Range, Tantalus Range, Callaghan Valley peaks just to name a few. Rendezvoused with my hiking mates on return from true Sproatt and enjoyed some long glissades and boot skiing down to tree line, then followed our tracks back to the dry trail reaching the car not long thereafter. Bit of a hidden gem and nice to still have low hanging fruit such as this to enjoy!

Mission Ridge - Geodetic & Puck, June 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 25 June 2023 13:29:00 +0000

With a forecast for rain covering a good ~3 hour driving radius from home, we set out in hope of finding mountain sunshine on Mission Ridge located near the community of Shalalth, BC. Situated on the north shore of Seton Lake and running about 19km east-to-west from Terzaghi Dam to the town of Lillooet, this area of the Coast Mountains lies in a rain shadow of mountains to the west. Access to the range is generally from either end, where forest roads and trails lead up into the alpine. The western access in particular benefits from a steep but well-traveled road branching off from Mission Pass to reach a clearing at about 6400 ft where there's a fenced off area with communications equipment located within. Backtracking from the clearing a short distance, we continued up the road for a bit higher stopping finally where we were blocked by a snowdrift, about a kilometer or so from the "trailhead". With Mission Peak, roughly half-way along the ridge as our objective, we parked here and continued on foot. The peak, referred to by the First Nations as "The Teat" is the second tallest on Mission Ridge, with Mount Mclean near Lillooet claiming highest status.

Encountered patchy snow on the hike up to the first peak, unofficially named Geodetic Peak and from where there are already outstanding views overlooking Seton and Anderson Lakes! Continued walking for a while longer before reaching a point where one must traverse below the crest on its north side to reach a shoulder with a large basin beyond. I knew from previous reports that following the ridge directly leads to a chasm with technical climbing to get through it. As such, the only alternative was to descend ~1000 feet into this basin only to climb back up it at the other end, and then obviously do the same upon return. Ugh! Agata took one look at this and decided it wasn't for her, plus her back had been giving her grief to this point and she was more than happy to have me now continue on my own. The peak directly above this basin is informally named Puck Peak and if push came to shove that'd be as far as I would go, sparing Agata the extra hours of waiting around for me. Snow here was steep and variable, so axe and 'pons came in handy. Gear transitions, snow balling up etc. sapped time and energy. Cold and windy up on Puck, but no rain at least! As for views, I gotta say probably the best bang for the buck is Geodetic, as it has the best perspective on both Seton Lake and Anderson Lake. Higher Puck is comparable, and according to photos I’ve seen better than from Mission Peak as well. Looked like a lot of annoying ups n' downs along the ridge to Mission from here, so I decided Puck would be it for today. Aside from the lakes, other notable landmarks seen from Puck include peaks such as Brew, Seton and Whitecap. Mount McLean unfortunately isn't visible from here as it's blocked by Mission Peak. May have to come back for that one someday, First Nation's access complications be damned!

Returned via Highline Road rather than driving back through Lillooet for something different. Cool to experience at least once! Oh, and do beware the aggressive wild turkey there near the trailhead. Twenty minutes of trying to shoo it away but it just kept approaching. Eventually threw a sheet over it and pinned it down with rocks to subdue the beast long enough for us to get changed up on the truck bed. A first for us!

Harris Ridge & Nea Peak - via Taylor Creek FSR, July 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 30 June 2023 16:19:00 +0000

Dickson excepted this was an entirely new area for me; that, and I was in search of a venue with somewhat less snow than points further west. Drove up the night before and car camped at the Mowson Pond Recreation Site, which is well maintained and free of charge courtesy of BC Hydro. A passing thunderstorm added some excitement late that afternoon and made for a nice sunset. Pretty sweet spot for a basecamp I gotta say!

Continued up Tyaughton Lake Road the following morning parking at the second to last fork mentioned in SSWBC as far as I can tell. Bit overgrown in spots, so not very paint friendly. Brought a mountain bike to help dispatch the many kilometers of FSR, especially beyond the washed-out bridge. Made blind guesses at a couple junctions, hoping I would eventually find my way up Taylor Creek Valley. After a good hour of pedaling up a perfectly drivable road, I came upon a creek crossing where a bridge once was, confirming that I was on course. So far so good, the only exception being that I now had to ford this creek in a strong current of thigh-high water. Short but challenging ford barefoot and with bike in arm, didn't look forward to repeating on return. But that was a problem for later, so off I went! Continued up with some bits of hike-a-bike to about 10-15 min shy of the cabin up there as snow patches were becoming more frequent. Mix of travel on snow and scree/dirt gaining the ridge well above the pass and right below Harris false summit. Short but steep snow pitch right at end necessitated axe and crampons but as I discovered later can be avoided by taking to the basin at lookers right, likely left as well. Totally different geology and scenery out here in the South Chilcotins and well worth the visit! Dickson, Sloan, Truax and Shulaps were all hard to ignore from up there. Only one of them left as of this writing, so I guess I gotta go finish that one off next time I'm in the area!

Still had time after bagging Harris, so descended to the pass proper and continued up other side to tag higher Nea. Better views than from Harris and a great add-on without making for a particularly strenuous day! Then back down to where I stashed the bike for a ripper and very wet return to truck. 7ish hours RT. Bypass the one steeper bit and get by with just poles. Fine day out with grand views!

Three Brothers Mountain - Heather Trail, July 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 10 July 2023 16:10:00 +0000

Located in Manning Provincial Park and contained within the "V" formed by the Similkameen River and Hwy 3, lies an area of uplift culminating with Three Brothers Mountain. It is a gentle, dog-friendly summit with a modest amount of elevation gain and about 20 km round trip from the upper trailhead. To get there, one follows a steep road up from the north side of the highway to an overlook with impressive views towards Frosty and peaks in the Pasayten Wilderness just south of the USA-Canada border. Then proceed past the overlook, now on a smooth gravel road to the upper parking area at about 6500ft. Timing is everything, and the Blackwall Road as it's called is typically closed from sometime in September to July, depending on snowmelt. Having gotten word that said road had just been opened the day prior, I made my way out of the clouds blanketing everything to the west and into the glorious sunshine east of the Cascade Crest.

Continuing north on foot, the trail descends to cross Buckhorn Creek before climbing back up onto beautiful meadows with expansive vistas looking south. At a fork with the Bonnevier Trail, I stayed left to remain on the Heather Trail soon reaching a sandy saddle with Three Brothers' SE Face and basin at right. Left the main trail here and kicked dirt up a steep slope to gain the SW Ridge which was easily followed to the summit. Fantastic views to the south with improving weather - Frosty, Hozomeen, Winthrop, Silvertip, the Redoubt and Lago groups - brought back memories of my earlier peakbagging days! Not much to see looking north but, Snass and company were starting to emerge from the clouds to the west. Made my way over to the 7388ft summit (Second Brother?) just opposite the main brother for extra credit, with the Third and Fourth Brother peaks now laid out before me. Which begs the question - why is it called Three Brothers Mountain when in fact there are four brothers in total? Anyway, fun little "eastside" jaunt with a high start and great scenery!

Zupjok, Llama & Alpaca - via Zopkios Rest Area, July 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 July 2023 14:25:00 +0000

This trio of peaks is served by a good trail starting from the Zopkios Rest Area at Coquihalla Pass. The route features travel over granite ridges with great views of rock domes and spires these mountains are known for. Being in the midst of a heat wave, I drove up the night before and car camped nearby so as to get an early start. I also brought a bike to expedite the initial approach which follows a mostly flat forest road to the saddle between Ottomite and Zupjok. Ditching the bike at the saddle, I continued up the trail, initially relatively flat but then quite steep gaining the south shoulder of Zupjok Peak. Passed a twosome on the way up here, complementing the gentleman in front on his choice of Red Wing footwear (aka. Vasque). I continued over the first peak and down to the saddle south of Llama, then climbing up over Llama and descending once more to the final saddle below Alpaca Peak.

Aesthetic granite "sidewalk in the sky" going up Alpaca where the broad summit dome offered up fine views of Vicuna & Guanaco to the east and the iconic Anderson River Group - Gamuza, Steinbok, Ibex and Chamois - to the west! Nice views south towards Markhor-Needle area and Coquihalla Mountain Group as well. Didn't linger for long as it was already starting to cook out and water sources were in short supply. Back across the various saddles and summits, then down the steep forest back to the bike. Stopped to enjoy the solitude and cool off where a collapsed bridge crosses the creek before the short ride back to the car and where it must have been 90+ degrees out already. Delicious burger courtesy of the Lunch Bucket there at the rest area and washed down with a tepid can of Cariboo. Cheers!

Shulaps Peak - via Brett Creek Trail, August 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 10 August 2023 17:17:00 +0000

Not a lot of reports from out here, so sharing some info for those who might be curious. Car camped the night before at the free rec. site there below Terzaghi Dam. No bugs...sweet! Up 'n at em the next morning, Marshal Lake Road good for any vehicle. Decided against committing to the spur that reaches the upper trailhead as the truck is in the shop (seized differential) and there's zero forgiveness for pinstriping my wife's fancy SUV. Lower trailhead is a bit obscure but starts at the road bend where there's a white sign that reads Brett Creek Meadows. Adds a nominal amount of vert and distance, but oddly enough is the steepest part of the trail.

Great trail up to alpine, popular with the MTB crowd (Brett Creek Trail). About 1:40 to the equestrian cabin up there. Continued past cabin, now cross country into the large drainage SE of the peak. Pleasant hike through meadows, then turned up the talus apron that lies below a stream/waterfall descending from the enormous talus & scree bowl above. Endless plod up to a saddle in the ridge, with just a couple easily avoidable snow patches. Then finally up the ridge for a longer than expected scramble to summit. No real hands-on action unless you go looking for it. Just under 4 hrs to summit and about 5900ft gain not including all the little ups 'n downs. Comfortable temps and plenty of water sources on route. A worthy trip IMO, cool to see a different corner of range!

Bugs & other critters: none until the meadows beyond the cabin, but nothing noteworthy and then just the pesky horse fly as you go higher. Surprising! Didn't encounter a soul until returning to cabin, where there now were humans with their horses and bikes (jealous). There apparently was a griz in the meadow just past the cabin the day before. Glad I missed out on that!

Mount Sheer (& Ben More) - Southwest Ridge, August 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 25 August 2023 18:00:00 +0000

Spent a couple days in the Mountain Lake area, long a place I've wanted to visit, camp at hut, bag peaks etc. Relatively close to home, drive wise, but definitely a sense of being out there. So cool to have this in the "backyard"!

First overnighter for me in ages. No key to ulock gate, so took bike but with the added weight on my shoulders and steepness, it wasn't till about the 5.5 km mark where it wasn't constant on again off again hike-a-bike. Some confusion with the FSR junctions after the 3-way there with the Beth Lake fork, but common sense prevailed and I got to the trailhead after a good 2.5 hrs of sweating. Trail is easy to follow and seems to have been maintained recently, bit overgrown here and there but pretty good all things considered. Hot ass grunt up the south facing switchbacks before reaching the granite and lakes wonderland up there. 6 sweaty hours to hut, whereupon the first bugs of the day were encountered. Note that it had rained the night before, so bugs were still a bit subdued for the time being at least.

Chatted with a group of teens there at hut before dumping gear and heading off for Sheer. Took "high" route there an low route back, lotsa route finding and some exposure. Neat little scramble once on route! About 1:15 to summit from hut. Pretty damn buggy after returning to hut and for the rest of my time up on the plateau. Had designs on Ben Lomond the following day, but ended up on Ben More after dropping gear at Wind Lake instead. Got to the first talus bowl, said f'k that and figured it be better to get up on the ridge and follow that to BL. Did that and got a good look at all the ups n' downs in the way and said meh, not necessary, plus the bugs were starting to get to me. A Ben is better than no Ben's I say.

Back to bike and 30 mins later back to cold beer at car. Those were some smokin' brake rotors I tell ya!

Cathedral Mountain - West Ridge via Seymour Valley Trailway, August 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 12 September 2023 15:18:00 +0000

The tallest of North Shore Mountains and arguably the most coveted, Cathedral Mountain has seen a surge in popularity thanks to its inclusion in the local Bagger Challenge list. Its fluted south flank presents an impressive "green wall" and is easily recognizable from East Vancouver and parts of Burnaby, when driving over the Ironworkers Bridge and from summits as far north as Squamish (i.e., Anif, Alpen). Cathedral's newfound popularity belies the fact that to reach the peak one must trespass either the Seymour Lake Watershed or Capilano Lake Watershed, possibly both. Fortunately, enforcement is rather lax and the threat of any contamination by humans is probably slim to none. To get to it requires one to hike the steep trail up and over Paton Peak, Coliseum Mountain, and Mount Burwell, then descend ~1200 feet to a saddle before the final climb up to the summit. The trail up from the saddle is well defined these days, without much in the way of brush or technical difficulties. It does however traverse narrow and somewhat exposed heather ledges and ramps on the north side of the peak, which on a damp, foggy day such as we experienced required extra caution. Furthermore, the descent from Burwell to the saddle is tricky and riddled with bluffy impasses, making for difficult navigation particularly in low visibility...more on that later.

Joined by Amy, whom I hiked Leading Peak with earlier in the season, and a trio of her bagger friends, we set out by bike on the Seymour Valley Trailway for a ~9 km ride to the spur that leads to the Paton Peak Trailhead. Ditched the bikes and made the unrelentingly steep hike up to Paton where we stopped for a break and to enjoy the first views of the day. Then onwards to Coliseum, making camp at the little tarn there. Amy and another went for a dip while the rest of us whiled away the afternoon, enjoying a spectacular sunset and the glimmering city lights before calling it a night. Woke up to dense fog the next morning but sallied forth for Cathedral expecting it to burn off by mid morning. Made it just shy of Burwell before a member of our party bowed out citing issues with her knee. Now 4 strong, we forged on into the mist hoping we were heading in the right direction. In short order we found ourselves cliffed out on Burwell's NNE Ridge, wondering what was up with the GPX track Amy had downloaded on her phone. The terrain here is bushy polished granite, and for us also mighty slippery thanks to the mist - not the time nor place to test the traction of our outsoles! Backtracking a bit, we zig-zagged down along heather ledges on the left (west) side of the ridge, before picking up a faint trail that led easily to the saddle. Basically, drop left off the ridge as it begins to get steeper and descend to a large bench that reconnects with the ridge below the troublesome cliffs.

With the fog showing no signs of lifting, we made our way up the opposite side of the saddle, now in dense forest. Crossed a talus slope or two before locating the trail again as it continues up steeply on the north side of Cathedral's West Ridge (some exposure). This we followed to the broad crest, which we followed easily weaving in and out of alternating bushy and rocky bits with some occasional hands-on scrambling, eventually reaching the trio of radio repeater dildos perched there on the summit. No views, courtesy of the stubborn fog, despite our waiting around for ~30 minutes in hopes of an improvement. Alas, the day was getting away from us and we had a long way to go to get back to camp and then back home! Sun finally made an appearance as we started back up of opposite side of the saddle, with the last of the clouds lifting off Cathedral by the time we reached the top of Burwell. Argh!! Then back to camp where we reluctantly packed up for a suffer-fest of a hike down to the trailway, returning to the cars just before dark for a whopping 15-hour day! A worthy objective yes, but ain't no way I'm coming back for the views that we missed!

Mount Penrose - West Ridge, August 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 17 September 2023 14:32:00 +0000

A wee bit tardy in posting this one up, as all my TRs have been lately, but considering there's not a lot of info out there for Penrose perhaps others can benefit from the info. Firstly, be forewarned that conditions are likely to be very different at time of my writing this thanks to the Downton Lake wildfire that continues to ravage the community of Goldbridge. The blaze originated on the peak's south flank and most likely spread across the east slopes where the trail is (was?) located before engulfing the area around Gun Lake and beyond. I was in the area twice over a span of a about a month in Summer 2023, and both times noted a smallish fire burning near the peak. Major hydro investments in the area and abundant water sources to boot, not to mention nearby homes; surely "they" would have put it out, before, you know, it grew out of control. But anyway...

Drove up the eve prior, spending the night at the free rec site towards end of Carpenter Lake about 10kms from Goldbridge. Had more ambitious plans for the following day, with this as a backup just in case. Weather seemed questionable in the AM, so I reluctantly defaulted to "just in case" and made my up towards Gun Lake. FSR in decent shape, make sure to hang a right at the fork (you'll know the one when you come upon it). A short rough-ish bit and waterbar could complicate matters for some SUVs, but it's not long after before the hairpin where the TH is located (~0.5 km).

Trail is well established and easy to follow, albeit steep to the ridge crest where the solar panel/comms "thing" is located. Route up the SE Ridge appears steeper than it is, mostly class 2 and loose in spots. Views are fantastic, particularly of Downton Lake with Mount Ethelweard looming just beyond..very tempting! Arguably better views a than from its higher neighbor Dickson, a mere 3 kms to the NW. Some light snowfall up top before it cleared up in the afternoon. 7 hours round-trip at an average pace and ~1 hr lounging on summit. Great consolation prize on its own or a good add-on for those seeking to fill a weekend after tacking more ambitious objectives the day prior.

Caltha Peak - West Ridge, September 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 10 October 2023 20:31:00 +0000

This is one of the areas described in SSWBC by Matt Gunn and features an enticing collection of summits in the remote Stein Valley Heritage Park. Generally referred to as Lizzie Lake area, named after the picturesque body of water, located at the park's western entry point, this is a "scrambler's paradise" with trails and climbing routes that traverse a land of high tundra adorned with numerous lakes, tarns, and craggy peaks. Long been on my list of "must visit" and come September 2022 the stars finally aligned to make the dream a reality!

My first "official" BCMC trip, spanning a total of 4 days with couple hours on the final day helping to clear brush on the trail north of Lizzie Lake. Hiked in some 16 km on the first day with Wes, Shuyu and Ian, meeting the rest of the crew who helicoptered to the rustic Lizzie Lake Hut earlier that morning. Hut was full, so we pitched tents on somewhat sloped sites nearby and whiled away the afternoon swatting mosquitos with much jealousy of the others and the cold beers they had flown-in along with the rest of their gear! Finally called it a night, with Shuyu, Wes and I having agreed to a sortie on Caltha the following day. It's the farthest out of the Lizzie area peaks described in the guide and looked to be the most interesting scramble-wise, not to mention offering a great perspective on the incredibly blue Tundra Lake. About 22 km and ~5900ft round-trip from the hut, Caltha promised to be a longish day, so we set the alarms for first light and set out after a hasty oatmeal breakfast.

The path up from the hut is well defined, and ignoring a fork at right that leads to Long Lake, we proceeded up into a large alpine basin containing Arrowhead and Heart Lakes. Up-and-over Tabletop-Arrowhead saddle, taking in our first views of Caltha and the smoky skies we would be hiking in the rest of the day before traversing below Tabletop to gain the long NE Ridge. Down to the Tabletop-Tundra Saddle, then gaining a bit before making a tedious traverse towards Caltha Lake. We stopped for a rest here before resuming the grind now up Caltha's West Ridge. Easy travel here hiking up heathery steps to reach the edge of a large talus bowl, which we traversed across to snow patches at a high saddle on the South Ridge. Contoured around the south face over blocky terrain to reach a higher saddle before completing the final scramble to the top. WHOA! Big fire just opposite us in the very upper reaches of Stein River Valley! We're talking a crown fire with flames towering up over the treetops! A bit unnerving being so close and noting how quickly it was advancing up-valley we chose to cut our time on the summit short. Outstanding views with glaciated Skook Jim Mountain just to the SE and of course Tundra Lake at our feet and seeming like it was Photoshopped-in, plus so much more! Words don't do it justice. Discover it for yourself!

Descended Caltha's N-NW Ridge to make a fun loop, with steep and somewhat exposed terrain for a short bit before the usual blocky terrain lower down. Picked up the trail again at the Caltha-Tundra Saddle then proceeded on the long return journey past all the lakes and saddles we passed by earlier in the day. Beautiful late-afternoon lighting and shifting winds made for mostly smoke-free skies and improving visibility to close-out the day. Back to the hut after 11-12 hours and feeling very satisfied. Unfortunately, our luck ran out the next day when Wes and I attempted to hike up Long Peak in the rain. Hiked up past Long Lake in hopes of a clearing that never came, and after a few hours of plodding around in a foggy downpour, we called it and returned to the hut. Our 4th and final day of course dawned with clear skies again, but we had a couple hours of trail clearing and a long hike out to contend with so Long Peak would have to wait for another time. Ugh! Fantastic area, and 100% will return for the Long-Tynemouth-Arrowhead-Tabletop-Anemone Traverse!

Beauty Peak - via Crown Pass, September 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 18 October 2023 11:01:00 +0000

Beaty Peak, AKA West Crown is a peaklet located in the North Shore Mountains that's very noticeable from much of N. Van, downtown and points further south. As with countless others, this is a summit popularized by the Bagger Challenge list, and like a handful also on that list happens to be located within one of Vancouver's watersheds. This final detail doesn't appear to present much of a deterrent to peakbagging, despite the presence of a motion camera affixed to a tree in the area where one branches off the main trail towards the peak. For me, hiking Beauty was a spur of the moment decision after having a lie-in on a Saturday morning and deciding to go dash up something upon noticing much better weather than what was forecasted. Threw on some clothes, packed my backpack and after a 15-minute drive found myself boarding the Grouse Mountain Tram for a 2600ft "bump" up to the Peak Chalet, resident discount, and all. If you consider this cheating, go ahead, knock yourself out up the Grind or any of the other trails for all I care.

Hiked the familiar trails out past the resort boundary, past Dam and Little Goat Mountain down to Crown Pass. Then up the steep, rooty trail to a small meadow just south of Crown Mountain before turning left off the main trail towards Beauty Peak. As mentioned, there's a motion camera here near where a heli-pad is located that's practically impossible to sneak by undetected. Followed a somewhat bushy trail down along a ridge to a saddle before commencing the final push up to the summit. Great views overlooking Burrard Inlet, Stanley Park, Downtown, Point Grey with the Gulf Islands off in the distance - probably better than from any other location around Grouse! After taking the requisite photos, I started back the way I came, bumping into a Beauty-bound twosome on the bushy ridge back to the meadow. They'd come in via Lynn Headwaters and Hanes Valley and already tagged Crown Mountain by the time we met. How's that for something different, eh? Worth keeping in mind the next time I'm jonesin' for an adventure in my back yard!

Markhor-Needle-Flatiron Traverse - East-to-West, September 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 26 October 2023 14:20:00 +0000

Teamed up with Kevin on this for a stellar albeit somewhat chilly September day. Having previously climbed Needle Peak via the standard West Ridge scrambles route, I felt the need to go back for more of that glorious granite this time on the classic Markhor-Needle Traverse! More climbing, more exposure, and lots more fun, and all with a very reasonable approach! Not sure what took me so long.

With the normal trailhead blocked by the ongoing pipeline construction, we decided to simply follow the Needle Peak Trail for a bit before traversing cross-country to intersect the Markhor "trail". It's just a faint track with some flagging here and there, and it wasn’t long before we popped out of the trees shortly below Markhor's North Ridge. Bumped into a couple others Kevin knew from the SWBC FB group here and leapfrogged each other for the rest of the climb. Easy scrambling up onto Markhor after which we poked around in search of where to start the South Face descent. Finally located the shallow dihedral with rappel station we'd read about and started flaking the rope while Kevin opted to just down-climb. Somewhat kitty litter rock here made worse by worn-out outsoles; I was happy to have rapped this, even if the 30m rope was a bit short. Then an easy hike up from the saddle to Peak 1933 with the "crux" coming next on the short descent to the notch between this and Peak 1945. It all amounts to an exposed downclimb on a fin of rock - not difficult, but thought-provoking, nonetheless. Then up 1945 with a low 5th move or two before reaching the large saddle below Needle's North Ridge. It looks steep and improbable from here, but it's just a scramble with only moderate exposure. Made it to the summit shortly thereafter enjoying the fine views and life-giving sunshine!

The other two took off after a bit of chatting with plans to hike back down to the highway and run up Yak Peak on the other side of the valley. Impressive! Not wanting to be totally outdone, Kevin and I decided to tack on The Flatiron on our way down, being that it's only a short detour and we had plenty of day left. Down the West Ridge, climbing through the usual scrambly bits before reaching the meadow where the trail forks right back to the trailhead and left to Flatiron. Went left, passing a small lake after a kilometer or so before completing the final ascent to the large Flatiron summit plateau. Great autumn colors and afternoon lighting made for excellent views and a rewarding finish to a very satisfying day of alpine rambling!

Conway Peak - Conway Peak Trail, September 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 06 November 2023 17:13:00 +0000

The runt of the litter! By litter, I'm referring to the Cheam Range with Conway Peak being a mere bump on the continuation of Foley Peak's Northeast Ridge - the last major summit at the east end of the range. That said, Conway offers what may be the best perspective of these mountains. From nowhere else that I have been can one get as up close and personal with the north-facing glaciers and precipitous rock faces than from here. A trip up the "runt" is worth it for this view alone!

The trailhead is accessed via Jones Lake FSR, its namesake offering up fine views of the Cheam Range from the lakeshore. Could do without abandoned homeless encampments and piles of garbage strewn everywhere along the FSR, but then this seems to be the norm out here these days. Left at a fork and continued for a bit before stopping when the road became a bit more overgrown and rougher for my liking. Could have continued to the driveable end, but thought I'd give the ol' Frontier a break for a change and decided to hoof it the rest of the way. Soon reached the parking area before a large washout, noting a firepit in the middle of the road there with drug use paraphernalia within - syringes, bits of foil etc. Quaint.

Continued up the old road past the washout making a couple switchbacks before continuing via the Lucky Four Mine Trail. Trail climbs up steeply before turning right and making a gradual ascending traverse to the south. A good drenching the night before left the rooted and rocky trail quite slick until reaching the alpine where the sun had thankfully begun drying things out. Heather then gave way to polished slabs just below the ridge crest, where the occasional cairn and/or flagging guides one up to a saddle. Turning left, a worn path winds between boulders and stunted trees to the highpoint a short distance beyond. Enjoyed smoky views to the south of the "Chilliwacks" and beyond to beautiful Mount Shuksan and Baker. Views considerably less smoky to the north looking over Jones Lake with Harrison Lake and the elusive Mount Breakenridge off in the distance. Gotta get up that one of these days! As mentioned, all the major Cheam Range peaks are visible from here save for Knight Peak of which just a sliver of the North Ridge is showing. Silvertip and company dominates the view to the east and completes what is an unexpectedly visually pleasing 360 panorama for an otherwise unremarkable peak!

Green Mountain (+Pk.2200) - Green Mountain Trail, September 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 10 November 2023 19:08:00 +0000

With Plan A stymied once again, this time due to active weekday logging, I was at a loss coming up with a suitable Plan B. I usually come prepared, but not this time unfortunately. I'd already been up many of the "obvious" peaks in the Goldbridge/Bralorne area and up/down the Hurley and didn't fancy a repeat. But then I remembered seeing a sign on the side of the road a few kms south of the Ault Creek FSR turnoff that reads simply Green Mountain. I'm not normally much for exploratory hiking, and we had no information or the means by which to obtain it but figured what the heck, something to do.

Up the FSR a short way and parked at the first fork if for no other reason than not wanting to push my luck with the CEL that came back on earlier that morning. Chose the right fork as it seemed to go in the correct direction. Up the FSR we go, staying right again at two subsequent forks - one of Kevin's GPS apps had a trail overlying the topo, so that helped with our choices. Followed the old road to a large talus bowl on Green's NE Face then finally up onto the East Ridge whereupon we located a fire lookout. Road continued up a bit further before petering out just before the summit. Excellent views in all directions, the reservoirs to the north and east, Dickson, Sloan, Truax and others, south down the Hurley. Still had time to burn and noticed a peak (Pk. 2200) on the connecting ridge that appeared higher, so went off to tag it. Glad we did as there's an outstanding view from there overlooking Ault Lake with Mount Land just beyond. We were quite satisfied with this and ourselves for having somehow salvaged the day.

Anyway, not a destination hike per se but like with Penrose, this is a good "rest day" option for rounding out the weekend after bagging one or more of the bigger objectives in the area. We'll be back for Truax, I promise!

Mount Brew - Roe Creek Trail, October 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 November 2023 11:49:00 +0000

There are a couple of peaks named Mount Brew in SWBC, the more conspicuous one located near the town of Lillooet. This is not that one. This Brew is the subalpine bump located near Whistler, BC nestled among a group of peaks known for their adult beverage-inspired names: Gin, Tonic, Brew, Keg and Brandywine. It is commonly the final summit bagged on the increasingly popular "Alcoholic Traverse", which links most of these peaks in a U-shaped trek overlooking the headwaters of Brandywine Creek. The summit is a short jaunt from the aptly named Brew Hut, a popular destination in summer and in winter as an overnight stay for ski tourers. With unseasonably warm and dry weather stretching into October this year, I drove to the Roe Creek FSR washout and set out on foot for a mellow day hike to explore Brew and its surroundings.

I debated driving through the washout as it didn't look too bad, but glad I parked where I did as the water bars beyond were quite large and seemed to require a departure angle greater than what my truck has. Either way, it's only about 2 kilometers to the barricaded R200 spur that leads up to the Roe Creek Trailhead. Trail starts through an old cut block and then heads into the trees before reaching meadows and finally Brew Lake in about 4.5 kilometers. Turned left up the trail towards a wide talus bowl containing another smaller lake. Then up to a saddle at right reaching the Brew Hut a short distance beyond, about 2 km from Brew Lake. Summit of Brew is under a half kilometer as the crow flies from here and a logical choice for those seeking to bag a peak while in the area. A bit of jungle gym action through the dense evergreens lower down followed by a short walk to the summit proper. Enjoyed superb autumnal views both near and far - Mount Fee to the northwest, north to Brandywine and Rainbow, northeast to Currie and Weart, west to Cypress and Tricouni, southeast to Black Tusk, Castle Towers, and the glaciers beyond. Marvelous! Higher Keg Peak is nearby and makes for an easy add-on before heading back.

Bottom line, Brew and/or Keg are fine Autumn objectives without the need for driving very far or having to put in much work in getting there. Low effort: High reward as they say!

Mount Barbour - Tenquille Creek Trail, October 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 02 December 2023 11:37:00 +0000

Located about halfway along the ~13-kilometer-long crest where well-trodden peaks such as Copper Mound, Mount McLeod, Seven O'clock Mountain, and Sun God Mountain are found is Mount Barbour. As with these others, Barbour is featured in Gunn's Scrambles in SWBC, benefits from relatively good access and can be accomplished in a very manageable day trip from Vancouver. The approach described in the guide follows a trail past Barbour's Draw/Valley that was once used by miners to graze horses as they traversed the range north-to-south. Culminating at a broad pass below Barbour's West Ridge, the 'draw is a very scenic place and well worth a visit just on its own. The scramble up the West Ridge is straight-forward and makes for a satisfying final ascent to a perch with impressive 360-degree views!

Barbour can be approached from the west via Tenquille Lake Trail or from the east via Tenquille Creek Trail. Having previously hiked to Tenquille Lake for both Tenquille Mountain and Goat Peak, I took the east approach for something different. I also brought a bike for the mostly flat ~5 kms between where the FSR is gated and the trailhead proper. Not sure what the purpose of this gate is as the road beyond is perfectly driveable by just about any type of vehicle, at least to the overgrown fork that continues up-valley to the trailhead. A sign near the gate does warn about grizzlies and some sort of seasonal closure, so travel here at your own peril. Reaching the road end, I stashed my bike and walked a short distance to a stream crossing with the trail just beyond. Pleasant forest hike from here some 2.7 kms to the junction with Tenquille Lake Trail. Turned left and headed up into Barbour's Draw. Up out of the forest in short order, entering an enchanting land of meadows and turquoise-hued lakelets. Leaving the main trail now, I continued straight ahead to reach a broad pass overlooking Lillooet River Valley far below. Turned left here and made my way up the lower west slopes of Barbour. Finally, I gained the West Ridge to avoid a steep rock face directly above and followed that easily up to the summit.

Great views despite some smoke obscuring the more distant peaks and glaciers. Noteworthy were Mount Sampson and the Railroad Group, Sun God Mountain, Lillooet River Valley and of course a bird's-eye view of the 'draw! Spent about :45 up top before heading back down. Back at the trailhead, I heard an unsettling rustling/crashing sound off in the bush adjacent to the old road as I was retrieving my bike. Something BIG was lurking nearby! On with the helmet, then took a deep breath before cranking hard and fast, making as much noise as I could! Please Mr. Grizz let me pass by unscathed! Back to the truck and cold beer without incident thank God, another bullet dodged and another peak down!

Gillespie Mountain - Northwest Ridge, October 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 05 January 2024 08:21:00 +0000

Here's another gem deep in the Squamish backcountry. Same approach as for Seed Peak, up n' over November Peak, down and back up from a saddle, then hook a right towards the outflow of the pocket glacier and lake nestled there between Seed and Gillespie. Couple options to gain Gillespie's NW Ridge: 1.) Around to the left along the "shore" and up to a saddle. Looked like a lot of loose shitty shit going this way. 2.) Up and slightly right towards a dike of sorts offering a weakness through the cliffs above. I took option 2. A steep pitch of easy climbing saw me to the crest which I followed without difficulty the rest of the way to the final summit block. A short bit of scrambling up through the steeper terrain here and I was on top!

Stellar views as to be expected, and this being October also very different from my previous June hike to Seed Peak. I found the ridge scramble to be quite aesthetic, and the glaciers clinging to Gillespie's north flank to be much bigger than expected. Of the two, this one gets my vote. Usual suspects Garibaldi and Mamquam on full display, out towards Sky Pilot and co. as well as the remote northern peaks of Pinecone-Burke Prov. Park. Damn that Meslillooet! Anyway, enough dreaming of future trips as I still had this one to finish up. Back the way I came, clocking in the usual 7 - 8 hrs round-trip for a most satisfying "Augtober" day-trip!

Cougar Mountain - Cougar Mountain Trail, October 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 06 January 2024 15:30:00 +0000

Cougar Mountain is a little piece of nothing tucked away in the S2S Corridor with outstanding views of the nearby giants. It's all I could come up with for a yet another unseasonably sunny and warm October day of hiking with puppers without too much distance/vert or the need for driving very far. Starting right off the highway behind the Whistler Village sign at the north end of town, a reasonably well-traveled trail heads up through pine forest to eventually reach a subalpine-to-alpine transition zone characterised by sandy granitic ridges and domes. The trail vanishes here, but the continuation is obvious. Two "summits" of equal height appeared before me (west & east), separated by a minor col. I chose the east summit directly before me as it reportedly offers better views. With Pepper now in my arms, I contoured along the base of a final headwall in search of a reasonably easy way to scramble up with just one arm. This I managed, albeit with some difficulty and having to place her down on small ledges while I freed my other arm to make a move. Fortunately, she's used to such shenanigans, and waits patiently for me in these situations. Up through the steep bit in short order followed by some lower angled slabs to reach the summit.

And there we were, just barely above treeline gawking at all the marvelous looking peaks surrounding us! Mount Currie to Wedge, the Whistler peaks (plus Green Lake) and south to Garibaldi, east to Rainbow, north to Ipsoot and even a view towards the Pemberton Valley. Not too bad for such an otherwise lowly peak, although for the effort I'd recommend neighboring Sootip over this one. Briefly considered heading over to the west summit but thought "meh" we're good and slowly made our way back down. Kinda lost the trail a few times where it crosses rocky outcroppings before descending into forest proper, but Pepper with her keen sense of smell was always quick to set us back on course. Who needs GPS when you have a dog's nose to guide you back home!

October Forest Fires - North Cascades, October 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 19 January 2024 14:32:00 +0000

Way overdue in posting these up, but here are 7 shots taken during a flyover the North Cascades en route to MSP International in mid-October '22. Forest fires that had been burning for a month or more reached their peak in October that year thanks to the persistent warm and dry weather. Photos show the North Cascades inundated with smoke from the Puget Sound Basin in the west to the east slopes and beyond. Bordering a smoke-filled Chilliwack Lake/Valley one can make out the Redoubt-Spickard Group with Challenger Glacier and Picket Range visible further south. A similar trend occurs a bit to the east over Ross Lake, also overflowing with smoke with the Hozameen Range peeking at left, and Jack Mountain visible further south. The final few shots show a couple enormous flammagenitus clouds from fires burning in what appears to be the Pasayten Wilderness area. It wasn't until the return of the autumnal rains in November that these fires were eventually doused for good. No smoke in Red Wing MN thankfully and considerably cooler temps!

Mount Steele - Mount Steele Trail, November 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 23 January 2024 14:06:00 +0000

Out on the not-too-distant Sunshine Coast, a short ferry ride and scenic drive away is Tetrahedron Provincial Park. Located within its boundary lies a collection of scenic lakes and smaller peaks with outstanding views of the Strait of Georgia and the valleys and peaks to the north. Though it isn't the tallest in the park, that distinction goes to the park's namesake Tetrahedron Peak, Mount Steele is probably the most popular objective here. It makes for a great shoulder season hike, with a trail all the way to the summit and a couple nice backcountry cabins found along the way.

I set out for Steele on a freezing November morning from the upper 4x4 parking lot, saving myself a couple kilometers of road walking (round-trip). The first part of the hike follows an old road dubbed the Edwards Lake Trail to reach a junction near said lake in about 3 kms. Then contoured around the north side of the lake soon passing Edwards Cabin. A trail crew was working on restoring a footbridge just beyond, after which I didn't see anyone else for the rest of the way up. Snow became deeper after the footbridge and the steps I had been following soon stopped. But the way forward is obvious, essentially parallelling the creek that comes down from the Hippo-Steele saddle above. Up from this saddle along Steele's west shoulder to reach a large bench along the edge of which sits the Mount Steele Cabin (door was locked).

Finally, up along the WNW shoulder to reach a higher saddle just below the summit. Snowshoes helpful for the final steeper bit to the top and from where I enjoyed great 360-degree views! Out towards Sechelt and the Salish Sea beyond, east/southeast to Tetrahedron and Panther Peak, northeast to the Tantalus Range, north over upper-Salmon Inlet/Clowhom Lake with Jimmy Jimmy peeking in distance, and so much more I can't identify. Back to the truck for a total of about 17 km round-trip, taking in the sunset from Hwy 101 outside Sechelt and watching whales blow and breach from the shore for some Nature Channel action to complete the day!

Hunter Lookout - Hunter Lookout Road, November 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 26 January 2024 13:26:00 +0000

Hunter Lookout, Hunter Logging Road, Hunter Road Trail, whatever you choose to call it, is a glorified forest road near Mission, BC that culminates at a landing with a phenomenal view overlooking Stave Lake with Mount Robie Ried and Judge Howay rising conspicuously from the opposite shore. To get there, law abiding citizens must endure a boring walk along a muddy forest road about 4 km each way thanks to a gate and signs indicating that vehicular trespassing is prohibited. I wouldn't normally make a special trip for this, but it's all I could come up with to salvage the day after bailing on American Mountain near Hope, BC. Marginal snow coverage and annoying bushwhacking got the best of me, and by extension my hiking partner Kevin, despite the worst being behind us by that point. Live and learn. Went back for it the following May and had a much better time of it, but that’s a story for another time.

Anywho, being pressed for daylight that November afternoon, I blew past the gate, conveniently ignoring the no trespassing signs and motoring up as far as the road would take us. As we were flying blind by this point, I missed the final left turn and instead proceeded into an active logging area with the sound of chainsaws and trees falling all around us. Should have been our first warning, but instead we parked and proceeded on foot in search of the lookout like a couple idiot tourists. Some views from here, but nothing close to advertised. A bunch of rubbish I was thinking to myself, and then right on queue a large truck pulls up the driver of which very much displeased with our presence. We leave immediately as commanded, but soon stop at a junction we suspected was the one we should have taken earlier. Parked here for some silly reason and hoofed the remaining ~1 kilometer of rocky road to reach the elusive lookout right at sunset. More idiot-tourist "oohs" and "aahs" action and posing for photos only to notice our "friend" in the big truck barrelling up the road towards us. We got a good talking to this time around and threatened to lock us behind the gate! Scurried down hoping not to draw his ire any further, adding insult to injury by badly rolling an ankle in the process of doing so...or in this case injury to insult!

Belcarra Mountain - via Springboard Trail, November 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 29 January 2024 11:53:00 +0000

Belcarra Mountain is the highpoint of the peninsula separating the mouth of Indian Arm from the eastern end of Burrard Inlet. While there are no views from the summit proper thanks to it being forested, there's a rocky outcrop nearby with great views (apparently) overlooking the area where Burrard Inlet turns into Indian Arm. I say "apparently" because fog robbed us this view, despite it finally burning off shortly before sunset. Interestingly, the summit area was free of fog, but the short descent to the lookout brought us below the cloud deck. Bummer! To make things more interesting, we made a loop approaching via Springboard Trail then right onto a lesser defined trail up n' over the summit and lookout, and returning via the 1986 World Round Hill Loop and Admiralty Point Trails. Anyway, no great objective but something to do on a lazy November day and keeping it close to home. Wrapped it up with a pit stop at Yellow Dog Brewing for apres!

Oyster Dome - via Samish Bay/Connector Trail, November 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 11 February 2024 15:35:00 +0000

Headed south for a TJ's run justified by a hike in the Chuckanut Mountains near Bellingham. With fantastic views overlooking Samish Bay with the San Juan Islands beyond, we made Oyster Dome our objective for the day. This is a popular hike starting from Chuckanut Drive leading to a lookout from a subsummit of Blanchard Hill. Linking Samish Bay and Chuckanut Connector trails, it's a little over 5 kms to this point. We enjoyed the views in the warm sun, identifying the various islands laid out before us and reminiscing about our many kayaking trips there. A short thrash to the north from here yields a spot where there are also some decent views of peaks bordering the Fraser Valley, namely the Golden Ears Group, Robie Ried and Judge Howay.

As we still had time to burn and were hopeful for more views, we proceeded to the true summit of Blanchard Hill next. Not nearly as good as Oyster Dome as expected but the trail there does pass by couple lakes for a little variety. Then returned the way we came, making a short detour to the Samish Overlook to catch a stunning sunset over the Fidalgo Tidelands and Whidbey Island with Olympic Mountains in distance. No trip is complete without a hydration stop if possible, so closed out the day at Stones Throw Brewing in B'ham. Cheers!

Mount Thom - Mt. Thom Trail, December 2022

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 20 February 2024 11:45:00 +0000

Low hanging fruit on a lazy pre-ski season November day. Chilliwack's Mt. Thom makes for a short hike culminating with a decent view overlooking said "metropolis" with the mighty Sumas Mountain in distance. Cultus Lake is visible looking south as well as some partially obstructed views looking north across the Fraser Valley. Snow and ice on the trail necessitated the use of microspikes, thus rendering this excursion into what we affectionately term a "spike hike". Interestingly, the peak and Promontory Neighborhood directly below lies just upslope from a landfill complete with swirling clouds of seagulls feasting on the piles of trash. Though we couldn't see nor smell anything foul from the trailhead or summit, I thought this an unusual location for one of Chilliwack's up-and-coming suburban neighborhoods. But I digress. Hit up Hillkeep Regional Park on Chilliwack Mountain's summit on our way home for somewhat better views looking out towards the Cheam Range and peaks flanking the Chilliwack River Valley.

Frenchman Mountain - via Sunrise Pass, January 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 21 February 2024 19:27:00 +0000

In Vegas for a conference and snuck in a day prior to hike Frenchman Mountain. Located on the east side of the Las Vegas Valley, Frenchman offers outstanding views the entire LV metropolitan area including The Strip, Red Rocks, and Spring Mountains beyond. It hadn't been a particularly productive December and early January for us, save for an impromptu ski trip to Kicking Horse outside Golden, BC to close out '22 and ring in the new year. That said, with relatively marginal ski conditions prevailing through early '23 it was nice to get the heck out of dodge and enjoy the warm January sunshine of the arid southwest. Just might make a habit of it!

Anyway, we Uber'ed ourselves to the "trailhead" located off NV 147 at Sunrise Pass, hopped the gate, and started plodding up a gravel road that leads through a small valley towards a saddle visible in distance. The road is obviously used to service the telecommunications equipment up on Frenchman's summit and as such leads all the way there. At times the road is littered with loose softball sized rocks making for somewhat tedious travel and poses a hazard to one's ankles. Up n' over the saddle and down to a pass of sorts before resuming the grind now up to Frenchman proper. Couple summits there on the ridge about the same in height - we tagged both to be sure and then wandered around taking in the sights. Great views of the LV Valley and beyond as mentioned, south towards Henderson, east towards Lake Mead and north towards the Valley of Fire - gotta check that out one of these days! The military jets flying in and out of Nellis AFB added some noise pollution to the day, but it was awesome seeing them fly circles around us!

Unable to reserve an Uber pick up from Sunrise Pass as we were resting on the summit, we returned the way we came hoping for some cell service as we approached the highway. No luck in that department but managed to score a ride back to civilization courtesy of a local couple and their friendly dog. Dropped off at the first gas station we came across and found our way to a taqueria for a quick bite and cold beer while waiting for our ride back to the hotel. Salud!

Rolley Lookout (and peak) - via Florence Lake FSR, January 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 25 February 2024 11:27:00 +0000

Rolley Peak is primarily known for the viewing platform from where there are great 180-degree views overlooking the southern branch of Stave Lake. It makes for a reasonable mid-winter objective for those with 15lb JRTs in tow and not wanting to put in very much effort or battle the deeper snow at higher elevations. The approach follows a gated gravel road off Florence Lake FSR, or if you prefer a newer trail that also starts off the FSR a bit past Devils Lake. I wasn't aware of this trail at the time, and so hiked up the road ignoring the no trespassing signs posted at the gate. Easy walk up, although one could get confused with the various road forks encountered along the way - L, R, R. L (I think). Reached the viewing platform in good time, enjoying the views of the lake and snowcapped peaks in distance - Mount Baker and the Chilliwacks to the SE, the Chehalis Range to the NNE, Crickmer directly north and Statlu Peak directly across the lake to the east. Good stuff!

Made a short detour and bashed up to the no-view "true" summit because, um, because it was right there. A dumpster dive by every definition and not worth the effort, then hiked the road back down to where I parked. Had time to kill, so went for a walk around nearby Rolley Lake. Neat boardwalk action, Pepper loved it of course. Wrapped up the day exploring Stave Falls and Hayward Lake, and down to where the Stave River meets the Fraser. All in all a fine, chill day exploring all things Stave!

Round Mountain - Elfin Lakes Trail, February 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 26 February 2024 21:08:00 +0000

Immediately to the east of Squamish city limits, Round Mountain and its extension, Paul Ridge makes for a low commitment and relatively low consequence ski touring venue. It's a great place to go stretch one’s legs for both beginners and seasoned veterans alike. The road to the trailhead is plowed in winter, the approach to skiable terrain is short and options for more aggressive lines are limited only by how far one desires to tour. Located within Garibaldi Provincial Park, this is the same trailhead as that used for approaches to the Red Heather Hut and Elfin Lakes including the adjoining campground and shelter. I've previously come this way in the Summer for a bike 'n hike to Diamond Head and most recently a jaunt out to The Gargoyles, Columnar Peak, Opal Cone, and the Lava Glacier. Always an impressive sight being so close to the mighty Garibaldi with her expansive glaciers and towering walls of volcanic choss!

Bit of a shitshow for me getting rolling on this, starting with the fact that I forgot my touring poles at home. First mistake. Resolved this with a quick rip down to the Canadian Tire in Squamish for a pair of "el cheapo" collapsible poles. Back up to where I was parked earlier at the switchback and hoofed it from there. Second mistake. Wasn't aware of the intermediate parking and didn't think it prudent to drive all the way to the upper lot without chains. This resulted in a ~5 km walk of shame just to reach the trailhead vs. a fraction of that had I started from the intermediate lot like most others. Did see a car off the side of the road about a km or so from the end, so at least I had that going for me! Skinned up to the summit without further issues (the way is obvious), with plenty of others out enjoying the filtered sunshine and 20+ cm of fresh powder that fell overnight. Couple laps down Round's north slopes and it was time to call it a day. Easy cruise back to the Red Heather Hut followed by a veritable luge track returning to the upper lot. Bummed a ride down to where I was parked and made a beeline for Backcountry Brewing. Duh.

Blowdown Peak - South Ridge, February 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 16 March 2024 20:29:00 +0000

Chose this as my next split-touring venue off the Duffey. The peak with its distinctive chutes is easily spotted from the highway and had captured my imagination from the very first time I gazed up at them. Access is by way of Steep Creek FSR which also services approaches to Steep and Darkside. The FSR leads most of the way to Blowdown's west-facing basin and makes the descent very much a "road shot", with just a short bit of skinning on the return interrupting what would otherwise be a continuous ride from summit to the highway. Like with my other tours in the area, I postponed this trip for late winter as it takes a while for the terrain out here to fill in. I would not be disappointed by that decision, but seriously considered not stepping out of the car that morning as the temps were hovering around -25C! But it's a "dry cold" I kept repeating to myself as I strapped-in and shouldered my pack.

Up the FSR, then took a left at the Steep-Blowdown fork eventually reaching a cutblock area with my first good views of the line I intended to ride down. Just one set of older tracks here to follow but ended up making my own way across the cutblock proper. Travel here was slow, tedious, and exhausting. More wallowing now up the west-facing basin, in deep cold powder, breaking trail the whole way. At some point a helicopter buzzed by overhead and dropped a couple guys off at the summit. There's a Gazex exploder up there along with some other equipment that probably needed servicing. While I didn't see them at the time, these two skied down to a weather station hidden in the trees down near my up route. I think they were a bit surprised to see me, breathing heavily and moving slowly as I was! Said hello and kept plodding up towards the ridge crest above. Shortly thereafter the heli returned to pluck the two off the mountain and I was alone once again.

More skinning misery gaining the ridge, after which it was mostly smooth sailing to the summit. Outstanding views in all directions, particularly of Duffey Lake way down below. Other notables include views up Blowdown Valley towards Blowdown Pass, Gott and Gotcha, west towards Rohr and Marriott, Steep and Darkside to the south and of course the Joffre Group to the WSW. Sweaty and freezing up there, so I didn't linger for long, assembled the board and started down. Chose the more conservative of the two main chutes (skiers left) being that I was solo, despite the LOW avalanche rating. Unbelievable cold smoke pow down from the ridge back into the basin - faster is better, you know, just in case! The excitement was over with much to quickly as always, and unfortunately, I was far too spent to go back up for another lap! Steep looks appealing, and with the great access I might have to come nab that one next!

Silverdaisy Mountain - via Cayuse Flats, March 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 20 March 2024 16:27:00 +0000

Completely encircled by Skagit Valley and Manning Provincial Parks, but not part of either, the roughly 57 square kilometer area within which Silverdaisy Mountain is located is a virtual BC Parks no-mans land. Within this relatively small parcel of land can be found a collection of peaks such as Hatchethead, Claimstake, Brice, Eastpoint, Porcupine and of course the most frequently visited of the lot, Silverdaisy. Its popularity as a winter objective stems from the fact that a good, albeit long forest road starting from Hwy 3 can be followed to the ~5900ft Claimstake-Silverdaisy Saddle, a mere 1.6 kilometers from the summit. The terrain is also relatively sheltered from avalanches, adding to its appeal as a "safe" outing when conditions elsewhere are hazardous. Unfortunately, this also means that as a ski-touring destination, a trip to Silverdaisy isn't very exciting, although the East Face of neighboring Claimstake apparently offers a fine, steep run.

Content with simply tagging Silverdaisy on yet another solo outing, I found myself skinning-up at the highway pullout hopeful for bucking the car prowling trend the Cayuse Flats Trailhead has become notorious for. Crossed the bridge over the Skagit River and then a long, boring skin some 10 kilometers up Smitheram Creek Valley to the saddle. Sinking through the previous tracks for much of the way and dragging heavy clumps of snow globbed onto the bottom of my skins, it was an exhausting slog getting to this point. I stopped repeatedly to rid my skins of the snow and ice, but minutes later they'd glob back up again. Ugh! A short but steep pitch up to the South Ridge followed by more of the same laborious skinning to the summit. Decent views, particularly of distant Silvertip and Hozomeen as well as Claimstake and Eastpoint much closer in. Toured back from the top to the steep bit above the saddle before switching to ride mode and enjoying a quick descent mostly adjacent to my up track. A large cutblock area before the long FSR valley section offered the best riding IMO. Snow conditions had firmed up slightly now, allowing for a continuous descent back to the bridge with only one short stretch where I had to walk. What a relief! Back to the truck, where low and behold all the windows and doors were intact. Best part of the day for sure!

Spearhead Glacier - plus Husume Coulior, March 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 28 March 2024 15:16:00 +0000

Minor variation to a tour we've done countless times before. Up below Blackcomb's East Col to Spearhead's east shoulder, taking the skier's right chute down onto Spearhead Glacier. Conditions this winter have been cold and dry, plus combined with glacial recession I'm sure and we found the chute was surprisingly icier and steeper than expected. Dropped-in blind off the shoulder and was committed right out the gate. Slide-for-life conditions managing a semi-controlled sideslip until past the cliffs before realising that I couldn't stop myself and straight-lined it the rest of the way, coming to a stop in powder below. Agata managed to pick her way down with greater care and control - next time I'm bringing axe and crampons or just taking the south-side traverse over to the lower notch.

Enjoyable run down Spearhead Glacier as always, all crevasses well filled-in. Re-skinned at the flats eyeing a lap down the eastern lobe of the glacier. Fun, mellow run down from the ridge for our second lap, and it was time to high tail it for Husume Couloir. Usual steep skinning followed by a short bit of booting to attain the col. Now in the shade, and thoroughly skied out, the couloir was mostly refrozen mank, and once again steeper than I remembered it. Still aesthetic as always and made it back down to Glacier Road in no time. Then straight to the Dublin Gate where Jackie greeted us with our usual shot of Jameson whiskey and pint of Harp!

Cowboy Ridge - via Musical Bumps, April 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 02 April 2024 11:46:00 +0000

Back out to the Musical Bumbs, this time for some Cowboy Ridge action. Up n' over Flute, taking a direct descent to the next saddle this time, before ascending Oboe. Down again now to the Oboe-Cowboy Ridge (CR) saddle before the final ascent to CR. All this is a very well traveled area in the Whistler slackcountry with a mix of groups ranging from day-trippers to those travelling to and from the Kees & Claire Hut out by Russet Lake. Great views from CR "summit" towards Fissile Peak with several parties making their way up towards the various chutes on its N - NW Face. I've ridden down from CR several times previously to and from other adventures in the area, but never via the steeper and more interesting slopes at skiers right. I've eyed this zone a number of times over the years from Flute and such and have long desired to leave my own tracks down it! The choicest pitch there is a "known producer" so stable conditions are must. That said, it does get skied all winter long. Anyway, a fine steep run with great snow when I did it and a perfect closeout to the ski season for me, the only bummer being the longish commute back to the lifts!

Slhanay Peak - Slhanay Peak Trail, April 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 18 April 2024 16:32:00 +0000

With the sudden onset of warm Spring weather starting in April, we hung up the boards for the season and traded-in our snow boots for hiking kicks. Nobody was in the mood for a long drive, big vert or suffering up something obscure out in the back of beyond just yet, and Pepper was coming, so I had to dig deep for a venue suitable for all. Slhanay Peak in Squamish fit the bill perfectly with a pleasant loop hike, great views of Stawamus Chief and Squamish Valley, and low enough to remain below the isothermal snow line. It is considerably lesser traveled than the Chief with its three summits, so if you desire some solitude on your hike, this be the one. That said, I find the Chief to be much more interesting, both in terms of variety (i.e. via ferrata) and views, but if you've already been up it a number of times as I have then Slhanay makes for a good alternative.

We parked at a small pullout on the Mamquam FSR about 1.5 km from where we turned off Hwy 99. The trail is easy to follow, albeit steep at times, requiring one to clamber up boulders and roots. We gained the forested ridge in short order and followed a pretty moss-lined trail to the NE towards our peak, making a short detour to a bluff with a fantastic view overlooking the Squamish Valley. Backtracked to the main Slhanay Trail and followed that on up to the summit proper. Note that there are multiple trails through here, so an offline map or GPX would be useful. The summit is somewhat treed with partially obstructed views, but what more can you ask for from a summit barely over 2000 feet? We followed a different trail for a portion of our return to make another viewpoint, this time with a bench and up-close views of the Olesen Creek Valley on the Chief's backside. Cold refreshments were calling, so hurried back down to the car and off to our usual Squamish watering hole to complete the day!

American Mountain - Via American FSR, May 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:07:00 +0000

Second go at this one, following a previous attempt in November 2022. At the time, I duped myself into thinking this would be a good late season objective and that the "crux" waterfall section would be "in". Turns out there was just enough snow to be annoying, providing little in the way of relief from all the brush that is present on this route when free of snow. Nevertheless, Kevin and I made it to the infamous waterfall, and upon seeing that it was impassible, proceeded upwards to bypass it. Alas, I quickly tired of the steep unconsolidated powder snow and decided to call it, unbeknownst to me at the time that we were so very close to the top. Headed back to the truck and made our way over to the Hunter Lookout near Mission to salvage the day.

Fast forward to May 2023, and I pulled myself back together to give American another try, this time with more resolve and significantly improved snow conditions. Up to the waterfall once more, only to find it out of shape once again. Water was running with undercut snow, moats etc. Bit early in the season for this, but no matter and off for the bypass I go. Back into the gully directly above the waterfall section in short order and then onto the summit area with the abandoned tram station and the ubiquitous BC summit dildos. Just west of Hope, BC and flanking the north bank of the Faser River, the view from American is impressive. Cheam Range and company looking south, Fraser Valley towards Chilliwack to the southwest, Old Settler and others to the north with Outram and friends to the east - good stuff! Back down for a much shorter than anticipated hike, with enough time to tag nearby Mount Lincoln for another minor peak with great views to complete a satisfying day up the Fraser Canyon!

Mount Lincoln - Mount Lincoln Trail, May 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 14 May 2024 17:30:00 +0000

Located in the community of Yale about 24 kilometers north on Hwy 1 from Hope stands Mount Lincoln. It is a prominent bump in the middle of the Fraser Canyon where the river makes a large bend. There are outstanding views from a couple lookouts near the treed summit looking south down the canyon, particularly of Wells Peak, Hope Mountain, Silver Peak, and Isollilock Peak. A ~1.3 km long trail climbs some 1800 feet to its summit, making it a suitably short objective for those having just returned from a hike up nearby American Mountain for instance. At least that was the case for me, huffing up the steep hillside on a relatively hot afternoon in early May. The views, as promised did not disappoint, but don't bother searching for a viewpoint that looks north up the canyon as it simply doesn't exist. Do however beware the ticks, as I managed to acquire one on my "Hüftgold" at some point on the hike back down. Didn't think too much of the mild stinging back there on my drive home, probably just a spot where the pack had rubbed me raw, I assumed. Au contraire mon frere, the little bloodsucker had indeed hitched a ride back with me! My first and hopefully the last time!

Stawamus Chief Mountain - Backside Trail, May 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 16 May 2024 13:16:00 +0000

Back up the iconic Stawamus Chief for a quick stretching of the legs with Pepper. Last up here in October 2020, tagging both the middle and main summits enroute. Changed things up a bit this time around by going for all three, in the order of Middle, Main, and South. The fixed cables and pegs up middle are a hoot as always to climb up (and down), especially with Pepper in-arm. Didn't realize until the saddle between Middle and South that there's also a peg ladder up the mostly vertical north side of South. How fun! Not something I can do with just one arm, so Pepper will have to stay at home the next time I come up this way. Anyway, up South the normal way for the trifecta to wrap up a fine and sunny Spring day!

Goat Ridge - via Britannia Creek, June 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 21 May 2024 21:25:00 +0000

There are a couple features named Goat Ridge 'round these parts that I am aware of. One is located on the North Shore near Grouse Mountain. The other one, featured in this report, lies just south of Squamish on what could be described as the continuation of the West Ridge of Sky Pilot Mountain. It is prominently visible while traveling southbound on HWY99 near Alice Lake, a long, gradual incline rising from behind Stawamus Chief. The "summit", as one might expect is the highest point on said ridge and boasts great views that include the peaks around Shannon Creek Valley (Habrich, Skypilot, Copilot), the lesser Marmot Creek Valley, Squamish Valley, and a stunner of a perspective on Howe Sound. It is this view that ultimately piqued my interest, that, and the fact that it is relatively close to home and accessible via a couple good trails. Speaking of trails, I decided to forego the more popular Petgill Lake Trail approach that starts near Murrin Prov. Park in favor of a bike n' hike from Britannia Beach. The benefits of doing this include less distance and vert, with ~5.3 km and ~1800 feet dispatched by bike. This leaves just ~4.6 km and ~3000 feet to reach the summit, not including all the little ups n' downs. The downside is that the portion of the FSR that parallels Britannia Creek is technically off limits due to mining-related activities, not that anyone seems to care about trespassing here.

Stashing my bike at the start of the "Disneyland" Trailhead (MTB downhill?), I hiked steeply up through forest to reach a junction with the Petgill Lake Trail continuation. Turned right here, now following the Goat Ridge Trail, around a small lake and up towards the rocky terrain above. As mentioned, there's a bit of micro terrain to contend with, including numerous small ups and downs before reaching the final slopes below the summit. Bit overcast on the day I was up there and somewhat moody with the clouds swirling about Sky Pilot and such. Pleasing views of all the peaks and valleys as mentioned previously, and especially of Howe Sound in all her glory. This is why I came here after all! Lingered for 30 min or so before heading back down the way I came. A bonus of a hike n' bike trip is obviously the ride down - quick and dirty, and oh so much fun! If only all hikes could end this way!

Mortar Peak - South Ridge via Hurley FSR, June 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 24 May 2024 12:57:00 +0000

The Scrambles in SWBC guidebook by Matt Gunn lists a hike out near Railroad Pass named Grouty Peak. The name is loosely applied to the entirety of a ~4-kilometer-long rocky crest located between the Hurley River FSR to the west and Hope Creek FSR to the east. Bordered by deep valleys on both sides, Grouty has a bit of an island-in-the-sky feel to it, and thusly commands great 360-degree views. A steep and somewhat bushy trail leads up from near Railroad Pass to the alpine with beautiful meadows, snowfields and finally some broken rock towards the top. The area also seems to be popular with the heli-ski companies as evidenced by the profusion of LZ markers littered about the upper portion of the ridge. There would be no heli or any other signs of man on this day however, just some quiet and solitude in a most beautiful corner of the South Coast Mountains!

To be precise, the actual named summit is applied to a point at the far north end of the crest. This point is neither the highest nor, so I have read, does it offer the best view. For that, one simply needs to hike about half of the way along the ridge to a pair of bumps known informally as Mortar Peak. Grouty and Mortar...get it? These three in addition to the first peak at the very south end constitute the four peaks of Grouty. Anyway, the northern bump is the taller of the two and would be my destination for the day while Agata hung back at the south peak. No hands-on action to get here, just an easy plod over a broad ridge ending with some scree and rock on a gentle summit. Of note are the views towards the mighty Mount Thiassi, Tenquille and Goat, peaks of the Railroad Group (Face and Locomotive) with Sampson behind and finally a swath of the Lillooet River Valley far off to the south. Way up there on the value/view-to-effort ratio! Pizza slices for lunch up top then back down the way we came, noting a large grizzly bear with cubs in the field there just before merging back onto the Pemberton Meadows Road. Neat to see from a safe distance! Popped into nearby Beer Farmers for some tasty refreshments to complete a satisfying day in the Pemberton backcountry!

Pebble to North Creek - via Pebble Glacier, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 25 June 2024 21:51:00 +0000

Put my name in the hat for a 7-day BCMC sponsored trek starting from Pebble Creek hut and traversing south to the North Creek hut, before completing the hike out to North Creek Trailhead on the final day. Such a trip entails a significant amount of logistics, thankfully all arranged by BCMC legend himself Brian S. The plan for the week was to split our time staying at the two huts, allowing for day trips to various objectives accessible from either. While there was some talk of going for more distant and challenging peaks such as Mount Ethelweard (from Pebble) and Mount Delilah (from North Creek), we ultimately settled on Mount Thiassi (no small feat in itself) and Pebble Peak before traversing over to North Creek and climbing Sugus Mountain. This itinerary allowed for a rest day (for me), helping Brian and others build the foundation for a second Pebble hut, not to mention the trek over to North Creek which itself consumed most of a day. As such, this post serves to cover details of the traverse, "hut life" and whatever else excluding excursions to and from our climbing objectives. Individual reports for the following will be posted subsequently: Sears, Pebble, Thiassi/Wesley and Sugus.

Our journey started at the Pemberton Airport where our party rendezvoused to sort packs and food caches to be helicoptered in to the two huts in advance. We all then drove on up to the large landing near Delilah Creek (aka North Creek Trailhead) where the heli awaited to transport us as two separate groups to the Pebble Hut. There was some concern with wind and weather on this first day, but which fortunately didn't amount to anything. Our group consisted of 7 total - Brian, Wes, Sarah, Alex, Lawrence, Miranda and me, with a separate group of 3 led by another long-time BCMC member Ian M. following their own itinerary. After arriving at Pebble, sorting our gear and having a quick lunch, Brian led us up into the alpine below Mount Sears for some crevasse rescue practice. We were all a bit rusty in this regard and the crash course was very much needed. Still had daylight to burn afterwards, so Laurence, Wes, Alex and I went up to Sears proper before returning to the hut for the evening. We all shared responsibility for one group breakfast and dinner each, and it was fun enjoying others' cooking each day (my turn didn't come until the North Creek Hut).

After a hearty breakfast the following morning and a not-so-alpine start, the entire group set out for Pebble Peak. Back to the hut after a surprisingly full(ish) day, with me taking the following day off to recoup and lend Brian a hand with the hut foundations. Did enjoy a nice sweat in the sauna just before dinner I might add - yes, you read that right! Up and at 'em first thing the next morning together with Miranda, Sarah, Wes and Alex to bag the mighty Thiassi. Ultimately abandoned the Thiassi sortie less than 800 feet below the summit - more on that when the report comes out - but fortunately Wes and I did at least manage to get to the top of Wesley. If only there was a nearby peak named Sergio as well! Anywho, the next morning saw us closing-up the Pebble hut in preparation for the traverse over to North Creek. Just before departing, Wes and Alex endured some minor trauma finishing off a carton of almond milk within which one of the hut's resident mice drowned at some point during the night. Haven't laughed that hard in a while!

Same approach to the toe of Pebble Glacier we followed previously, then up onto the ice towards its head, exploring some amazing ice caves along the way. Enjoyed a long break at a large saddle below Mount Chadwick, with Wes and I exploring a nearby bump for some nice panoramic views before descending towards the headwaters of North Creek. The route is poorly marked here, and it is critical that one locates the flagged trail towards the bottom of the meadows before entering a steep forested area. The trail exits the trees not long thereafter, with peekaboo views towards the valley draining the Boomerang Glacier before traversing the rocky crest of a minor lateral moraine feature. The route gets somewhat bushy at this point, then crosses over to the east side of North Creek before all the various tributaries merge making it a raging torrent. After some boulder hopping and a short bit of easy trail, we finally found ourselves at the North Creek cable tram crossing. Took some effort and time pulling/pushing everyone across, but the North Creek Hut is conveniently located right on the opposite side, and we were soon relaxing enjoying snacks and warm beer we had flown in at the start of the trip. Curiously, unlike the Pebble Hut, there were hardly any mosquitos here. Odd, but most welcome!

Sugus was on the menu for the following day, and so with Ian in lead this time we set out via a well marked trail from the hut up along the creek draining the large basin immediately to our west. Easy glacier travel with fun scrambling on the final summit ridge made for an enjoyable day for all 8 of us split into two groups. The nearby forest fire out towards Mount Sampson we'd seen on the day we were climbing Pebble unfortunately wasn't put out completely and made for some rather smoky views. But anyway, 'twas yet another long(ish) day - 10 plus hours or so - before returning to the hut where it was finally my turn to prepare dinner. Buttered spaghetti with sliced Vienna sausage and diced onions in a creamy tomato soup (reduced) topped with parmesan cheese - I wasn't the only one pleased with the outcome! Polished off the rest of the beer for desert and off to sleep for our final night of the trip. My turn for breakfast the next morning, which I once again delivered with a giant pan of scrambled eggs with bacon bits (previously cooked), melted cheddar cheese, finely chopped green onions and some cheesy buns to boot. All of which kept just fine for 7 days without refrigeration I might add! Finished packing up one final time after breakfast and back over to the cable crossing for our morning arm workout. A somewhat long but relatively well-maintained trail continues south down North Creek Valley before a short but brutally steep grind up some 450 feet to intersect with an old forest road. Finally, a 3-kilometer-long plod back to where our cars were parked at the landing near Delilah Creek, and we were DONE! All that remained for us to do was to get back into Pemberton for some delicious burgers and cold beer at the infamous Mile One Eating House. Bon Appetit!

Mount Sears - Northwest Ridge, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 15 July 2024 13:36:00 +0000

This is the first peak bagged on the Pebble to North Creek Traverse trip (see previous post). As previously mentioned, Laurence, Wes, Alex and I went up to Sears' summit following an impromptu glacier rescue exercise lower down at a minor bowl on the peak's NW flank. We helicoptered in to Pebble Hut earlier that same day. It is a very easy hike that finishes with a wide but somewhat steep snow-covered ridge (or take to the rock at right if preferred) leading to the open summit area where incredible views abound! The peak is flanked by the Pebble and McParlon glaciers on the west and east sides respectively, with Pebble Peak and Mount Thiassi rising dramatically from the far edge of either. This was the first good look we got of the area we would be spending the next week exploring and needless to say we were awestruck!

The return from the peak to the Pebble Hut follows the gentle NW Ridge to where meadow gradually transitions to forest and where one wants to work slightly left (west) to intersect a flagged and somewhat bushy climber's path that descends steeply towards Ash Pass. The path eventually enters a minor gully/drainage (slight right) and follows that to forest and meadows at the valley bottom. The hut is just a short distance beyond where a welcoming party of starving mosquitos eagerly anticipated our arrival. Be sure to hurry and "shut the damn door" when entering!

Pebble Peak - Pebble Glacier, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 16 July 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Pebble Peak was the second objective of the Pebble-to-North Creek traverse trip I went on last July (see previous "Pebble to North Creek" post). Approached via Pebble Glacier, it amounts to a basic glacier climb finished with a steep pitch of rotten rock where one needs to be mindful of the potential for party induced rockfall. Starting from Pebble Hut, the hike initially follows the same trail as that used for Mount Sears, but quickly branches off to the right following a somewhat faint path towards the large basin below the glacier. We gained the glacier on the left side of its snout, roped up and started up bare ice aiming for the large glacier lobe at right. This we followed beneath Pebble Peak on its north side to reach a rocky saddle high on the NW Ridge.

With the rest of our party hanging back at the saddle, Miranda, Lawrence, Wes and I continued up the final glacier headwall to the base of the chuting gallery. We ditched our crampons and ice axes here and started scrambling up the gully. Not feeling the loose rock here, Lawrence promptly turned back while the remaining three of us continued up. Great care had to be taken not to send rocks tumbling down on each other, but it wasn't long before reaching the summit where outstanding views were ours to behold! North towards Ethelweard and company, Thiassi to the NE, Sampson Group to the SE, south looking over Sugus towards the mighty Overseer, the Meager Group to the SW and finally beautiful Athelstan to the west. Something entirely new for me and pretty darn awesome to see!

Made back to where the rest of our party was lounging at the saddle without incident, then roped up again for the slog back down the glacier. I was careless there for a moment and managed to punch a leg through a small crevasse lower down where the snow transitioned to firn and I believe Alex did the same earlier in the day. Oopsy! About halfway into the return, we noted a mushroom cloud from a fire burning nearby. Strange how there was no sign of this from the summit and skies were clear without any thunder or lighting in the days prior. Anyway, packed up all our glacier gear once back on terra firma and returned to the hut for a ~10-hour day at a fairly casual pace.

Mount Wesley - Northwest Ridge, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 17 July 2024 12:17:00 +0000

Peak #3 on the July 2023 Pebble-to-North Creek traverse. With an early(ish) start, Miranda, Sarah, Alex, Wes and I woofed down a hasty breakfast and set out for the mighty Mount Thiassi. Started up the same trail used for Mount Sears, which by now we were familiar with having been up and down it a couple days prior. Dropped off Sears' NW Ridge where it made sense and lost about 700 feet of hard-earned vertical into upper McParlon Creek Valley, bottoming out just north of the McParlon Glacier snout. Then back up the other side over heather, snow and increasingly steep and unstable talus for about 1700 feet stopping finally at glacier's edge below Thiassi's imposing East Face. Travel by this point had slowed to a crawl, navigating over and around teetering blocks and talus resting on friable glacial till and scree of the type only a recently receded glacier leaves behind. We were a good 5 hours into the undertaking by this point and two of our party members were noticeably out of their element if not terrified by the terrain we suddenly found ourselves in. Moving safely here required a kind of wariness that comes with experience, and when asked if these two had had enough, both seemed greatly relieved by the suggestion.

Kinda new to this group leadership thing to be honest, but in the absence of anyone else recognizing the predicament we were in, I offered to hang back and guide the two back down to relative safety. Coulda turned around after doing this, but by then I'd lost my verve with the group dynamic and pursuit in general. Miranda and Wes were still keen on pushing on, which was fine by me, but despite some hemming and hawing seemed to lack confidence in proceeding without me. Curious how when things took a turn for the worse, success or failure somehow rested on my shoulders. The next time I agree to joining a party of 4 or more on objectives such as Thiassi I'll insist on a sober conversation beforehand to hash out what the expectations are of each party member and who, if anyone is in charge etc. So anyway, back down we go as a group about 800 feet and probably a good couple hours from the summit. Turns out we weren't technically on route after all and should have begun traversing lower to the SE rather than continuing up so close beneath the East Face. Unfortunately, this wasn't obvious to me at the time and none of the route beta I'd looked at prior to the climb was clear about how exactly to approach the saddle on Thiassi's SE Ridge, where the real climbing was supposed to begin. Live and learn.

Once back down on the valley floor, Wes and I decided to at least tag Mount Wesley-the continuation and highpoint of the ridge on which Mount Sears lies. We had to regain the ridge to return to the hut anyway and might as well get our butts up on top of something we figured. With the rest of our party confident they could navigate their way back independent of us, off we went up a relentless talus slope in the blazing sun towards the base of Sears to near where we did our crevasse rescue practice days earlier. Rather than continuing up and over Sears and back down the other side, we elected to traverse its east slope to reach a prominent saddle to its south. This worked out well, after which an easy but aesthetic ridge ramble on snow and finally some rock saw us to Wesley's summit. A cairn here confirmed we weren't the only ones who had come this way, despite a dearth of information on the peak to be found online or otherwise. Views were superb, like Sears only better and a decent consolation prize all things considered. Back to Pebble Hut without further difficulty for our final night before moving on to North Creek the next day. Pity about Thiassi as it is quite a trophy peak to stand atop of - perhaps someday I'll head back that way, helicopter or not!

Sugus Mountain - Southeast Ridge, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 18 July 2024 11:09:00 +0000

The 4th and final objective of the Pebble-to-North Creek traverse. Departed the North Creek hut with Ian in the lead followed by a merry band of 7, me included. Good trail from the hut to the bouldery creek outflow draining a minor valley directly to the west. Up along the right (north) bank into some bush for a bit before exiting onto open slopes that lead on up to a crest at the head of the valley, with a large glacier on its opposite side. A short, shitty descent to the glaciers edge, where we stopped to rope up. Paired up as 2 teams of 4 with one of our party and a couple other gals from Ian's taking issue roping up with me because I'm apparently too "heavy" for their liking. Just as well I figured as the rest of us were getting fed up with the ongoing verbal sparring between these three hens since the evening prior. Far too much ego for my liking. Ian graciously ended up taking the rear of that team while I led the other group. The others got their gear sorted first and started up with us following. Came to a full stop shortly thereafter, those in front now bickering about where to go and overcome by a severe case of analysis-paralysis. Lots of squawking and not much listening as expected but miraculously after several agonizing minutes a consensus was reached, and we all began moving forward again. Up to the large glacier plateau at mid-elevation, then a sharp left towards its east margin before turning up and continuing to the upper slopes. Right up the middle or better yet along the far right looked good as well - options abound.

The leading party stopped for a rest at a rock outcropping at the upper left head of the glacier, with our group now continuing in front. I found this portion of the climb to be quite enjoyable as it ascended a series of large steps on a broad glaciated ridge. A quick turn to the south and we soon found ourselves untying and ditching our glacier gear before stepping on to dry rock on the South-Southeast Ridge. From there an enjoyable and easy scramble along the ridge leads to the summit. By then, the blue skies from earlier in the day had given way to some high cloudiness mixed with smoke presumably from the forest fire we had seen while descending Pebble Peak days earlier. Views were a bit murky therefore, but no complaints! Cut our stay short as it looked suspiciously like a thunderstorm was brewing overhead, returning to our stashed gear shortly thereafter. Back down the glacier following our up-route, with the other party soon opting to for a different route, making a large jog to the left for reasons unknown. We instead simply followed our tracks from earlier, with me taking up the rear this time.

Easy cruise back down, until the bonehead in front somehow lost the track and blindly forged his own, oblivious to any hazards that may lie ahead. The large crack coming in on from the right was apparently of no concern or not seen as a foot punched through into the unknown. No mention of this of course, endangering those following to do the same or worse. Into the hole our #2 goes, with only a backpack to stop from falling in completely. Able to self-extricate thank God after which we retreat to where we’d lost our tracks from earlier and then proceed down without further drama. Fucking idiot hour at its finest! At any rate, back to the hut after another longish day where all is forgiven for the final evening of our trip. Polished off the rest of the warm beer revelling in our successes, failures but most importantly the great experience. Lots of learning to go 'round and a damn good way to spend 7 days in the hills if you ask me!

Mount Truax - Southeast Face/East Ridge, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 30 July 2024 14:07:00 +0000

Kevin and I redeemed ourselves on Truax after an aborted attempt the previous year. We were punked by active weekday logging along the Truax Creek FSR en route to the "trailhead". Went and salvaged the day hiking up nearby Green Mountain, so at least all was not lost! Fast forward a year, and we once again found ourselves bouncing down the Hurley FSR towards Goldbridge. Due to the long drive, we departed North Vancouver later in the afternoon the previous day and car camped along the Hurley at Gwyneth Lake Provincial Park. Quaint little campground with a healthy resident mosquito population and great view looking out across the lake towards the Downton Lake Wildfire burning on the south flank of Mount Penrose. This would grow out of control and burn about 56 properties along Gunn Lake. I'm still baffled why it wasn't tended to while it was still a relatively small fire; resources probably stretched too thin with all the other fires burning in BC that year I assume. Anyway, not only was it a weekend this time, but it seems that logging had ceased up there along Truax Creek FSR. Great news for us, except the recently cut water bars spaced every couple hundred feet apart were a royal pain! They also got progressively deeper the further we drove (4x4 recommended), the only relief coming after the final switchback where the road makes a long water bar-free straightaway into the valley.

We parked just before a washout and started hiking the remaining few kilometers towards road's end. We left the road at a point where it makes a sharp turn to the left, and proceeded straight into the forest ahead of us. Bits of flagging and a very faint path suggested others had come this way before us. It wasn't long before open forest gave way to a swath of debris left behind from an avalanche that ripped down from Truax's east slopes. The snow was long gone, leaving behind an unstable pile of fallen trees and dirt with a creek still flowing underneath. Travel through here was tedious and slow - went up the middle, taking care not to punch a foot into the creek, but returned via the forest along the left (east) edge on return for a somewhat better experience. Bugs were horrendous! Continued up from here soon reaching a large talus slope which we followed up and right towards the headwaters of Truax Creek. Like so many other places around Goldbridge, there used to be an active mine tucked away in the mountain here with an old road zig zagging up the talus slope and metal cables and such strewn about. It was called the Gray Rock Mine and they were mining for gold.

With Truax's South Ridge before us, we descended to the creek and crossed over to the north side. Looking up the Southeast Face, the summit seemed tantalisingly close with only a short bit of forest between us and the open slopes above. Decided that the "direttissima" was the way to go and proceeded straight up from the creek. A short bash through forest and we soon found ourselves working up grass and heather slopes. Looking back, the views were now starting to open-up, revealing a collection of craggy peaks in the Bendor Range to the south along with a large hanging lake shimmering in the mid-morning sunshine (Truax Lake). Grass and heather soon gave way to scree and talus, which we followed up into a granite amphitheater above. Fun scrambling though some steeper rock saw us to the crest of the broad East Ridge, which we followed on up to the summit plateau. A short walk later and we were on the summit where a cool breeze and stunning views awaited us!

All the usual Goldbridge-area suspects were on full display - Shulaps, Dickson, Penrose, Sloan, Cadwallader, Whitecap, and farther out we could make out Sampson, Ipsoot and even The Black Tusk way back in the distance! Great perspective on the Lillooet Icefield to the west with a ridiculously turquoise Downton Lake in foreground as well. Unfortunately, we also had front row seats to not one, not two but three wildfires burning around us - Downton Lake, another somewhere along the upper Hurley River and the third just north of Whitecap Mountain. 'Tis the season as they say! Had us a good hour or so up top before returning to the truck where cold beer was waiting! About 8 hours round-trip for a most satisfying redemption hike up the 7th tallest peak in SWBC!

Blackcomb Peak - Blackcomb Buttress, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 14 August 2024 14:09:00 +0000

Making summertime use of our Epic Pass once again, Agata and I set out for a fun day climbing Blackcomb Buttress on Blackcomb Peak. There are three buttresses (or spurs) on the SW Face of the peak, two of which are rated low fifth and typically referred to as Blackcomb Buttress. Looking up at the face from Blackcomb Lake, the spurs in question are both to the left of the one immediately adjacent to DOA Coulior. That one apparently goes at 5.7 and is appropriately named DOA Buttress. Of the two, we climbed the left-most one, which curves up and right to merge with the other buttresses at the top of a tower. Of course, all this was nearly impossible to make out in the overcast morning light and we were't sure what we were looking at until reaching the base of the route. More on that later.

Jumped on the Blackcomb Gondola about an hour or so after opening, somewhat skeptical that we'd make it back in time for the final download at 5 pm (note that 5:15 is the actual cutoff). From there we followed the Alpine Walk Trail to Overlord Trail to Lakeside Loop Trail, reaching Blackcomb Lake in good time. Looking up at our peak, the summit was in the clouds and the SW Face was shaded and featureless from our vantage point. Around the right side of the lake and then up a shitty talus slope towards what we hoped was our buttress. We knew to avoid the one to our right (DOA), and so were left to contemplate the rock face directly above us. The so-called central buttress didn't appear particularly obvious, but the spur just to the left of the final gully we had come up was quite evident and so we decided to follow it up.

Roped up at its base only to discover that I'd forgotten my belay device..uh oh! Took another look up the route: it seemed easy enough such that a hip belay would suffice for the follower. With that settled, up I go mostly scrambling with the odd 5th-ish move here and there. About 2 or 3 pitches climbing the main part of the buttress with comfortable belay ledges, great position and enough exposure to be fun but not terrifying. In hindsight, the route makes for a great scramble, depending on one's comfort level of course. Untied at a large platform just beyond the tower and scampered up easier terrain to the summit proper. Very familiar views by now, but truth be told it never gets old! Is that Mount Trorey I see just beyond Decker? Hmm...

Time as they say is 'a ticking', so down the interminable South Face talus slope into Body Bag Bowl we go before looping around back to Blackcomb Lake. We were familiar with this descent route having followed it after climbing the NW Ridge some years back, and it sucked no less than it did then! Finally, back on trail we hustled back to the gondola determined NOT to endure the hike of shame down from Rendezvous Lodge. Made it back with minutes to spare, but no overpriced apres up top for us this time. For that, it's back to the ye olde 'Gate for high fives and a couple rounds of Harp for good measure!

Whitecap & McGillivray - via McGillivray Pass, July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 07 September 2024 16:19:00 +0000

Wes and I teamed-up for a chill 3-day trip to Whitecap Mountain. At over 9500 feet, the peak ranks as the third highest in SWBC - a loosely-defined region that includes the Greater Vancouver area, the Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast, and north to include areas around Whistler, Pemberton and Lillooet. Whitecap also happens to be an "ultra" with over 5000 ft of prominence, a fact not lost on local peakbaggers as the mountain is visible from great distances and stands well above everything else in its immediate vicinity. Its name most likely stems from the prominent snow patch that's visible on the summit plateau well into the summer months - a feature which thanks to the peak's stature helps make it a darn hard mountain to ignore!

The standard South Route which we took is approached via the Hurley FSR, then heads east past Bralorne and follows Kingdom Lakes FSR for several kilometers before stopping at a spur shortly past Piebiter Creek. We parked here adjacent to the main road and proceeded on foot up along the spur, following it into the Standard Creek Valley. The old road quickly becomes a trail as it continues into the valley past several derelict mining cabins. At times hard to follow, the trail proceeds through some unpleasant bogs and pleasant meadow country to eventually reach McGillivray Pass. Took a short break here, filling up Wes' reservoir with filtered water from a small pond nearby before resuming the hike up the vegetated slope north of the pass. Endured a steep, somewhat slippery grind up this to eventually reach a prominent saddle in the ridge, whereupon we set up camp. Down the valley past McGillivray Pass we could make out a large lodge and some other structures associated with the Whitecap Alpine Lodge that operates as a ski touring and hiking basecamp in winter and summer respectively. No lights after sundown or any hint of activity suggested they weren’t operating at that time. With some daylight left to spare, Wes and I headed up nearby Mount McGillivray via the obvious SE Ridge for a bonus summit with outstanding late afternoon views of the surrounding area. Back to camp with the usual freeze-dried fare for dinner, washed down with sips of tequila as we watched the alpenglow give way to a breezy, moonless night.

Up and at 'em shortly after first light, continuing now via a good trail that descends from near where we were camped into upper Connel Creek Valley. With Whitecap Mountain clearly visible before us for the entirety of the approach now, we proceeded on a long and at times bushy slog to the foot of the peak's broad SW flank. The trail passes by a couple abandoned huts/shelters (discovered only on our return to camp) before vanishing in a sea of high grass. We split up at the base of a final steep grass slope, with Wes tackling it head-on while I traversed over to the left to find a series of ledges and ramps that I followed to gain the lower SW shoulder. After regrouping, we proceeded up and eventually across a vast talus slope aiming for the summit block still seemingly a long way away. Somewhat steeper for the finish, the scrambling here never exceeds class 2, and after what seemed like an eternity finally reached the large summit plateau with the true summit still frustratingly farther away than expected. Cold and windy up there waiting for Wes, savoring the views into the Tolkien Group to the south, NW towards the Bendor Range and Mount Truax, north towards Shulaps and the peaks around Capenter Lake, and finally east towards Seton and the peaks around Anderson Lake. Fires were also burning around us, one quite close to Whitecap itself and of course the now infamous Gunn Lake Fire just off to the west.

Couldn't wait for Wes any longer thanks to the biting cold and wind and so started back down, stopping somewhere in the talus vastness thankfully now out of the wind. Returned via the ledges and ramps, Wes now taking the same route here as his from earlier entailed too much 'slide-for-life' risk. Then finally the long grind back to camp, briefly stopping to check out the huts along the way. Enjoyed another wonderful sunset that evening, despite the breeze again, polishing off the rest of the tequila before retiring to our respective tents for a well-deserved night's sleep. A somewhat lazy start the next morning, now following a semblance of trail from camp down towards McGillivray Pass, only to lose it once again in yet more steep and slick grass. Microspikes for the win here, reaching the valley floor without incident and returning to the truck a few hours later. Ducked into the Bralorne Pub for a cold brew and a burger on our way back through town before resuming the interminable drive back up n' over the Hurley to Pemberton. Another stop at Beer Farmers because, well with a name like that how could we not?? And then a final pitstop at Backcountry Brewing for some "homework" before dropping Wes off in W. Vancouver. Third highest DONE! Now if only #1 and #2 could be as simple!

Hanover Mountain - via Deeks Creek, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 05 October 2024 14:42:00 +0000

This one had been nagging me for a while. On the one hand, it's featured in the Scrambles Guide and is a short drive to get to. On the other, the stats seemed big(ish) on paper at least and being that I'd already done its taller neighbor Mount Brunswick, I wasn't all that motivated to bother. That said, I'm a sucker for novel and aesthetic approaches and rather fancied the idea of hiking in via the three Deeks Lakes as it is a scenic area and a bit of a hidden gem that's close to home. I was already familiar with the lower and largest of the Deeks Lakes, having hiked to it on the way to Mount Windsor, but that's as far as I'd gone from that side. A shorter approach, albeit with more total elevation gain starting from Lions Bay and crossing over Hat Pass, which incidentally is the same as that used for Brunswick and the Hat/Fat Ass duo, seems to be preferred by some, but I wasn't feeling a third repeat up and down that knee-crushing trail. It's settled then - I would start from Porteau Road and follow the Howe Sound Crest Trail before proceeding up Deeks Creek Valley!

Once past the boring section of old forest road that now serves as a trail, it's a lovely hike up to and along the lakes and I took my time admiring their vibrant turquois colors. But boy was it turning into a scorcher of a day, and based on the sweat pouring off me, very muggy too! This would come to haunt me, but more on that later. Past the third and final lake before proceeding upwards more steeply now towards an unmistakably bright red colored emergency shelter. Continued up to just below Hat Pass and then departed the trail to traverse a heather bench now below Brunswick's North Face. Soon reached a large talus slope with full exposure to the searing, energy-sucking sun now being reflected and intensified by the terrain. My pace slowed considerably as I battled with myself resisting repeated temptations to abort mission. Reached the crux gully and proceeded up though several slabby and somewhat tricky steps aided by at least one handline. I desperately needed some reprieve here and tucked myself into a small alcove shaded from the sun for a brief rest. My head and heart were pounding, and I felt like I was going to pass out if I didn't immediately stop moving.

Feeling marginally better a few moments later, I mustered up the will to continue and staggered up the final bit of gully to reach a small cluster of trees near the top where I could sprawl out and take another, longer rest in the shade. So long as I could stop exerting myself, I would be okay and being that I was finally at the top of the gully meant that all the real work was now behind me, and I could rest easy. Feeling more myself at last, I walked on over to the summit proper, thankfully now on a mostly horizontal ridge and took in the fruit of my hard-earned labor! Notables include Goat Ridge, Garibaldi, Sky Pilot, Sheer, Mamquam and Ben Lomond to the north, the Deeks Lakes with a sliver of Howe Sound to the NW, Brunswick and The Lions to the south, and finally a neat view up the channel between Bowen and Keats islands towards Pasley Island and the open water beyond with Vancouver Island on the horizon. Not too shabby if I do say so myself! Back the way I came without further drama, clocking in at around 8.5 hours round-trip and fortunately nothing more than a bit of dehydration to deal with once it was all said and done!

The "Long Traverse" - Long, Tynemouth, Arrowhead, Tabletop & Anemone, August 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 19 October 2024 11:25:00 +0000

Wes and I had some unfinished business to attend to in the Lizzie Lake area after rain stymied our plans for Long Peak the previous Summer. This time we upped the ante and tacked on Tynemouth Mountain, Arrowhead Mountain, Tabletop Mountain and Anemone Peak for a full-day traverse of the area. Joined by fellow BCMC'er Crystal, our itinerary called for one day approach to the Lizzie Hut, one day traverse, and the final day hike back to the trailhead. Having previously made it all the way out to Caltha Peak, at the edge of the Stein Valley Heritage Provincial Park, our objective this time was to bag the main peaks in the core zone of what many refer to simply as the Lizzie Lake area. Ignoring that fact that in decades past one could practically drive to Lizzie Lake itself, the approach has thankfully seen some attention in recent times and amounts to about 9 km of relatively easy travel mainly on an old forest road. Beyond Lizzie Lake itself it is all trail for about 2.5 km to the cozy but mice-infested Lizzie Hut. Other than some particularly aggressive ground hornets, depending on the time of year of course, it's a mostly pleasant hike up to the so-called Gates of Shangri-La and the hut a short distance beyond. Nobody was there when we arrived, but we did encounter a twosome who'd just completed a circuit like ours. Andrew and partner would stay in the hut with us that night and leave the next day.

Bidding farewell to our hut mates the following morning, we set out on the path for Long Lake aiming for the Long Peak's broad NW Face. Without the fog from last year to obscure the way ahead, we easily located the rock bands and ramps mentioned in the Scrambles Guide that give access to "snowfields" on the upper part of the mountain. More of an ice remnant than a bonified snowfield nowadays and do beware the occasional refrigerator-size chunk of rock that comes tumbling down from here without warning! Skirting the very edge of what could be described as an old lateral moraine, we snuck past the firing zone and made our way on to the upper reaches of Long. Onto the summit ridge and a move or two up the small horn on the summit proper and WOO-HAA, what a view! So much here to drool over but let me simply say that Cloudraker Mountain the west and Skook Jim to the east are hard to ignore! One down and several more to go, so we didn't linger for long before descending. Back to the edge of the moraine before cutting right over an endless talus slope towards Tynemouth. Trekking poles mighty helpful on a long side-hill traverse over scree and loose blocks here. Crystal was adamant that she didn't need poles and ended up falling far behind - oh the stubbornness of youth!

Easy trek up and over Tynemouth's broad summit ridge, then back down the NE Ridge to Moraine Pass. Picturesque glacial lake here, complete with a very evidently shrinking glacier. Crystal wanted to take a swim here, so Wes and I moseyed on for a bit to give her some privacy. On the move again, we dispatched Arrowhead Mountain without much fanfare, taking countless Instagram-worthy photos of us standing on the edge of its east-facing precipice. Leaving the summit, we followed the West Ridge for a bit before descending talus slopes down towards Heart Lake. Some hemming and hawing with what to do next - do we call it or go all-in and bag Tabletop & Anemone? I was neutral, Wes was pro, and Crystal seemed undecided. This went on for a few minutes without consensus, until I proclaimed, "fuck it, let's do it!" And so, off we went, up towards the broad Tabletop-Arrowhead Pass.

We left the trail and followed the path of least resistance up Tabletop's SE Face/Ridge. Rested up top for a bit as Crystal was starting to lose steam. Impatient as always, I started down the West Ridge, the others following. Some scrambling down to the Tabletop-Anemone Saddle, then up Anemone, this time again with a bit more scrambling to reach the large summit area. Took another break on top here, despite the annoying flying ants attempting to enter every facial orifice. Probably not long enough for Crystal, but I'd had enough of the bugs and don't much care for hiking in the dark - so down we went. Cut down from the Tabletop-Anemone Saddle to intersect the main trail and followed that along Heart Lake and Arrowhead Lake. Wes took a dip here, while the rest of us enjoyed a short break before resuming the trek back to the hut. One last night listening to the mice scurry about the hut and over to tops of our sleeping bags, and it was time to go home, very satisfied with another fine adventure in the Lizzie Lake area in the bag!

Armchair Traverse - Mount Cook to Mount Weart, August 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 24 October 2024 15:38:00 +0000

The Armchair Traverse is a Whistler-area classic that connects Mount Cook and Mount Weart via the rugged and at times airy ridge that lies between the two. The unusual name likely stems from the Armchair Glacier that is cradled in the south facing Cook-Weart Cirque. Typically climbed NW to SE starting from Wedgemount Lake, the route crosses over the summit of Cook followed by a series of saddles and towers before reaching its culmination on top of Weart. One's journey however is far from over though, as there's a tedious and potentially treacherous descent from Weart back to Wedgemount Lake to contend with. More on that later. Technically speaking, the climbing should never exceed 3rd class and possibly some 4th, with the option for bypassing portions of the exposed crest by traversing loose gullies on the south and west sides. Wes and I elected to stick to the crest as much as possible, bypassing it just once shortly after the first large saddle beyond Cook. The ridge narrows and steepens considerably at this point, requiring one to pull on large, unstable blocks which I quickly deemed not worth the risk. That aside, the rock quality on the ridge is generally quite good with fun movement and of course awesome position!

As it makes for a rather big day round trip from the parking lot, we elected to hike to camp the afternoon prior, then complete the climb and return to the car the following day. No issues getting camping permits, presumably because it was a weekday. Also, quite smoky that afternoon from all the forest fires burning around us both near and far. This was my third time up to Wedgemount Lake, following previous trips to Wedge Mountain (2003) and Mount Weart (2018). Nevertheless, I still found myself awestruck by the impressive view of the lake basin when first cresting the bluffs above Wedgemount Creek Valley. As overrun as the place is, it is still an undisputed gem of the South Coast! Pitched our tents on the sandy flats by the lake and went about our usual camp routine prior to turning in for the night.

We awoke to thick fog the next morning and set out for Cook hopeful that it would burn off. Up the trail towards the hut/shelter we had passed the day prior before following a path at right that led into the gloom above. A vast talus slope eventually saw us to a broad shoulder, whereupon we finally broke out into glorious sunshine. Adorned with a large cairn, Cook's summit isn't much to get excited about as it amounts to little more than a rounded bump on the northern terminus of the Cook-Weart Ridge AKA "Armchair Ridge". The view, however, is spectacular with large cascading glaciers on either side of a sharp, jagged crest. Continuing past Cook, we descended to a large saddle before starting up a large tower and enjoying our first hands-on scrambling of the day, with much more to come. Skipped the unstable blocks I mentioned earlier by traversing right into a loose gully, then upwards before exiting the opposite side and regaining the ridge. Up and over this tower, encountering what one might consider the crux on the descent from here. Exposure wasn't bad and there are probably easier ways around if you go looking (I was just having too much fun to bother).

Up again from the next saddle, the ridge soon eases back and continues due south to reveal an exhilarating, if not intimidating view of the finale via Weart's North Ridge. Classic foreshortening over distance here, as the climbing turns out to be nowhere as steep as it appears from afar. That said, by staying on the crest as we did, you will encounter a couple funky moves with significant exposure. It did seem possible to avoid these spots again by traversing below to the right but note that it looked loose and ultimately not very fun. Made it to Weart summit in time to enjoy a stunning vista overlooking the mighty Weart Glacier to the east, whereas the Armchair Glacier Cirque to the west was completely engulfed in cloud. The contrast was quite an interesting sight to behold! Even the mighty Wedge Mountain with its tumbling icefall revealed itself to us if only for a minute or two! Alas, the day was far from over and we had a long, tiring descent ahead of us, and so down the SE Ridge we go. Endless talus tedium, particularly into the large basin below Weart's South Face before crossing the remnant of a much larger glacier that once spanned said basin from end to end. And then down the next headwall, this time over unstable refrigerator-sized blocks that threatened to crush us more that once as we were hiking down. This was all snow or partly glaciated when I was last through here in July 2018, making for much easier and safer travel. Many of us know the unpleasantness often left behind by a retreating glacier and suffice it to say this was every bit of that and then some!

Made it through thankfully avoiding any "Aron Ralston" moments, reaching easier terrain with a pair of lakes laid out before us. Yes, I said "pair" as there's now a decent sized one uphill of the main lake named Tupper Lake where, as of my previous visit, the Wedgemount Glacier snout terminated. I was shocked to see that in the 6 years since, the glacier has receded dramatically and now terminates on top of a cliff well above Tupper Lake! And to think that back in the 1990's the glacier reached Wedgemount Lake! The amount of ice lost in that relatively short period of time is depressing and worse yet, appears to be accelerating. Current trends certainly don't bode well for where the snout may end up 6 years (or more) from now. There ain't no denying that we live on a changing planet, folks.

Snowspider Mountain - Northeast Ridge, September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 29 October 2024 13:21:00 +0000

I'd written this one off, considering the peak's worsening access via the Van Horlick FSR since Gunn's Scrambles book was first published back in 2005. I believe a bridge or two had been pulled or washed out and thus never gave it much thought. More recently, I considered an alternate approach via Twin One FSR (from the east) following reports of renewed logging activity up thataway. Laughably, no sooner did I begin looking into it, reports of a new washout on that road began circulating and so the peak was once again stricken from my tick list. Just wasn't trophy enough of an objective for me to bother with the extra km's of road walking, I guess. The relative lack of reports in recent years would suggest that others were of a similar opinion. Whatever the case, all this suddenly changed following a late August 2023 social post describing a successful climb of Snowspider via the original Van Horlick approach. Turns out that new logging roads had been pushed further up into the valley directly below the peak complete with repairs to the damaged and/or deactivated bridges. To Andrew and me, this was a drop everything and git er' done while the gettin's good kinda moment!

As Andrew has places to be the following evening, we drove up the eve prior, calling it a night at the large gravel pullout off Duffey Lake Road next to the bridge over Cayoosh Creek (y'all know the one). Moving again shortly after first light, turning onto the FSR a couple clicks from where we'd camped and proceeded up valley on a well-graded gravel road. Followed the main branch for about 13.5 km before taking a right onto the Snowspider East Spur. This we followed to near its end, directly below a large brushy slope bound by a forested rib at left and the NNW-tending shoulder at right. A strip of exposed boulders descends from high on this slope well into the valley below and provides welcome respite from the impenetrable bush that guards the alpine. Setting our sights on this feature, we dove into forest off the side of the road and descended to the valley bottom. Fairly easy going without much bushwhacking, across a minor meadow before starting up towards the lower boulders we could see immediately above us. Just as I was beginning to think to myself what a piece of cake the approach was, we entered some of the heaviest bush imaginable and spent the next while painstakingly thrashing up the mountain. It wasn't a particularly long stretch, just gruelling and slow going. By the time we reached the boulders, we were soaking wet both from sweat and the morning dew, and our arms were nicely scratched up from thorn bushes we waded through.

With the worst now behind us, we proceeded up the talus, eventually veering off to the right to gain a bench low on the NE Ridge. On to the wide crest shortly thereafter with the summit now in view directly ahead. Easy travel on the ridge, mostly over grass and heather with some minor ups n' downs and a couple small headwall sections to scramble through. Higher up, the terrain transitions to talus and polished slabs as we proceeded into an amphitheater-like feature now on the left side of a prominent tower. Turned right near the top here and scrambled up a brownish dike comprised of friable rock before continuing to the edge of a small glacier. Crampons on and ice axes out for the short bit of snow and ice to a notch at left, whereupon we ditched the glacier gear for the final scramble up the summit block. Fairly easy going up this, with a step of steeper rock requiring extra care before finally reaching the large summit area.

Excellent 360-degree views from up top, including the seldom seen SE side of the Joffre Group, Vantage Peak and Twin One Lake. Also, good views looking to the SE in the direction of the upper Stein area as well as the Saint Jacobs/Gideon area to the east. Pretty stoked to be up here on top of a peak we both for various reasons had doubts of ever making it up! Didn't linger for too long on account of Andrew's dinner obligations, and so returned the way came, foregoing the rotten dike pitch for an equally unpleasant descent down a loose gully. Then finally back down the dreaded bushwhack section before regaining the road for the short walk back to where we were parked. About 8 hours round-trip and a very reasonable day trip all things considered. Access is/was the best it's been in years, so if this one's on your radar best get on it sooner rather than later!

Mount Trorey - Northwest Ridge, September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 7 November 2024 10:20:00 +0000

Hopped on the Blackcomb Gondola for the second time this summer courtesy of my Epic Pass. I was keen on a lift-served scramble of some sort, something I'd not been up before and doable as an easy day trip. Just beyond Decker Mountain, Mount Trorey fit the bill quite nicely. Studying the topo's, I the views were certain to be incredible, and despite it being much more popular in the winter, at least one report suggested that it makes for a great warm season scramble as well. Furthermore, the approach seemed like a breeze, with a good network of trails to Blackcomb Lake and beyond past lower Disease Ridge. The formal trail ends in the basin below Decker's west slopes, whereupon the way continues over the next rib onto some talus then traverses a wide tundra slope before turning into the next basin between Decker and Trorey. More talus now, descending into said basin for a bit before working back up the other side to finally gain a saddle on the ridge that connects the two peaks. Whatever glacier that once existed here has long since vanished leaving behind a couple dirty ice patches and a tarn or two.

The view changes dramatically once reaching the saddle, with a heavily fractured Trorey Glacier cradled in the large cirque on the north side of the ridge. This complements the already stunning vista looking south towards the mighty Overlord and Cheakamus glaciers. Easy walking along the ridge, aiming for a prominent gully on Trorey's NW Ridge/Face. Some fun hands-on scrambling up blocky rock for the finish, reaching the large summit area shortly thereafter. Views galore as predicted - to the NW towards Decker, Blackcomb, Spearhead and Phalanx; Wedge and James Turner to the north; east towards the Spearhead Traverse peaks of Pattison, Tremor, Shudder and others; south towards Fitzsimmons and company, Castle Towers and Mamquam; and finally E to SE overlooking Whistler with the Cayley/Fee volcanic complex, peaks and glaciers on the Ashlu-Elaho Divide, and of course the unmistakable Tantalus Range. Hot Damn! That's some bang for the buck right there!

Was reluctant to leave that glorious perch, but alas I had an appointment with the gondola which I didn't want to miss! Bid the summit raven adieu and started back down, finding my way back to the manicured trails of Blackcomb and finally the gondi station without issue. Hadn't been out that far past Blackcomb since the Spearhead Traverse back in April 2004; clearly a revisit was long overdue!

MacLeod Peak - South(east) Ridge, September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 11 November 2024 09:38:00 +0000

About 6 kilometres as the crow flies northwest of local giant Mount Outram and directly north of the infamous Hope Slide, stands MacLeod Peak. It is joined by a couple other "seven-thousanders" Mount Hatfield and Mount Manson forming a scenic cirque at the headwaters of Eleven Mile Creek. The second tallest of the three, MacLeod boasts a short but enjoyable rock scramble on decent rock up its SE/E Ridge, an off-trail approach without too much brush, and good FSR access for some 8 kilometers after leaving the highway. Its 7135-foot west summit (MacLeod W1) is prominently visible from the highway east of Hope at about where Highway 3 and Highway 5 diverge. It's an attractive horn from this perspective, enough at least for me to be lured into exploring this overlooked corner of the BC Cascades. Curiously, while the west summit reportedly stands about 3 feet lower than the named summit, CalTopo shows the west summit to be slightly higher. Other topographical maps disagree, so I guess it's still inconclusive which is taller. Either way, Kevin and I called it good at the named summit, which seems to be what most parties do, so there's that.

As mentioned, the FSR to where we parked is in reasonably good shape by South Coast standards at least. That said, there are numerous cross ditches which become progressively bigger the farther one drives, so a 4x4 of some sort is recommended. We couldn't drive to the end of the road mind you, as the ditches after ~8 km were too big and deep even for my truck. No matter though, as it's not much of a walk to the obvious cutblock we crossed to access the lower SE Ridge. We then dove into forest for a bit aiming for a talus gully to the right of the cliffs directly ahead. Some inconsequential brush both before and after the gully, mostly blueberry bushes, before reaching the crest. Continuing up, we took a meandering path weaving along either side of the ridge avoiding minor obstacles and whatnot before reaching open terrain above. Had our first unobstructed view of the scramble portion of the route from here - an aesthetic buttress of grayish rock cast against the deep blue sky. This is what we came here for!

Started up the rock, enjoying the fun scrambling, mostly 3rd-class with opportunities for more if you go looking for it. Sticking to the crest as much as possible seemed to offer the most excitement, with a short semi-exposed slab pitch on the lower third being the highlight for me. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the ridge abruptly terminates into a large sloping plateau. The true summit now was just a short walk across and up the final knob away. Kevin and I relaxed up there for a good while admiring the views - Tulameen to the northeast; Hatfield, Outram, Dewdney and Snass to the east; Silvertip, Rideout and Payne to the south; southwest towards Slesse and Rexford with Baker in the distance; and finally, WSW past Grant towards the Cheam Range peaks. Good stuff! The west summit looked interesting and tantalizingly close at hand, but we were satisfied with MacLeod proper and so didn't bother. Returned the way we came for a whopping 5-hour day round-trip (3 hrs to summit).

Ben Lomond - West Ridge, September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 19 November 2024 10:52:00 +0000

A granitic wonderland dotted with numerous pools, lakes and peaklets, the Mountain Lake area is an underappreciated gem of the Sea-to-Sky south of Squamish. Second visit, this time to bag the mighty Ben Lomond which eluded me previously. Okay, at under 5500 feet, "mighty" is a bit of an overstatement, and it isn't to be confused with the famous Ben Lomond in Scotland, but it is nonetheless an aesthetic looking peak that makes for a very worthwhile scramble. At least that's what I said to myself the last time I was in the area standing atop the tallest of the Mountain Lake Group, Mount Sheer. From that perspective, Ben Lomond appears as a prominent horn rising from the Seymour River headwaters, the river valley extending southward from directly behind the peak. I made a half-hearted attempt at it the morning after climbing Sheer, but a combination of excessive heat and a relentless mosquito onslaught had me calling it off upon reaching the summit of nearby Ben More. My motivation sapped; I returned to the trailhead unsure of whether I'd ever bother coming back for another go.

Fast forward a year and one month, and there I was once again sweating my arse off on the ~11-kilometer pedal up Furry Creek FSR just to reach the trailhead. Fortunately, this time I didn't have the additional burden of an overnight pack! True, as a member of the BCMC I could have obtained a key for the gate at the start of the FSR and drive to the trailhead, but where's the fun in that? No sir, just a 35+ km bike n' hike day trip was on the menu this time! For something different, I opted for the alternate start via Britannia Creek FSR as opposed to the usual one from the end of Seaview Road in Furry Creek. Go ahead and ignore the no trespassing signs as they are pointless and spare yourself the extra vertical by going this way as well! Started up the trail after stashing the bike, making my way towards scenic Wind Lake. Contoured alongside the west shore before turning up and right to gain the slabby north shoulder of Ben More, whereupon I could finally see my objective.

Rounding the corner, I descended a bit and traversed to a small talus slope. Crossed that, then up to the crest of the ridge connecting "Bens" More and Lomond. From here on out it was just a matter of navigating micro-terrain up and down over several bumps and small steps to reach the final summit block. Working left here, I proceeded into the alcove beneath the peak's North Face before turning right and scrambling along ledges to regain the ridge crest. Then a short hike from here to reach the summit 5 hours and 15 minutes after first hopping on the bike. Yeehaw! You know what's coming next: a synopsis of the view, which as expected did not suck! NW towards Sheer and the Sky Pilot Group, north over Red Mountain with Garibaldi in the distance, NE/ENE towards Mamquam, Seed and Gillespie, east looking over Loch Lomond and Bagpipe Peak with Meslilloet Mountain in distance, S/SW from Cathedral to Brunswick, and finally west looking towards Sedgewick and company. Not bad at all for such a wee little pile of rocks, eh? And rest assured, having paid my dues in blood (the mozzies, duh), sweat and tears(?), I can now confidently say that I won't be returning anytime soon.

Mount Killam - Mount Killam Trail, September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 28 November 2024 12:01:00 +0000

Spent a few days around Agata's birthday relaxing at a close friend's lovely beach house on Gambier Island. We've stayed here now several times since, and it's always a relaxing mini-getaway, close to home, but still sufficiently removed from the ruckus of the city. Simply put, it's a rejuvenating dose of "island time" without the attendant big production of getting to and from. Loaded up a Rubbermaid box of provisions, strapped it to a hand truck and along with our backpacks onto the Horseshoe - Langdale Ferry we go (on foot). Disembark the ferry 45 minutes later and then a short water taxi ride to New Brighton, where we walked with our gear in tow for ~10 minutes more to our home for the next several days. Promptly stripped down to the bare minimum without running afoul of the neighbors, and voila, Island Time!

Not one to miss an opportunity to bag a peak, I took a break from my busy beachside schedule to run up one of the local summits. Gambier boasts a few minor peaks popular with the "Bagger Challenge" crowd, of which Mount Killam arguably has the best views. Out the front door with Pepper by my side and off for Killam we go! Onto the West Bay Road, for some 2 km from the New Brighton jetty before taking a trail at left where the road makes a sharp 90-degree turn to the right. Pleasant travel through the forest, reaching an overgrown road after about 1.6 km. Stayed right to continue on the trail, ignoring a fork to the right shortly before crossing Whispering Creek. Crossed said creek, and followed the trail left (north), reaching another fork in short order. Right here, now officially on the Mount Killam Trail for a little over 2 km more to reach the no-view summit.

As expected, Killam's treed summit isn't the prize here. For that, one needn't go further than a couple lookout spots about 5 minutes shy of the summit proper with great views panning from the SE to the SW. Basically, the entire mouth of Howe Sound from Landale on the Sunshine Coast to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver! Didn't linger for long as cold beer and an afternoon swim were calling on this particularly hot September afternoon, and so down we go returning to our starting point in about 5 hours round trip. Photos include a walk around the Southwest Peninsula to Gambier Harbor and Avalon Bay.

Lone Goat & Snow Camp Mountain - via Skyline I Trail, September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 4 December 2024 14:55:00 +0000

Late September now and Summer took a brief hiatus to allow for cooler temperatures and a healthy dusting of snow on the higher peaks. Mindful of the conditions, I decided no better time than the present to go for a nice "walk" in Manning Park. On the program were a couple ~6500-foot pup-friendly peaks, both of which are served by a well-maintained trail: Lone Goat and Snow Camp Mountain. Situated just north of the border at the western end of what one might consider the "Canadian Pasayten Wilderness", these two peaks form the culmination of the east-west trending ridge separating the Nepopekum Creek Valley to the north and the Lightning Creek Valley to the south.

Starting from Gibson Pass, shortly before the Manning Park Ski Area, I followed a good trail some 6 kilometers up to the Skyline I Trail intersection on the ridge crest. Following this trail now, heading west, I descended a bit towards Despair Pass, making my way past Snow Camp Mountain intending on tagging Lone Goat first and then Snow Camp on my return. The main trail undulates along the crest and traverses below both peaks on their south sides before descending in earnest into Mowich Creek Valley. Leaving the trail just prior to this decent, I followed a spur at right leading up Lone Goat's SW shoulder to its open summit area (2.5 hours to here). Nice views, albeit with significant cloud cover looking south toward the Hozomeen Group, SW towards the Picket Range and Redoubt-Spickard Group, and east towards Frosty and company.

Lingered up top long enough to get cold, and so headed back down to Skyline I Trail and followed it back towards Despair Pass. Quick detour to tag Snow Camp before continuing back to where I was parked. Checked out the tiny ski area there at the end of the road before calling it a day and heading home. This is a scenic area and a great option for some "mountain time" without much of an agenda or effort for that matter.

Isolillock Peak - via Eureka Mine Road, October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 14 December 2024 13:57:00 +0000

Located in the BC Cascades immediately SSW of Hope, BC, stands Isolillock Peak. Along with nearby Hope Mountain and Wells Peak, it is a prominent summit that towers above the confluence of Silverhope Creek and the Fraser River. For those that have motored southbound on Highway 1 in the vicinity of Yale, BC, Isolillock and its lesser twin Silver Peak dominate the view ahead, just to the right of Hope Mountain visible at center. Until recently, access to the peak was from Sowerby Creek to the south, via a steep, bushy and reportedly unpleasant grunt to the Silver-Isolillock Col. Today, thanks to the restored Eureka Mine Road that ascends the north side of the peak, one can "drive" a rugged 4x4 to within a mere ~1500 ft of the summit! Okay, okay, not so fast...that was true as of a couple years ago, but unfortunately recent washouts have now rendered the FSR partially impassable after just ~2 kilometers from where one turns off the road to Silver Lake Campground. This leaves over 7 kilometers and ~3500 feet just to reach the road's end, ugh! Doable yes and still better than the southern alternative, but Andrew and I had a plan to make it even better!

By "partially" impassible, a longer wheelbase vehicle such as my 4x4 wouldn't be able to make it, but a compact Jeep, ATV or motorcycle on the other hand would be no problem! Neither of us own a Jeep or ATV, so we hatched a plan whereby Andrew would give me a tow on my mountain bike with his dirt bike. There are videos of people doing this on YouTube, albeit on mostly flat ground, so what could possibly go wrong?! Suffice it to say, on a steep and loose FSR such as this, it's a LOT harder than it would seem, both for moto and mtb alike! As Andrew had to maintain some speed to keep from spinning out, I had myself a white-knuckle ride, struggling to hang on and sucking on fumes and dirt being kicked up in my face. Navigating the switchbacks was particularly difficult, being flung wide and in so doing pulling back on Andrew who then had to gas it while fishtailing for traction. Any slack meant that a violent lurch forward was imminent, with the rope repeatedly getting tangled up in the moto drivetrain. Another washout at about 2.5 kilometers gave us a short reprieve from the ongoing struggle as we pushed our bikes through before steadfastly resuming our comedy of errors.

Finally, somewhere around the 5-kilometer mark, after repeated stops and starts the road got bad enough such that we both had to proceed on our own. I walked my bike though this stretch, while Andrew after making a valiant effort of it, ditched his moto and joined me now on foot for the remaining hike to road's end. We passed a mine shaft where the road makes a couple tight switchbacks, before rounding a shoulder and proceeding into a small valley below Isolillock's North Face. The road ends near another mineshaft, beyond which a short bit of side hilling leads to the Silver-Isolillock Col. We donned our helmets here and scrambled up steep heather interspersed with some talus, slabs and the odd "veggie-belay" to reach a broad talus slope shortly below the summit. Didn't find anything particularly difficult here, but I'm not sure I'd want to climb this when wet! Found ourselves on the summit before long admiring the outstanding 360-degree views! Looking north, where the Fraser winds its way past Hope makes for a particularly memorable sight, as does the view looking towards the Cheam Range and south up the Silverhope Creek Valley. And then of course there's the rugged North Cascades on full display farther south near the USA - Canada border. There's just something about the October lighting that makes for stunning mountain views!

Andrew had places to be later than evening, so we cut our summit stay short. Made our way back to the road end, checking out the mine shaft for a bit before continuing back to our stashed 'cycles. With good ol' gravity providing the "tow" this time, the ride down was a blast, and we made back to our parked vehicles a mere 2 hours after having left the summit! Only 6 hours round-trip, so despite the struggle, clearly the moto-assist was a big help! That said, unless you enjoy soiling yourself being towed up a mountain road like this, I might suggest exploring other options!

Mount Manson & Mount Hatfield, October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 26 December 2024 13:23:00 +0000

With fond memories of our MacLeod Peak climb this past September, Kevin and I returned to the area to pick off the two remaining "seven-thousanders" at the head of Eleven Mile Creek. Mount Manson and Mount Hatfield both offer enjoyable scrambling and benefit from the same good FSR access after turning off HWY 3 as MacLeod. As the two are less than 2.5 kilometers as the crow flies apart from each other, and connected by a broad ridge, most parties including ours choose to combine both peaks in the same outing. Anyway, it was a crisp October morning when we parked my truck and started walking up the forest road towards Manson. Turned right at the junction following an obvious switchback, then a bit more road before proceeding across a cutblock. Entered trees at the far end for before popping out at a meadow below Manson's west slope at which point the real "fun" began.

Ahead of us now was an increasingly steep heather slope littered with boulders which we'd have to angle up and right to gain the SW ridge, just above a low saddle. We were in the shade and the dew had frozen overnight, making for some very greasy conditions. Veggie belays for the win here, all the while regretting not having brought my spikes. Finally, into the glorious sunshine upon reaching the ridge crest, which we followed upwards as best we could. To bypass problematic rock steps and avoiding the slick north side, we instead made a couple short traverses on the sunny south side. Doing this entailed an unpleasant bash up steep bush and loose ground to regain the crest. With the difficulties finally behind us, the remaining plod up the ridge was easy enough. We then descended to a shaded notch and proceeded up blocky rock below a prominent tower. Here the way forward became somewhat treacherous again, with frosted rock made even more sketchy thanks to boots with worn-out tread. Not a place one would want to risk a slip and fall, so I called it, while Keven proceeded for a bit more before calling it off himself. Close but no cigar!

With our attention now on Hatfield, we started down the North Ridge towards a bump at about the midpoint between the peaks. Contoured around the right-side of this, soon reaching a wide saddle with yet another bump beyond. Up and over and down to a final saddle before starting up Hatfield now in earnest. South facing and fully exposed to the afternoon sun, there was thankfully no frost to be found this time. Following a worn path, the route winds its way up through krummholz and a couple rocky steps. I found the scrambling quite enjoyable, although not nearly as fun as nearby MacLeod. Soon we were on the summit, enjoying the panoramic views! Snass & friends, Silvertip, Outram and MacLeod stand out when panning from east to west. To the NNE lie the scenic Kippan Lakes with Tulameen Mountain rising from the opposite side of the valley. I've laid my eyes upon this peak more than once this season and it's getting to be time for me to go in for a closer look!

Spent about 45 minutes to an hour up there before starting back down. From the saddle closest to Hatfield, we descended in a southwesterly direction across a large heather slope. Crossed over a minor spur, and then into some dense forest for a bit before reaching a meadowy bench. This we followed south for a bit before turning down to intersect the forest road. About a kilometer more to the truck, clocking in at a very civilized 7 hours round trip. A worthy outing all things considered, and for those that haven't already done MacLeod I might suggest bagging all three for the Eleven Mile Creek trifecta!

The Gargoyles & Columnar Peak, October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 29 December 2024 16:44:00 +0000

Making good on my previous attempt, I set out at a very Mediterranean "crack of noon" on the Elfin Lakes Trail for The Gargoyles and Columnar Peak. I had the intention of bagging these upon my return from Diamond Head back in August 2020, but fast approaching weather had me hightailing it for my bike to avoid a soggy ride back to the trailhead. With the shorter October days now, the ~10-kilometer MTB approach plus 3 kms on foot (each way) make this a great shoulder season objective. Just east of the Squamish city limits, this is easily one of the top 3 most popular access points for Garibaldi Provincial Park, so regardless of when you go, you're 100% guaranteed to encounter other parties on the trail. Fortunately, after the Elfin Lakes/Shelter, the hiker traffic diminishes significantly as most parties tend to stop here before returning to the trailhead. Stashed my bike here as I've done before and proceeded on foot to the "Saddle Trail."

Familiar grunt up to the saddle, then turned right for The Gargoyles. Short little walk along an airy ridge to the true summit with fine views towards Garibaldi, the Neve (Bishop & Lava glaciers) and Mamquam Mountain. Then back down to the saddle and up the other side for Columnar Peak. Following a trail on or just right of the crest, I soon reached its northern false summit. A short walk down a pumice slope to a saddle then on up to the summit proper. Views similar to those from Gargoyles, albeit somewhat moody on this day with clouds swirling about the peaks. Not too unlike my Diamond Head hike, minus the incoming rain thankfully. Got a peekaboo view of Howe Sound and decided that was good enough. Took a shortcut down from the saddle adjacent to Columnar and then back to the bike and trailhead for an unexpectedly quick 5.5 hours round-trip! Put this on your list if all you got is a half day to play or just in the mood for a quick bike n' hike!

Opal Cone - via Mamquam Lake Trail, October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 18 January 2025 13:47:00 +0000

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!

Park Butte - via Park Butte Trail, October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 22 January 2025 13:23:00 +0000

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!

Park Butte - via Park Butte Trail, October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 1 February 2025 17:20:00 +0000

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!

Sauk Mountain - Sauk Mountain Trail, November 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 9 February 2025 14:30:00 +0000

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 mighty Rattlesnake Ledge 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 Rock and watching F-18's doing "touch and go" maneuvers before retiring to our 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!

Mount Daniel & Pender Hill, November 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 12 February 2025 10:17:00 +0000

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!

Dickerman Mountain - Dickerman Mountain Trail, November 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 1 March 2025 21:31:00 +0000

Standing directly across the valley from Big Four Mountain, Dickerman Mountain is a popular near year-round hiking objective with outstanding views of peaks, valleys and glaciers both near and far. Situated in the Mountain Loop area of the North Cascades a mere stone's throw away from Barlow Pass, the ~5km and 3,871 ft ascent makes for a relatively easy yet high reward outing. A well-maintained trail leads up into the alpine whereupon one's efforts are rewarded with an unobstructed 360-degree panorama that is among the best I have seen of the Mountain Loop! Having hiked many of the taller peaks in the neighborhood, I found this a bit surprising, but then again, a closer look at a topographic map would suggest as much - the peak lies at the southernmost point contained within the U-shaped route followed by the scenic byway known as the Mountain Loop Highway (MLH). Deep river valleys to the west, south, and east contribute to Dickerman's "island in the sky" vibe, which is almost always synonymous with awesome views.

With that in mind and capitalizing on what would be one of the final fair-weather days of autumn, I set out for the town of Granite Falls at the southern entry point of the MLH. Some black ice on the road required careful driving, but I reached the trailhead without incident and started up the Dickerman Mountain Trail in short order. The trail angles up the west slope for a bit before commencing a series of switchbacks, soon reaching snowline and open slopes shortly thereafter. The trail flirts with the peak's SW Ridge for a moment, offering a brief glimpse of the summit before diving back into the trees for a final push to the upper south slope and summit just beyond. As promised, the view did not disappoint - Big Four, Vesper, Sperry and Del Campo to the south, Silver Tip, Columbia, Monte Cristo and friends to the southeast, Sloan standing proud to the east, Pugh, Forgotten and White Chuck to the NE, and finally Three Fingers and Whitehorse towering to the NW...the majesty of all things Mountain Loop!

Bumped into Carla S. and company on the summit and spent the next while catching up on life south of the 49th, briefing each other on our mutual Seattle-area hiking acquaintances past and present. Finally, having had our fill of the views, we began the descent together, conversation helping the miles and vertical go by almost unnoticed. Back to the trailhead where we bid our adieus, making my way back down the byway satisfied with another fine dayhike in my ol' stomping grounds!

Winter's End Peak (AKA Verona Peak) - via Klesiikwa Branch FSR, November 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 4 March 2025 17:48:00 +0000

Just west of Coquihalla Pass, Winter's End Peak (AKA Verona Peak) is an unremarkable 5577-foot mountain with a broad summit plateau from which good views of the surrounding area can be had. It makes for a relatively popular Winter objective, being that access is by way of a short forest road, itself served by the paved highway that runs a mere ~3 horizontal kilometers from the peak. Kevin and I found ourselves en route to its summit after abandoning our attempt on nearby Bombtram Mountain earlier that morning. There was insufficient snow coverage down low, for my liking at least, and I quickly lost patience with bushwhacking through a damp and slippery zone of regrowth. Served by the same trailhead, Winter's End is right across the "Box Canyon" side valley from Bombtram and made for a logical plan 'B'.

Getting to the peak required 4 kilometers of easy walking on a forest road, over snow starting from the second switchback about 1.2 kms in. Left the road at the final swithchback, entering a cutblock for a bit before diving into forest for the remainder of the hike up to a saddle. Strapped on snowshoes in the forest section as the postholing was getting tedious. Followed a wide ridge up from the saddle to reach the summit plateau only 3 hours after starting that morning. Wandered around up top with many of the usual Coquihalla area suspects visible from there - Anderson River and Alpaca groups to the north with Vicuna and Guanaco peeking from behind, Yak and the Markhor-Needle Group to the east, and finally that pesky Bombtram to the south. Not too bad for an otherwise "meh" objective. Will be back for plan 'A' after the snow starts flying in earnest!

Dolomiti - Snowboarding, December 2023

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 14 March 2025 17:11:00 +0000

Agata needed me outta the house for more than a couple of days, and I conveniently owed my folks a visit for the holidays, so off across the pond I go this time by myself. Kinda a spur-of-the-moment decision and no hops on the East Coast thank you very much, both of which of course resulted in airfare costing an arm and a leg. Suffered in coach for far too many hours, seats far too tightly spaced and ass far too sore from cushions far too thin. Could air travel possibly suck any more?

Neither the chicken nor pasta looked any good, but at least I arrived in VCE as scheduled. Hopped into the "taxi" which pops arranged to take me from the airport for the ~2.5-hour ride to my 'home away from home' in the Dolomites. Spent the next week and a half chillin' with mum and dad and of course slaying the hardpack! Coverage was decidedly "low tide" as usual, so no off-piste action lest I risk blowing up my ankle like I did back in 2016. Made the most of it just the same, ranging far and wide over the thousands of kilometers of perfectly groomed trails to choose from.

Pictured descents and scenery from Col Rodella, Passo Pordoi, Sass Pordoi, Marmolada, Porta Vescovo, Pralongia, Passo Falzarego, Lagazuoi, Bec de Roces, Vallon/Piz Boe, Passo Gardena, Dantercepies, Champinoi and more. Blah blah blah...most importantly, it was a privilege to spend quality time with loved ones and be humbled by the sublime grandeur of these amazing mountains!

Red Rock Canyon - Turtlehead Mountain, Calico Tank Peak & more, January 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 19 March 2025 13:21:00 +0000

Back to Vegas for our annual dealer conference. As before, we arrived a day early with the intention of hiking a local peak. The year prior we bagged Frenchman Mountain on the east side of the LV Valley. This time we set our sights on Red Rock Canyon to the west, hiking up Turtlehead Mountain and Calico Tank Peak followed by a short hike into Ice Box Canyon to finish up the day.

Left the swanky confines of the Red Rock Resort where we'd be spending the next few days and hopped into a Chevy Bolt EV we rented to get us to and from the RRC. Battery was fully charged when we left but depleted at an alarming rate on the relatively short drive there, no doubt thanks to the temperature being in the 20's! Figures. I'll keep my "polluting" ICE-powered vehicle please and thank you.

Turtlehead, as seen from our hotel room window, is a prominent horn protruding from the eroded rock formations that dominate the east side of the canyon. From the trailhead, it's a little over 6.5 kilometers round-trip and 2000 feet vertical to reach the top. As easy as all this sounds, I personally struggled with the arctic wind, low energy and achy joints on this day. Little did I know then that I was about to come down with flu! Returning from Turtlehead, we made an impromptu detour along the Calico Tanks Trail to the saddle between Calico Tank Peak and West Calico Tank Peak, myself continuing solo to the top of the former. Took some route finding to avoid technical terrain, but there's a way albeit with some exposure.

Back at the trailhead, we decide there was enough daylight left for one last hike and so off we go for Ice Box Canyon. Just under 2 kms to the end of the canyon, where the pools were all frozen hard and a couple "snotty" ice stalactites hung from the polished headwall at the canyon's head. Damn cold in there, but thankfully no wind! Back to the trailhead and then the resort without running out of juice thankfully, detouring to the nearest Avis to drop off the silly Chevy along the way. Looks like "they're" all done with Vegas for the foreseeable future but stay tuned for San Diego in January 2026!

Whistler Miscellaneous - February 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 20 March 2025 14:57:00 +0000

Decamped to Whistler for 20 days in February for something different. Had high hopes of capitalizing on this as a base camp for before-work freshies and maximising pow days sans the commute from N. Van. Ended up being far less of all that than hoped, courtesy of the uncooperative weather. As such, we resorted to splitting our free time between the precious few powder days during that period and exploring various local POI's that we'd otherwise never have bothered with. Not sure we would do it again, but the change of scenery was welcome as was the opportunity to call Blueberry Hill our home for nearly a month. Photos include touring and shredding highlights as well as scenery from various short walks and hikes in and around the village.

Steep Peak - Split/touring, March 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 24 March 2025 13:09:00 +0000

Back to the Duffey for my "annual" splitboarding antics, this time up on Steep Peak. First laid eyes on it from Blowdown Peak, just 5 kilometers north as the crow flies. As with various other objectives out this way, Steep is a popular ski touring destination, with reasonably good and quick access from Highway 99. The approach is by way of the Steep Creek FSR, same as that initially used for Blowdown, but branches right at a fork for a total of about 5.5 kms to reach Darkside Lake nestled in a gorgeous alpine cirque with Steep and Darkside peaks towering above. Near the lakeshore is Beeker's Cabin which makes for a fine basecamp for those intending to spend a few days in the area exploring the slopes on Steep and beyond. I was here only for the day as I pulled over at the large shoulder adjacent to the highway, sorted my gear, and made the short walk to where the FSR starts.

Strapped on the skins and started touring just as a truck pulled up with a pair of snowmobiles in tow. Barely 5 minutes into my trek, the sleds come up from behind and I'm offered a ride. Um...yes please! Off we go, effortlessly cruising up the road stopping to park finally at a clearing no more than a kilometer from the lake. Woohoo! Decided to team up with my new sled mates as they were here to ski as well, the three of us now proceeding along a skin track before branching off to the right somewhere behind the cabin. Steep switchbacks through the forest lead us to a large open area on the north spur of the NW Ridge. Looking to the NE-facing slopes from here, I note evidence of crowns and recent slide activity running down to the lake far below. Began questioning my plans for the day, despite the low-to-moderate avalanche forecast. But first we had to gain said ridge, touring up along the spur before kicking switchbacks for the final push to the top.

Stopped for a break on the crest now with an unobstructed view of the remaining route to the summit. Ugh! Still a ways to go and by the look of it plenty of annoying micro-terrain to deal with. Between that and the signs of instability observed earlier, I was undecided. If I pushed on, I'd likely tempt fate and compel myself to ride down one of the enticing chutes on the NE side as originally intended. Sensing my quandary, the two must have taken pity on me or perhaps they thought I was a bit "off" for being out here by myself and offered for me to join them instead. Live to ride another day was the prevailing thought in my head, so I took them up on their offer and enjoyed a couple glorious laps down the somewhat less avalanche exposed north-facing bowl formed by the spur and the NW Ridge. Heading back, we returned to the forested slope above the hut before commencing one last scrappy descent through the trees back to the sleds. And yes, I also happily accepted a return ride back down to the highway.

Grateful for babysitting me on this day, I bid the two kind souls from Lillooet adieu and set out for points west. Incidentally, in our conversations we learned that our paths may have crossed previously on another of my solo excursions off the Duffey - Mount Seton in August of 2020. Small World! It was also suggested that Steep and other peaks in the area make for great summertime scrambles, as there is in fact a good, brush-free trail to the cabin and beyond, with easily navigable terrain up to the alpine. With so much more left for me to explore out here, I'm sure I'll be back soon!

Mount Underhill - via Old Elsay Lake Trail, March 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 3 April 2025 08:33:00 +0000

Finally set the boards aside for the season and got crackin' on my ever-expanding hiking list. With the sudden onset of unseasonably warm March temperatures, I opted to start small by going after one of the countless subalpine bumps in my proverbial backyard. Enter Mount Underhill, a 1480-foot beast of a mountain flanking the west shore of Indian Arm. As with innumerable others on the North Shore, Underhill is included in the Bagger Challenge list and as such sees a fair amount of traffic by its devotees. Lists aside, the peak appealed to me for the network of trails as yet untraveled by yours truly to get there along with the reportedly good views overlooking Indian Arm from the top.

The shortest approach would be by following a trail from near the end of Sasamat Lane and continuing past Brighton Beach. However, being that both the Sunshine Falls Lane and Sasamat spur are private with large no trespassing signs adorning the turnoff from Indian River Drive, I opted to play by the rules and avoid the area entirely...to start with at least. As such, I parked at a pullout on the main drive about a half kilometer past a large parking area below powerlines. Geared up, crossed the street and started up the Franks Plank MTB trail. Followed this and a lesser spur or two to intersect with the main Old Elsay Lake Trail. Ignoring countless spurs now, I stayed on this for about 3.5 kilometers to reach Holmden Creek. Traversing sections of mossy old growth and interspersed with short scrambly bits, I found the hiking here quite enjoyable and well worth the extra mileage to experience.

Took a break to hydrate at Holmden before commencing the final ~0.5 kilometer grunt up Underhill. Nearing the summit, a great view to the south overlooking Indian Arm revealed itself to me as promised. Quite spectacular especially being so close to home! I continued a few minutes more to tag the no-view true summit just for kicks. After a nice long rest, I returned the way I came, making a short detour up the Cascade Bluff Trail to reach its namesake lookout. Views from here were also great, if not better than from Underhill itself! Returning from the bluff, I made a beeline for Sasamat Lane now, choosing for the faster return via the road, trespassing BS be damned. That said, none of the "locals" I encountered seemed to mind, and greeted me as I walked by. All in all, a fine outing and great warm-up for all the adventures to come!

Bombtram Mountain - ESE Ridge via Box Canyon, March 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 17 April 2025 14:23:00 +0000

Andrew and I teamed up for a go at Bombtram Mountain following my previous unsuccessful attempt in November with Kevin. The Fall attempt was stymied by insufficient snow coverage down low resulting in annoying travel over damp and slick deadfall through a cutblock to start with. Conditions I feared didn't bode well for what we'd find higher up and so we aborted the mission and went for nearby Winter's End Peak instead. Fast forward 4 months, and there I was punching through the thin snow coverage, determined come hell or high water to get Bombtram done once and for all!

With the Box Canyon "trailhead" only about 7 kilometers shy of Coquihalla Pass, the peak gets its name presumably because the slopes around it are bombed in the winter for highway avalanche control. With the relatively meager snowpack this winter, there'd be no worry of bombing or avalanches for that matter, and so we dove into the cutblock immediately south of said canyon making short work of it to the open forest above. A steep but mercifully brush-free grunt lead us up to treeline on the peak's ENE Ridge. Continuing up this ridge, now with snowshoes we proceeded to a flat "staging" area directly below a headwall. There are number of ways to tackle this feature, with us choosing to traverse out right for a bit before turning up and taking a spur head on. A short but steep pitch soon saw us to a false summit with the true summit just a short and mostly flat stroll away.

Stellar views from up there and worth the effort for they are notably better than from the adjacent Winter's End. Nice perspective on the Boston Bar Creek Valley traversed by Hwy 5 towards Coquihalla Pass with Yak and co. towering above. Markhor, Needle and Flatiron stand out nicely to the east with the Anderson River Group dominating the view north. To the west and northwest a nice panorama from the Breakenridge area to the remote ranges flanking the west shore of the Fraser Canyon presents itself. Farther south, Tulameen and the Outram Group stand out with an array of the usual BC and WA North Cascade peaks visible beyond. Good stuff!

Heading back, we descended an obvious chute down from the false summit, before rejoining our tracks from earlier in the day. Then back down the ridge, forest and cutblock, now through annoyingly punchy snow to finally reach the forest road below. Back at the car, a quick change and out come the suds and spicy pork rinds to cap off a very satisfying day! All told, it was about 4.5 hours up for about 8 hours round trip.

Blustery Mountain - South Route via Rough Creek FSR, April 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 29 April 2025 12:36:00 +0000

The highest peak in the Clear Range southeast of Lillooet and immediately east of Fountain Valley stands Blustery Mountain. It is a relatively high but flat, plateau-like peak that offers little in the way of mountaineering interest. This fact however belies the fact that the views from the summit are nothing short of extraordinary! From nowhere else, that I have been to at least, can one appreciate the grandeur of the South Coast "big boys" flanking the west shore of the mighty Fraser River. Home to local giants such as Mount Brew, Petlushkwohap Mountain and of course Skihist Mountain, 5th, 2nd and 1st highest in SWBC respectively, the area is remote and infrequently visited by man. While I have been up Brew and have plans someday to bag Skihist, the rest of the peaks here are largely a mystery to me. The view in some ways reminds me of that from the White Mountains in California, overlooking the Owens Valley towards the towering peaks of the Eastern Sierra. This may not be entirely coincidental, as there are likely similar geologic processes behind the similarities - the Grand Tetons stand out as a notable comparable. But I digress...

In search of sunshine and hoping to escape the isothermal springtime mush closer to home, I again made the trek out to Lillooet for and early dose of "Summer". As a shoulder-season objective, Blustery is a great candidate as its eastern setting means it benefits from better weather and receives significantly less snow than points west. Turning off Highway 12 south of Lillooet, I proceeded up the Fountain Valley Road for some 6 kilometers before taking a sharp right onto Kirbys Flat Road. This I followed to the turnoff onto Rough Creek FSR and then followed that road several kilometers to where large patches of snow and ice on the road forced me to stop and park. Wasn't more than a couple kilometers from the driveable end of the road by this point, so I shouldered my pack and started hoofing it. Soon reached an open meadow and apparent cowboy camp before picking up the trail on the opposite side. Up through forest, reaching another meadow/corral area now mostly snowbound before locating the trail continuation at left. Followed this to finally reach timberline on Blustery's south slopes.

Proceeded up grass slopes, with the odd snow patch here and there to make things more interesting. Looking back, the views were really starting to open up now, with Askom Mountain rising prominently from the opposite side of the Fraser River Valley. Grass gave way to scree and rubble as I crested Blustery's rounded West Ridge. Walked out to the highpoint of said ridge first for some unobstructed views, before turning around and proceeding onto the summit proper. Crossed the "west bowl", traversing over low angled snow to finally reach the top, about 3.5 hours after first setting out that morning. Damn good views as mentioned, particularly of Askom, Brew, Boulder/Onion peaks and co.! The view south down the Fraser was also noteworthy as was the valley confluence of the Fraser and Seton rivers. Finally, having taken it all in I peeled myself away from the decidedly not-blustery summit, on this day at least, and made it back to my truck in a little over 6 hours round trip. All in all, well worth the long drive to experience and exactly what the Dr. ordered!

Sowerby Peak - North Route via Hunter Creek FSR, April 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 10 May 2025 12:27:00 +0000

The highest peak on the east-to-west trending ridge at the headwaters of both Hunter and Sowerby creeks, Sowerby Peak (AKA Barr East) is a somewhat obscure peak with surprisingly good views. It is clearly visible from the Trans-Canada Highway near Chilliwack as well as several neighboring summits including those of the Cheam Range from Cheam to the west to Conway at its eastern end, Isollilock Peak, Wells Peak and Mount Grant. Access is by way of the Hunter Creek FSR and Hunter 5300 FSR branch. The approach starts from the base of the north spur that bisects the ridge roughly at the midpoint between Mount Barr and Sowerby Peak. It is ideally attempted during the Spring shoulder season with a decent snowpack to subdue the bush on the forested slopes leading up from the end of the FSR to the crest of the aforementioned spur. How far one can drive up depends on the severity of the washouts that are present or where large boulders may be blocking. Either way, it wasn't more than a handful of kilometers to road's end from where I was forced to park with patchy snow starting just beyond.

Left the road at a switchback and proceeded up along the edge of a cutblock reaching open forest soon thereafter. I was following tracks by this point, and the snow was already quite punchy in the morning sunshine, although firmer once in the trees. A relatively short but steepish slog leads up to the crest, with views opening up of a large cirque below Mount Barr's impressive North Face. Now wearing snowshoes, I proceeded along the spur, bypassing a lesser bump by traversing snow slopes on the right to reach a saddle just beyond. Encountered a fellow solo-hiker returning from Sowerby at this spot, exchanged a few words and then went our respective ways. The remaining push to the main Barr-Sowerby ridge follows the aesthetic upper-spur with nice views now both to the left and to the right. Reached the crest in short order, then turning left I proceeded towards Sowerby proper. Some minor ups n' downs getting there, but overall, an enjoyable snowy ridge romp!

Fantastic views from up top, including those of all the peaks mentioned above! Nice to see Jones (Wahleach) Lake and the Fraser Valley from a different perspective. From the Chehalis Range to the NW, Old Settler and Co. to the north and peaks near or within Manning and Silver Skagit parks to the east, I was quite pleased with the scenery. The highlight of course was the view south towards the North Cascades and Cheam Range, but I've raved enough about all that by this point and so will just leave it at that. About 3.5 hrs up, :30 up top and about 6.5 hrs round trip - doesn't get much more chill than that!

Arizona Peakbagging - South and Central, April 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 29 May 2025 10:43:00 +0000

Left the soggy Pacific Northwest behind for warm and sunny Arizona. With a mobile basecamp courtesy of Escape Campervans, we spent a couple weeks touring about the southern and central portions of the state, bagging peaks, national and state parks, and generally soaking-in an early dose of Summer! On the agenda was a mix of easy hikes, walks and sightseeing, culminating with the state highpoint, Mount Humphreys. Being late April, we hoped to, and mostly succeeded in avoiding the worst of the notorious heat that usually arrives by May. Along the way, we encountered temperatures mostly in the 70's and 80's, some 90's and surprisingly some patchy snow up high on Wrightson Peak, not to mention a still mostly snowbound Mount Humphreys.

South of Phoenix, where we went first, our itinerary included Picacho Peak and State Park, Kitt Peak National Observatory and Wrightson Peak. We had designs on climbing the iconic Baboquivari Peak but nixed those plans shortly before departing YVR to avoid packing along the extra climbing gear necessary to safely ascend the peak. Kinda regret that decision, but we would have been strapped for time in completing some of our other objectives had we gone for it anyway. It'll be there for when we inevitably come back for round two! Heading back north, we spent a day exploring Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park (west), leaving a hike up Wasson Peak for another time as it was already quite hot out. Then off to Valley of the Sun for a scorcher of a hike up the highest in the Superstition Mountains, Superstition Peak. Continued north to Sedona next, bagging Bear Mountain, a peak with arguably the best views of the Red Rock area Sedona is famous for. Up to Flagstaff after Bear to bag Mount Humphreys, hiking on snow from the moment we left the trailhead! Only party out on this day, so I assume most leave it for later in the season.

With all our primary objectives out of the way following our ascent of Humphreys, we decided to take it easy and continued east to check out Petrified Forest National Park. Didn't quite know what to expect, but boy are we sure we made the time to visit! Highly recommended if you haven't yet been! With our return to Vancouver fast approaching, we made the long drive back to the Phoenix area via Mogollon Rim and Salt River before calling it a night at Lost Dutchman State Park. Ducked in for a couple pints at the pub at Goldfield Station just across the street and quietly began scheming a hike up The Flatiron. It's impossible to miss from the patio, the peak and its many towers rises prominently from beyond the campground. But that too will have to wait for next time, as it was getting uncomfortably hot out by this point and we had plans for a short rip up Pietewa Peak the next day as it was. All-in-all, a banger of a trip through the uniquely beautiful AZ countryside. Can't think of a better shoulder season getaway than this!

Channeled Scablands (WA) - Columbia Gorge, Ancient Lakes, Potholes Reservoir & Palouse Falls, May 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 12 June 2025 13:58:00 +0000

Had a concert at The Gorge to attend and decided to tack on a few days at either end to tramp around my former Eastern Washington stompin' grounds! The desert-like expanse immediately east of the Columbia River known as the Channelled Scablands is a geological marvel which never ceases to amaze with its stark contrast to the lush temperate rainforest and glaciated mountain ranges to the west and rolling dunes of loess to the east. This is a tortured, yet uniquely beautiful landscape forged deep in the Earth's mantle by ancient lava flows and subsequent flooding of cataclysmic proportions. From touring the engineering marvel that is the Grand Coulee Dam to rock climbing at Banks Lake and Frenchman's Coulee or kayaking Deep Lake near Dry Falls, there's a lot to see and do here. Sheesh! If those words aren't worthy of a visitor's pamphlet of the type one typically finds in motel lobbies or car rental agencies, I don't know what is!

Our agenda included sightseeing and the requisite wine tasting along the Columbia near the concert venue, hiking at Ancient Lakes, exploring the Potholes Reservoir area and beholding the stunning waterfall and gorge at Palouse Falls. Didn't quite make it as far east as Pullman this trip, so the nostalgia of college-era Sergio will have to wait for another time! Enjoyed our final evening of "van life" along the Snake River before the rain arrived to hasten our long day's drive back home. Go Cougs!

Rhododendron Mountain - South Route via Rutherford FSR, June 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 18 June 2025 14:41:00 +0000

Rhododendron Mountain is a sprawling massif just under 6 kilometers as the crow flies from its taller neighbor Mount Ipsoot. The peak first piqued my interest whilst heli-skiing in the area back in 2015. I had another opportunity to be enamoured of Rhododendron's majesty from Sugarloaf Mountain some years later, mesmerised by its sheer North Face complete with hanging ice and glaciers. That same year from the summit of Ipsoot I spied what looked to be a viable approach to the peak from the south, so when reports began surfacing the following year of parties successfully reaching the summit from this side, my ears immediately perked up! The various reports described the approach as a reasonable day trip starting from newer logging branches off the Rutherford FSR, albeit one that is dependent on a decent spring snowpack to help subdue the brush on a still tedious ~4-kilometer-long up n' down traverse. This traverse ends at a prominent saddle just below a subsummit I have informally named Pk. 2260 - a point that marks the beginning of the vast Rhododendron summit plateau.

"Pk. 2260" is also relevant for it's as far as I managed to get on this day. Leg cramps no doubt caused by dehydration and fatigue thanks to several kilometers of plowing through wet cement-like snow with my ancient and altogether far too short snowshoes did me in. Barely made it up the first steep pitch up from the saddle and limped on over to the highpoint while Wes and Finn continued to Rhododendron proper. Views still satisfactory from here particularly of the mighty Ipsoot across the way as well as a large glacier valley stretching away to the north. That'll have to do I s'pose! Decided to slowly start back down on my own without waiting for the others, reversing the damned traverse now across slopes littered with fresh wet slides thanks to the strong afternoon sun. Spent some quality time with my mosquito friends back at the truck waiting for the two to return from their successful summit bid, sunburnt but clearly quite stoked (I've included some shots of theirs from after we parted ways).

All-in-all, I have mixed feelings about this one. Compared to Ipsoot, Rhododendron falls short in several respects. Yes, it is indeed striking from the north, but kinda a bore from the south. Not quite motivated enough yet to go back for the grand slog to the summit proper. Maybe someday, but don't hold your breath...

Flora Peak - via Flora Lake Trail, June 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sat, 21 June 2025 13:40:00 +0000

Sandwiched between Lindeman Lake to the west, Flora Lake to the east and a much larger Chilliwack Lake to the south, Flora Peak is fine and easily accessed objective with outstanding 360-degree views. At just 13 kilometers round-trip, most of it on a well-established trail, and about 4600 feet of gain, it can best be described as "low hanging fruit" for the peakbagging set and their four-legged companions alike! Starting from the parking area off Chilliwack Lake Road, the trail climbs up though forest before traversing Flora's south slopes and from where the first views overlooking Chillwack Lake are had. Flora Pass comes a short distance later, where one leaves the main trail for a climber's path that continues off to the left (north). A bit of steeper hiking here, in my case through some lingering snow patches leads to the large summit area.

Great views as mentioned, particularly of Chilliwack Rivery Valley and the Welch-Foley group to the W and NW. The peaks along the east flank of Silverhope Creek from Hope Mountain to Silvertip showing up nicely as well. Of course, the real attraction is the view south and SW of the peaks and valleys both within and bordering the North Cascades National Park. Too many to mention here, so please enjoy the pics and see if you can identify them all!

July Mountain - July Mountain Trail, June 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 27 June 2025 18:36:00 +0000

Some 12 kilometers due north as the crow flies from Coquihalla Pass lies July Mountain. It is an unassuming yet interesting peak on the eastern edge of the northern BC Cascades. I'm going out on a limb here and say that it probably sees far less traffic than it once did thanks to a couple significant washouts on the road to get there. For starters, there's a washed-out bridge on Juliet Creek FSR right where the road crosses said creek about 4.5 kilometers from the Hwy 5 off ramp, followed by another significant washout a few kilometers further on the Juliet 22-1 branch. All of which means that instead of a ridiculously short ~3 kilometers from the original trailhead to summit, these days it's more like 10 kilometers to get there. Still, not an unreasonable distance to go, and overall, easy and bush-free travel, so why not go check out something new I figured! Decided to bring my bike as that seemed like a good way to dispatch the extra FSR kms...on paper at least!

Parked just before a brand-new bridge with a tarp on top presumably to protect a still-curing concrete bridge deck. Walked my bike along the "curb" then down a short distance to the Juliet Creek crossing with missing bridge. Boots off and bike on shoulders, straining against a strong current in knee-deep water to get to the opposite side. Now following the left fork, I proceeded up the road littered with deadfall and annoying cross ditches. Just when I'd about had enough of the constant dismounting, I came across the second washout I mentioned. It's more of a ravine now, with a steep embankment on either side, so stashed the bike and proceeded on foot. Up ahead, the road rounds a shoulder and proceeds into South July Creek Valley to finally reach the July Mountain Recreation Trail marker. Following an actual trail now, I continued through a bit of forest then a minor boulder slope to reach the still snow-bound Drum Lake basin beneath July's North Face.

With the peak now fairly close at hand, I strapped on my snowshoes and made a rising traverse up past the lake to gain a saddle in the North Ridge. Proceeded along the mostly low-angled ridge over snow with some rock scrambling to the summit adorned with a cairn and thousands of ladybugs! Good views from up top, but then I always seem to say that! Most noteworthy were Coquihalla Mountain to Yak and Needle Peak looking south, the Anderson River Group to the SW, and the Breakenridge/Traverse Group far to the west. Also, a neat view of Drum Lake and out over the rolling hills of the interior plateau east of Coldwater River. Just under 4 hours to summit, but a lot less on return thanks to the cloud of mosquitoes chasing me down the forest road. Forded back across the creek and made it to my truck just as the sky unleashed a downpour, lending some credence to the old saying that here in the Pacific Northwest, summer doesn't start until AFTER July 4th!

Gibson Peak - via Watersprite Lake, June 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 9 July 2025 13:52:00 +0000

Set out for Gibson on what proved to be a marginal weather day, consistent with what the weather forecast predicted but which we foolishly hoped wasn't accurate. Made it to the trailhead under heavily overcast skies, thinking to myself that if at least if it doesn't rain all will not be lost. Several minutes into the hike, it started to rain. But fortunately, it wasn't heavy rain, more a light drizzle and so we forged on. Reached Watersprite Lake in good time and thankfully by then the showers had ceased. Wes and I have both been here at least once before, myself bagging the highest in the group Dreadnought Peak back in October 2018. No rain or snow whatsoever that time, opposite to the conditions we found at present.

Snowshoes on, and around the south side of the lake we go aiming for the amphitheater cradled below Martin and Gibson peaks. There's an Epiphone Peak and Fender Peak nearby in case you were wondering about the guitar theme to the names here. Slogged up saturated snow to the Martin-Gibson Saddle and contemplated our next moves from there. Straight up from the saddle pitched up quite steeply with a rock step that looked like it might require technical climbing. No interest in experimenting with that, especially considering the conditions. Wes was all for it, but then his skill at assessing terrain and navigation leaves much to be desired. Decided to descend the opposite side of the saddle for a bit before traversing to a shoulder on the south side of Gibson. Proceeded from there soon encountering a rock rib beyond which was a vertical drop off on the peak's Southeast Face. Turned up along this rib, then onto a snowy bench to wrap back around to the Northwest Ridge, above the rock step. Short bit of steep snow from there to the summit proper.

Views were decidedly moody thanks to the dark clouds just overhead and particularly to the west. Still a respectable panorama from up there panning from south to east to north: peaks flanking the east shore of Howe Sound such as Sky Pilot and co., Meslilloet and Gillespie Group to the south-southeast, the remote ranges adjacent to Pitt River to the east and northeast and finally north to Dreadnought with the Mamquam Massif lurking behind. Not too shabby all things considered! The rain soon resumed and so we cut our stay up top short, this time opting to descend via the North Ridge towards an obvious saddle. Some steep snow here, but still very saturated and soft, making for a nice long glissade. Returned to Watersprite Lake and on towards the trailhead again under intermittent showers. Changed into dry clothes and back down the rough FSR we go, content with having made the most of an otherwise "meh" day!

Mount Urquhart - Southwest Ridge, June 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 16 July 2025 17:29:00 +0000

With recent reports of improved FSR access thanks to previously locked gates being left open, Wes and I seized the opportunity to finally tag Mount Urquhart. It is an attractive peak, appearing from most angles as a thumb of rock protruding from the forested hills that surround it. For those driving eastbound on Rte. 1 near Chilliwack on a clear day, its unmistakable summit horn can easily be spotted far to the NNE. Situated in the swath of mountains bound by Harrison Lake to the west and the Fraser Canyon to the east, this is an area where, save for Slollicum Peak, I have made little inroads so far. With this and a subsequent trip to the Old Settler, I was committed to once and for all changing that!

Considering the longish drive, we left town the afternoon prior with the intention of making a car camp at one of the numerous rec sites along the Harrison East FSR. Finally called it a night at the Cascade Peninsula Rec Site, making an impromptu spot of our own as all the sites were taken and it was getting close to being dark out. Nobody seemed to mind, so at least we had that going for us. I generally just pitch my tent in the truck bed, so if the parking spot is reasonably level I'm good. Wes on the other hand made do with a flat piece of ground on the trail leading to the outhouse. Good thing he's not the fussy type!

Up and at 'em first thing the next morning, completing the annoying pothole-ridden drive over the bridge spanning Cogburn Creek before hanging a left and proceeding along Cogburn FSR for some 14 kilometers to the BR2500 junction. Left here and continued to a final junction (BR2510) where we made a left once again and drove a kilometer or so before stopping. Parked right before a washout I could have easily driven over, but we were close to our peak by this point, and I saw no need to abuse my truck any further. Geared up and started hoofing up the road the remaining ~1.5 kilometers before diving off into the forest.

With GPX in hand, we followed a sparsely flagged climbers' path steeply upwards, eventually gaining the crest of a timbered spur protruding from the south flank of Urquhart. Trees soon thinned as we ascended into the alpine finding a mix of snow and heather. With the peak's imposing south face now directly above us, we traversed a large snow slope left (west) to reach the toe of the SW Ridge and our ascent route. Turing up the ridge, we proceeded up the steepening pinnacle before us, finding generally easy scrambling despite the daunting appearance from below. Soon found ourselves on the summit admiring the lovely 360-degree view! Most noteworthy were those looking south towards the Old Settler, NW towards the Breakenridge Group and SW towards Harrison Lake.

Had us a nice long rest up top before reluctantly beginning our descent. All was going well, until Wes motored on past me as I was refilling my hydration pack shortly before the descent back into the forest. Figured he'd stop and wait before dropping down into timberline where navigation would be a bit tricky, but oh no, he just blindly kept going only to then lose the trail and end up thrashing around in a ravine before I show up and help guide him back on course. Oh that Wes. Anyway, no further drama after that, returning to the truck for a very civilized 8 hours round trip.

Rock Mountain - Rock Lake Trail, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 22 July 2025 15:57:00 +0000

This was the first objective of my week-long mini peakbagging trip through WA last July. Kinda got maxed out with the bushy cross-country approaches and post-holey snow, and was in search of interesting and unclimbed (by me) peaks with great views that also happen to be served by good trails. Accessed directly from Highway 2, about 14 kilometers east of Stevens Pass, Rock Mountain fit the bill perfectly. It would be my second summit on the ~5-kilometer-long alpine ridge flanking the north-side of the Nason Creek Valley, the first being Mount Mastiff which I hiked with my beloved dog Ozzie (RIP) back in 2010. Rock is neither the highest nor the most visually striking of the 3 main summits along said ridge, that distinction going to Mount Howard, but it is nonetheless a fine outing with a relentlessly steep but efficient trail leading up to the peak.

For something different I briefly considered the alternate approach and trail via Rainy and Snowy creeks on the north side but didn’t relish the idea of abusing my campervan on the reportedly rough and bushy forest road to get there. No, just the standard grunt up from the highway would do this time. With over 4000 feet to be gained over 7 kilometers, this would be a great warmup for the other peaks on my itinerary anyway. Driving from North Vancouver, it wasn't till about half past 10 am that I started hoofing it up the trail. The ascent is steep, but straightforward, following an endless number of tight switchbacks up the south face/spur. Continued past Peak 5489 along the way, soon reaching treeline with open snow slopes above. Made a left here (right goes down to Rock Lake) and proceeded up the wide eastern spur to gain a large saddle directly below the South Peak. From here it was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other for the remaining half kilometer to reach the summit.

Cool and breezy up top, with clouds slowly beginning to part. Superb 360-degree views starting with the Chiwaukums to the south, Glacier Peak and the Dakobed Range to the north, and Nason Creek Valley winding its way through the mountains to the east. Spent a good hour or more up there, and I'm glad I did for just as I was about to head back down, a pair of C-17's came roaring down the Little Wenatchee River Valley before banking left up the White River Valley, all at an altitude BELOW where I was standing on the summit. Bear in mind that these aren't little fighter jets, but rather full-sized, four-turbine military transport jets, comparable in size to a compact version of the 747! Quite a sight to behold I tell ya. Started down very satisfied with the day and a great start to the remaining adventures planned for the week!

Ladies Pass Quartet - Cape Horn, Ladies Peak, Snowgrass NE Peak, Snowgrass Mountain, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 6 August 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Couple previous trips into the Chiwaukum Range, always approached from the north and on skis/splitboard. First there was the so-called North Chiwaukum Tour with Todd B., an attempt on our primary objective, Big Chiwaukum stymied by weather up at Cup Lake before crossing over the crest at Deadhorse Pass, essentially cutting our loop short before making camp in a blizzard and hightailing it the next day. Then there was an attempt via the standard but interminably long Whitepine Creek Trail with Eric H., making a go for "Big Chiwi" from a camp somewhere along the trail several miles in. Uninspired by the surprisingly thin snow conditions, we deemed it not worth pursuing as the skiing down from the peak would have been marginal at best and instead entertained ourselves yo-yoing short pitches on the lower slopes before calling it a day. And finally, joined by a different Eric H., we enjoyed a ripper descent from Peak 6601 just northeast of North Chiwaukum Peak down an avalanche chute informally referred to as "The Swath". Having satisfied myself of all things "Chiwaukum", despite the shortcomings, I moved on to other things and forgot about these mountains...for a time.

Fast forward several years, and increasingly on the hunt for novel trail approaches to areas and peaks I've not yet visited, my search led me to the upper reaches of the Icicle Creek Valley. Here the Chatter Creek Trail is found, providing access to the Chiwaukum Mountains this time from the south. I was intrigued by the network of trails present here, following a meandering and mostly alpine route up and over numerous passes going roughly SE to NW, with no shortage of peaks to bag along way. A quick search on the internet confirmed that the area is indeed a popular destination with ski tourers in winter and backpackers and peakbaggers in the summer and fall. Nuff said, I had to go check it out for myself and made this my second objective on a week-long mini peakbagging trip in WA last July!

As I was approaching from the south this time, I narrowed my focus to peaks in the vicinity of Ladies Pass, where I would make camp the same night I hiked in from the trailhead. But first I had a sweaty ~7 kilometer grunt up to the unnamed pass at the head of Chatter Creek to contend with. Took a short break here, eyeing the mostly snowbound basin on the other side which I'd be hiking through next. An absence of tracks in the snow suggested that few if any parties had traversed out beyond the pass yet this year. Down I go, doing my best to follow the trail mostly still buried in snow to reach picturesque Lake Edna. From the lake, the route to a saddle directly north of Cape Horn was obvious, so up I go for an additional ~3 kilometers from the pass to that point. Dropped my pack here and made the short ascent up to Cape Horn, the first of four on this trip. Excellent views from up there, even if it is the lowest of the lot!

Collected my backpack back at the saddle and resumed hiking another ~0.5 kilometers to Ladies Pass proper. Pitched my tent and with daylight to spare I decided to wrap things up with an evening hike up Ladies Peak. Continued directly on the crest from the pass making my way up heather and grass onto the ESE Spur. A short scramble at the very end saw me to the summit where a glorious view awaited me. Grindstone Mountain with The Enchantments to the SE, the Snowgrass summits close at hand to the north with Glacier Peak and the Dakobed Range beyond, The Cradle with mighty Mount Rainier looming behind to the south, and even Baring Mountain and the Gunn Peak Group far to the NW - a damn fine view if I do say so myself! Back down to camp where only the finest freeze-dried fare awaited me for dinner. Settled in for a breezy night at Ladies Pass, without a soul a soul in sight for miles around.

Got going shortly after dawn the following morning, making my way back towards Ladies Peak before dropping right (north) off the ridge and traversing snow slopes northwards towards Snowgrass. Unsure which was the highest, I went for the Northeast Peak first which required a bit of careful navigating. Stepped off the snow following a ledge to the right, then back left traversing below a steep snowfield before turning back right for a short scramble up some steeper rock along the upper margin of the snowfield to reach the summit. Getting there, I immediately realized that it wasn't the true summit, but at least it afforded me a great vantage point of the serrated ridge connecting with Big Chiwaukum. Couple minutes up top and back down I go, reversing the route back to the gentle snow slopes below. Backtracked until directly below Snowgrass proper before turning up and kicking steps in steep snow the rest of the way there. Can't say enough good things about the view, like that from Ladies but obviously better being higher and such. Without the distant clouds from the day before to obscure things, I could also enjoy fine views towards the Daniel-Hinman Group to the SW, Sloan, Pugh and White Chuck to the NW, and so much more!

Spent a good while up top before starting the slog back down to camp. With several hours of daylight remaining upon arriving there, I decided to pack up and head back to the trailhead. Encountered several parties now on the trail as I was returning, mostly the trail runner type - if only my ankles would permit me to do such things! Back at the campervan around 7 or 8 pm, deciding to call it a night right there enjoying cold beer and a proper meal before turning in. Slept soundly, pleased with the outcome of the previous days and finally able to put this Chiwaukum business to rest once and for all!

Old Snowy Mountain - via Snowgrass Flat, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 8 August 2025 19:39:00 +0000

The central feature of the Goat Rocks Wilderness is a rugged semi-circle crest of peaks that were once part of a much larger volcano, which went extinct some 2 million years ago. Of these, the most popular with the hiking community is Old Snowy, followed closely by the tallest peak in the range, Curtis Gilbert Peak. I climbed Curtis Gilbert back in the fall of 2004, making the most of the early season snow touring on skis/split up the Conrad and Meade glaciers en route to the summit, and enjoying a nice long descent back down! My previous attempt on Old Snowy, many moons ago and also as a ski tour, was stymied by navigational challenges which ultimately caused us to run out of time. Before the GPX era, we wandered in circles through the forest near Tieton Pass, struggling to navigate with a topo map. By the time we finally emerged from the trees into the 5000-foot creek basin north of peak PCT 7210, we simply didn't have enough daylight hours to continue and, more importantly, return through the disorienting forest in the dark. Our vehicle then got stuck in the snow on the drive home, adding insult to injury as we spent the next hour or so digging ourselves out!

I conveniently allowed myself to forget about the peak after that, until July 2024, when I decided that a hike to Old Snowy via the popular Snowgrass Flat Trail would complement my week of WA peakbagging quite nicely. Either that, or I still had "Snowgrass" on the brain after climbing a peak by that name immediately prior to Old Snowy! Whatever the case may be, I left Icicle Canyon, drove over Blewett Pass, enjoyed the Yakima Canyon views (photos 2-4), then headed west via White Pass, detouring around Rimrock Lake and stopping at Clear Creek Falls (photos 5-11) on my way to the trailhead. As I was doing this, I recalled the description written for Old Snowy in the Selected Climbs in the Cascades guidebook by Jim Nelson, which states, among other glowing remarks, that "Old Snowy symbolizes the kind of mountaineering that restores the soul and psyche...". Well, how could I ignore such a ringing endorsement!

I turned off Hwy 12 just south of Packwood and continued up to a charming little campground adjacent to Chambers Lake for the night. The following morning, I completed the short drive to the Snowgrass Trail trailhead and made my way through the forest, reaching Snowgrass Flat after about 9 kilometers of good trail. Now traveling over snow, the way forward was obvious, following others' tracks aiming for the craggy peaks directly ahead. As the final ascent follows Old Snowy's North Ridge, I made an ascending traverse leftwards over snow to eventually gain the crest of the western spur overlooking Packwood Glacier. I followed this over loose talus to the base of the North Ridge for the final easy scramble to the summit, where the outstanding view did not disappoint! It's obviously all about the volcanoes in these parts, chiefly Saint Helens, Adams, and Rainier, all of which surround the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Simply stunning!

I had read about a neat little arch feature located somewhere near the summit and so proceeded southeast along the summit ridge towards a saddle. Sure enough, there's a volcanic arch here! I've seen plenty of sandstone arches and bridges in the national parks of the southwestern US, but this must be my first lava arch! To return to the trailhead, I simply descended from the saddle down scree and snow to intersect my route from earlier, then back to the trail for a mind-numbing plod back to the van with my soul and psyche restored indeed!

As I had a day or so to spare before heading back home, I continued south towards the Oregon border for a couple "low hanging fruit" objectives along the Columbia River - Beacon Rock and Dog Mountain.

Mount Ratney & Mount Bardeen - via Skwellepil Creek Valley, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 7 October 2025 14:55:00 +0000

Back to the Chehalis Range, this time for Ratney and Bardeen, a ridge of peaks at the southern end of the range forming the divide between the valley containing scenic Statlu Lake to the north and Skwellepil Creek Valley to the south. The area has seen a surge in popularity in recent years thanks to the popular 4th-low 5th friction slab route on nearby Stonerabbit Peak, the lower of the 3 named summits situated at the western end of the divide. With reportedly good access via the Chehalis Forest Service Road, I wrangled Kevin into joining me on what was to be an unexpectedly long scorcher of day that tested our limits for heat exposure on a largely south-facing rock route.

We made good time driving to the community of Harrison Mills, where we turned off the highway onto Morris Valley Road and then hanging a left onto Chehalis FSR which we hoped would faithfully deliver us to the SK100 branch for the remaining several kilometers to the "trailhead". Alas, a locked gate on the Chehalis FSR immediately after the bridge spanning Skwellepil Creek stopped us dead in our tracks and had us contemplating an additional ~7.5 kilometer walk along the road each way. Well shit, we're here now so just suck it up, I guess! Boots on our feet, packs hoisted and off we go at the crack of 8:30 am.

The road hike was uneventful, if not a bit boring but we made it to our turnoff in good time and started up along a faint trail adjacent to a rushing series of cascades flowing down from snow slopes high above. The gist for the next several hours was to proceed up the polished granite slabs generally on the left side of the creek, occasionally crossing over to the right for a bit to avoid brush and whatnot, but then soon crossing back over to the left before proceeding upwards. It was an incredibly scenic climb up with fun scrambling on what can best be described as a granite sidewalk interspersed with countless falls and pools and rushing water throughout! If only it wasn't so damn hot and humid out! Our pace suffered greatly for that but still we persevered and pushed on.

After what seemed like an eternity, we reached the alpine basin between Ratney and Bardeen and gradually veered off to the left aiming for a prominent saddle directly below Ratney's East Ridge. Crossing a large snow slope, we proceeded to the crest of the saddle and continued towards Ratney proper. The East Ridge appears steep and improbable from below, but as is often the case a viable route up became evident the closer we got. We managed to avoid all the steep snow by scrambling up heather and short rock pitches and ramps to finally reach the open summit area. Six gruelling hours to here, ugh! Grand views from up top, particularly looking to the west towards Judge Howay, Robie Ried and lower Winslow Creek Valley near where it merges with the Stave River before draining into Stave Lake. To the north there's of course Mount Clarke, serving as a nagging reminder that I have yet to get up it. Damn you Clarke!

Down from Ratney back to the saddle and then an easy hike over slabs and snow to Bardeen where more of the same views awaited us. Didn't linger as the day was starting to get away from us, so back down we go navigating as best we could back to the watercourse and granite sidewalk we followed on our way up. All was going well until Kevin's phone started acting up and because I didn't bother to record our track, we were left to navigate the old-school way sans GPS and ended up dealing with some short bits of unpleasant cliffy bushwhacking before getting back on course for the remaining scramble back to the road. Once there, it was simply a matter of placing one foot in front of the other in a race against the coming darkness back to the truck. Wasn't till a quarter past nine that our day finally came to an end, yes you read that right - a solid near 13-hour day for a couple of old farts. Uff! Key in the ignition, headlights on and back down the FSR we go, the cold beer never having tasted so good and stoked to finally have these two in the bag!

Torrent Peak - East Route via Rutherford West, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 8 October 2025 18:56:00 +0000

Torrent is a ~6600-foot peak situated on the Rutherford-Soo Divide about 22.5 kilometers as the crow flies from the town of Pemberton. Its relatively diminutive height belies the fact that a fantastic 360-degree panorama can be had from the summit and is the main attraction for most that make the journey to the peak. Good driving access, a relatively short approach and a recently flagged albeit rough but mostly brush-free trail adds to the appeal. With all that in mind and without anything else I could think of in the moment for a relatively chill solo day trip, off I went to bag Torrent!

Drove up past Whistler, turning off the highway onto the now familiar Rutherford Forest Service Road (Ipsoot, Rhododendron), and continued straight for some 17 kilometers to the Rutherford West junction. Left here and continued for a short distance, parking right where the RUT47-2 spur branches off to the west. Gathered up my gear and started up the spur for about 2 kilometers before locating the marked start of the trail. I noted a cairn on the side of the road as well as some orange flagging and figured that must be it. The trail enters a cutblock shortly beyond the creek draining Torrent's east basin; the same creek the trail eventually follows up into the alpine.

Followed flagging up through the cutblock and then into mature forest. No brush really to speak of save for the occasional blueberry bushes to push through. Flagging very easy to follow. Passed through some boggy areas and open meadow sections and soon thereafter reached the large talus and snow basin below Torrent's North Face. The way ahead is now obvious - up the talus slope towards the saddle above. Talus gave way to snow, which got progressively steeper as I approached the crest. Not wanting to bother with crampons and ice axe, I clambered onto the first rock outcrop I could safely reach, and trending left hopped between adjacent outcrops to reach easier snow above. I then continued up into a large snow basin before hooking sharply left for the final rock and snow scramble to the summit.

Took me a little over three hours to reach the top, so had time to spare and enjoy the view for a change! And speaking of the view, she be a goodun alright! Lotsa S2S big boys (and some not so big boys) on display - panning clockwise I could make out Currie, Sootip, Weart, Wedge, Overlord, Castle Towers, Mamquam, Rainbow, Garibaldi, Black Tusk, Cayley, Powder, Callaghan, Sisqua, Appa, Sampson, Rhododendron and Ipsoot! Plenty more if I look harder. Also, a neat up-close view of one of the eastern lobes of the Pemberton Icefield draining to the headwaters of the Rutherford. Started back down after about an hour of soaking in the views, mostly returning the way I came, but skipping the rock outcrops this time in favor of plunging down the soft afternoon snow. Back to the truck about half-past five in the afternoon for a satisfying 6.5-ish hour day of gallivanting in my glorious backyard!

Steep Peak - Darkside Peak Traverse - Counterclockwise via Darkside Lake (plus Emory Falls), July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 9 October 2025 16:11:00 +0000

My curiosity for this was first piqued touring around Steep Peak the winter prior. I learned from a couple Lillooet locals who've spent a good amount of time ski touring out in these parts that a summertime hike out to Steep is a pleasantly scenic affair, mostly following a trail with zero bushwhacking before gaining the crest of a gentle ridge that leads to the summit. I hadn't been to the tippy top yet, and frankly type 1 outings such at this are increasingly in short supply for me these days, so why not go see if what they say is in fact true? And so, accompanied by Wes I did. However, instead of stopping there, I thought of upping the ante and making a traverse as it were, linking Steep and Darkside essentially following the crest of the cirque containing Darkside Lake. Note that this is hardly a novel idea, as there are a few reports out there describing exactly this, although practically all are in the spring. Without any brush and a nice open ridge linking the peaks, there's no reason to suggest this isn't as good or perhaps better as a summer outing. Either way, I was determined to find out!

Bit of a late start for us, driving up the now familiar Steep Creek FSR. Right at the one junction and then up as far as my appetite for pin striping allowed, just shy of the upper parking area. Shouldered our packs and started hiking a bit past 11 am. Good trail all the way to the lake and Beeker's Cabin situated near the shore, couple parties already there as we arrived, mostly just hanging out, surprisingly popular place, and even more so upon our return. Followed the shore for a bit before turning up a large open slope below the north spur coming off Steep's WNW Ridge. It was damn hot out already, so our pace slowed considerably. Gained the spur and then on to the main ridge. Easy ramble from there on to the summit proper.

It had taken us a little over three hours to reach the top, leaving time for us to relax and savor the fruits of our labor before pressing on. Despite the haze, we could make out several familiar sights as well as innumerable unfamiliar ones. The view west towards Joffre Group easily stole the show, as it often does in these parts, but what really caught my attention for whatever reason was the view out towards Silent Hub Peak. Caltopo reveals a road branching off the Van Horlick FSR that potentially provides access to a side-valley west of the peak. The utility of this road was later corroborated by reports I managed to dig up indicating the existence of a trail that heads up this valley beyond road's end. Looks like I'd stumbled upon another "low hanging fruit" objective that’s ripe for the picking. Who needs a scrambles guidebook for inspiration when all it takes is some imagination and a desire to explore! But anyway, something for another time.

After a nice break, we pried ourselves from our perch on Steep and proceeded along the ridge towards the saddle between Steep and Darkside. Mostly easy going, with just one steeper bit immediately before the saddle that took a bit of route-finding for the best way down. Then back up from the saddle for a somewhat monotonous plod to Darkside, getting there at 4 pm, about 5 hours after starting that morning. Views were better from Steep I'd say. Didn't stick around for long as we had an unknown descent ahead of us not to mention a growing thirst for cold beer. Going with what appeared to be the quickest way down, we descended directly from the summit into the hanging basin between Steep and Darkside. This went well enough but do beware the potential for party-induced rockfall towards the latter half of the descent. Others have reported better travel by backtracking to the saddle and then descending from there, so maybe do that if you prefer not having to dodge basketball-sized boulders bounding down from above.

A large patch of snow provided relief from the unstable talus towards the bottom of the basin, which we followed into a steep chute with cascading water down into the Darkside Lake basin. A bit more talus traversing around the left side of the lake and back to the cabin in short order where a merry posse was hanging about and drinking beer. None offered us any, so we cut the chitchat short and continued for the remaining hike back to the truck, encountering still more parties on their way up. As we had ambitious plans for the following day which ultimately didn't materialize, Silvertip I believe it was, we continued the drive to Lillooet then back up north via the Fraser Canyon, finally stopping and setting up a hobo camp near Yale for the night. Unmotivated for anything big the following morning, we went and checked out the 2nd falls at nearby Emory Creek instead before resuming the long drive back home. In summary, the Steep-Darkside circuit truck-to-truck took us 7.5 hours at a relaxed pace and makes for yet another very worthwhile day trip in the Duffey region, and if you don't mind a healthy detour to check out a nice waterfall on the way home, Emory Falls doesn't disappoint!

Silvertip Mountain - South Route via Silver-Skagit FSR, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 October 2025 09:28:00 +0000

Finally bagged the "ultra" out Silver-Skagit way! Been on the list for what seems like an eternity, having spied Silvertip from so many other peaks over the years. Probably the most compelling sighting for yours truly and the one that ultimately convinced me to climb it someday was that from Hozomeen Mountain. Same as the intro photo, the peak from this perspective rises conspicuously from its relatively low valley footings to form an aesthetic 8,517-foot pyramid that dominates everything else in these parts. With a clean prominence of over 6000 feet and the distinction of being the most prominent non-volcanic peak in the Cascades, Silvertip not surprisingly is also a highly coveted peak, particularly among the prominence-baggers out there. Not really my thing per se, but as someone that has spent a considerable amount of time peakbagging in the Cascades of WA and BC, it simply could not be ignored forever. And so, with Kevin in tow, we set out on a fine July day for this iconic crown of the North Skagit!

Drove up the morning of, turning off the highway and continuing for some 36 kilometers via the recently repaired Silver-Skagit Road to the unsigned turnoff leading to the "trailhead". Packs on backs and up into the bush at a rather civilized 8:20 am we go. The area here was ravaged by fire some years back and whatever trail that once existed has been thoroughly erased. That said, travel was mostly free of any annoying vegetation save for the occasional blueberry bushes and tall grass. The route initially ascends a swath of forest bound by the south-facing drainages SE of Mount Rideout and SW of Silvertip respectively and amounts to a no-joke 6300+ foot grind over a mere ~3.5 kilometers as the crow flies to reach the summit. It's steep and littered with bluffs, also rather monotonous.

Continuing up, we eventually found our way onto the crest of a spur that bisects the drainages. The grade eased back considerably here, as we worked our way towards some crags ahead. Cut right when we could no longer proceed along the spur without difficulty, now following a faint path traversing steep grass slopes towards a large bowl. No issues for us on this stretch, albeit a bit tedious with all the footsore side hilling; not something I'd want to do when wet. Up a headwall of sorts above the bowl aiming for a prominent saddle just west of a false summit. Then turning right, we continued just below the crest, bypassing this intermediate bump by contouring around on the south side to reach another smaller saddle with true summit just beyond.

Hoping to avoid the treadmill scree up ahead of us, we stuck to the crest hoping to simply follow that to the top. This proved to be a fool's errand, as others have no doubt experienced as well thanks to steep and technical climbing towards the upper half of the rock ridge. Backtracked for a bit before resigning ourselves to making a tedious ascending traverse of a large scree slope, reaching more solid scrambling terrain after crossing over to the opposite side. Turned left, then a final easy scramble for a total ascent time of just under 6 hours. Outstanding views as expected, especially looking SSE down the Skagit Valley where the river flows into Ross Lake. Also, good views looking west down the ridge towards Mount Rideout, Sumallo Mountain, Mount Payne and beyond.

Spent about 30 minutes up on top before returning the way we came, making our way back to the spur in good time before commencing the long "controlled fall" back to the valley bottom. All told, the hike came out to ~11 hours round trip and despite the stats I found it to be surprisingly less arduous than expected. Easily a classic and well worth the effort; a must-do for all the North Cascades' connoisseurs out there!

The Old Settler - Middle Peak via North Talc Main FSR, July 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 07 November 2025 11:36:00 +0000

The Old Settler is highest peak on the Harrison-Fraser Divide and one of the more recognizable features along the east shore of Harrison Lake. It is impossible to miss from many other summits both near and far and beckons those who've laid eyes upon it to go in for a closer look. The mountain is composed of four main peaks grouped closely to each other with the tallest being the North Peak and the most frequently ascended being the Middle Peak, the latter thanks to its inclusion in the Scrambles Guide by Matt Gunn. I thought I had read somewhere that the peak is a volcanic remnant, and certainly the rock quality we experienced for most of the ascent was of the type one might expect to find on a rotten Cascades' volcano. That said, conditions improve greatly upon reaching the summit ridge and resembles the look and feel of that which is found in the Twin Sisters Range of Northwest Washington, famous for its solid and highly textured Olivine! Coincidentally, Old Settler is also well known for a handful of technical routes with reputedly sound rock, so it would appear to depend on where on the mountain one chooses to climb.

As with Mount Urquhart earlier in the Summer, this trip was made possible thanks to a recently opened gate that barred access to the trailhead for a decade or more. Same modus operandi as so many other trips in recent years; drop everything and get it while the getting is good! As of summer 2025, the gate is reported to be closed again, so bummer if you missed the party! Anyway, bearing that in mind Andrew, Finn, and I set out to capitalize on the fleeting access window and bag this icon of Southwest BC. Up some 24 kilometers along the now familiar Harrison East FSR before turning right onto North Talc Main and following it to the spur that continues a short distance into the side valley containing Daiphy Lake cradled directly beneath the peak's west and south slopes. A fallen tree stopped us short about a half kilometer from the trailhead, but despite the notorious brush the approach from here was barely over 3 kilometers to reach the lake. Spirits were high as we started up the remaining distance to the trailhead on foot.

Beyond the trailhead, the approach continues via an overgrown road as it makes a large switchback before vanishing in a thicket of alders. Flagging here coaxed us to our right for a short alder bash to reach another overgrown road now cut into the side of the slope on the north side of the creek draining the valley. Following more flagging and a worn path, we continued along the edge of this "road" to where it too disappeared, this time in a field of chest-high ferns. Only discovered upon our return, the gist here is to descend towards some alders at right, cross a minor stream and pick up yet another very overgrown road that leads east across the valley into an open forested area. Following flagging again, we crossed over the main creek branch and then proceeded up along the right (east) bank. Soon reached a sloped meadow area towards the head of the valley with a forested headwall above. Still following the occasional shag of flagging, we proceeded up into the trees for a final steep grunt up slippery duff to reach the crest overlooking Daiphy Lake. A short brushy descent from here saw us to the lake shore whereupon we finally took our first break of the day.

Looking across the lake, we could see the interminable talus slope we'd be scratching our way up next. Ugh! But first we had to contour around the lake, following the south shore until forced into thick bush up and over a cliff lest we go for a swim around it. Now onto the talus, making a rising traverse towards the bottom of an obvious sloping ramp feature that cuts across the peak's west face. Then up onto this ramp, following it back to the right towards the summit ridge. The rock here was friable and horribly unstable. While not particularly exposed, great care had to be taken not to dislodge boulders down onto each other. Reached the summit ridge just as my appetite for the shitty choss had run out. Fortunately, the remaining scramble from here to the Middle Peak summit was on solid rock and we all enjoyed working the "cruxes" first up a steep wall and finally up some steps on the blocky summit ridge. Yay, we made it! Enjoyed a nice long break up top, relishing the view despite the haze and intermittent cloudiness swirling about us.

Inevitably our attention soon turned to the North Peak as it is impossible to miss from Middle even if it's only about 100 feet higher. Andrew and I were on the fence, having indicated even before embarking on this trip that it may not be for us. Furthermore, based on what we experienced thus far, I wasn't entirely convinced of the soundness of the rock climbing unprotected up an exposed 4th-class ridge/buttress. Finn, was all for it and so took off for the North Peak while we wallowed in our indecision. Best let the ~150 lb twentysomething boy from Vietnam with something to prove tempt fate on the North Peak by himself. Lord knows I've survived my fair share of all that! The adage about "old bold climbers" comes to mind but moving on. All made it back down to the lake limbs intact, then returned the way we came this time detouring to avoid the portion of "trail" where we were chased by ground hornets hours earlier. About 11 hours round trip with about :30 spent up top. Stoked to have gotten 'er done, ain't ever coming back!

Silent Hub Peak - via Pushki Lake Trail, August 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 18 November 2025 12:25:00 +0000

Got the idea for this glancing over from the Steep/Darkside peaks area where I happened to be hiking a few weeks prior. Looking to the southeast from the connecting ridge between the two, I spied a large turquoise-hued lake lying in a scenic side valley with an aesthetic looking peak rising from its head. As it turns out, the peak that caught my eye is named Pushki Peak and is connected by a ~3 kilometer-long ridge to slightly higher Silent Hub Peak, which incidentally is not visible from Steep, Darkside or anywhere in between. My investigation also led me to discover the existence of a not-so-well known trail that leads up from a spur that branches off Van Horlick FSR and continues into a parallel side valley. This trail, likely used by ATVs and in winter by snowmobilers starts from an old washout and footbridge that spans the creek draining the foregoing valley and proceeds along an otherwise perfectly good forest road for some 4.5 kilometers to road's end. From there a worn and minimally bushy path continues for about a kilometer more to the shore of beautiful Pushki Lake nestled in a large alpine cirque formed by Pushki Peak, Tandem Peak and of course Silent Hub Peak standing proud in the middle of it all. Sold!

The decision to target Silent Hub for my next foray off the "Duffey" was a no-brainer, as they say. I recruited Finn, whom I'd climbed The Old Settler with the week prior into joining me on this as well as nearby Saint Jacobs Mountain the following day for an action-packed weekend of peakbagging. Off the highway and onto the now familiar Van Holick FSR (see Snowspider Mountain) for a bit over 6 kilometers to the before-mentioned spur which we followed a short distance more before stopping to park. Boots on and kicking dirt just shy of 11 am, over the bridge and up towards Silent Hub we go! Wished we'd brought bikes as the road was just a gentle incline most of the way. Trail continuation was easy to spot after the double-track ended, with just the occasional patch of waist-high veggies to wade through before reaching Pushki Lake. Got the first good look of our peak from here, deciding in the moment to make a loop of it by ascending to the Tandem-Silent Hub Col, up and over a sub-summit and then to Silent Hub proper before returning via a saddle between it and Pushki Peak.

Contoured around the south-side of the lake over talus then up a short heather slope to reach another, smaller lake. Around the south shore once more to yet another lake beyond which a gradual heather slope leads on up to the col. Continuing up, we followed a spur that saw us onto the "South Peak" of Silent Hub. Up and over this, with some careful route finding necessary to navigate the tricky decent to a saddle directly below the true summit. Then finally an easy ascent from here to Silent Hub itself. About 4 hours to the top at a very manageable pace, enjoying a nice long rest at last and taking in the outstanding views. From the Joffre Group to Saint Jacobs and Gideon, the prominent glaciers clinging to the Skook Jim and Kwoiek groups and last but not least, the mighty Skihist Mountain lurking back there in the haze, there's a lot to feast the eyes on from here!

Headed down as planned via a saddle now on Silent Hub's Northwest Ridge. Had to navigate some cliffiness once below the saddle, flying blind as we were, but returned to the lake basin from earlier without too much trouble. Mosquitoes were out in full force unfortunately, so on go the layers for the sweaty walk back to the road and the truck some time thereafter. Back to the pavement and on to my go-to "freedom camping" spot off the highway for the night. Had ambitious plans for tomorrow, so turned in early very satisfied with the day and hopeful for more of the same the next!

Saint Jacobs Mountain - East Route via Van Horlick FSR, August 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 24 November 2025 12:22:00 +0000

Came across Saint Jacobs several years back perusing Clubtread forums in search of inspiration for hikes I'd not done yet. Had only recently moved to BC but was already running low on the popular "low hanging fruit" options and looking to expand my horizons beyond the better-known published alternatives. Also finally had a 4x4 at my disposal which in these parts ought to be considered a necessity for any serious outdoorsman, adventurer, alpine rambler, what have you. A 2013 report by "Simonc", at the time an avid peakbagger who bravely pushed the boundaries of solo hiking deep in the South Coast wilderness drew my attention for some reason. Be it the peak's novel location (for me), the excellent alpine scenery dotted with brilliant turquoise lakes, or perhaps the reasonably good FSR access and minimal bushwhacking, I was intrigued to experience St. Jacobs for myself. And so, on the heels of a successful ascent of Silent Hub Peak the day prior, which incidentally was also a Simonc-inspired outing, Finn and I set out for yet another adventure in the so-called Duffey Lake backcountry!

As per the report now over a decade old, we approached from the east taking the left spur off the main Van Horlick FSR for some 8.4 kilometers after turning off the highway. Unbeknownst to us at the time, newer forest roads have been extended up into the valley immediately west of St. Jacobs and its 43-foot taller neighbor Gideon Peak. As of this writing the preferred route appears to start from here instead. This approach is shorter with the option for combining both Gideon and St. Jacobs in a relatively easy day trip. However, from what I gather it also entails considerably more bushwhacking and is subjectively much less scenic. YMMV. Anyway, we continued up the spur for an additional 2 kilometers then turned right at a fork. Encroaching alders and some large water bars for the next kilometer or so, the last of which I dared not drive through. Not the day to lose my rear bumper and so reversed to where I could park without blocking the road. It was about 9 am by the time we started hiking.

Hoofed the road for about 2.5 kilometers more to reach the creek draining the valley between St. Jacobs and Midian Peak. Turned off the road immediately past this and promptly dove into heavy bush. Now keeping the creek within earshot to our right, we endured a short but intense bushwhack (10 - 15 minutes perhaps) before intersecting a small boulder field that offered us an escape from the unrelenting undergrowth. This we followed up into the large talus basin below St. Jacobs's towering North Face. We could now finally see what lay ahead and we certainly had our work cut out for us! Talus seemed to go on forever, despite our taking every opportunity to minimize the boulder hopping by contouring along the rightmost edge. Crested a large moraine, hopeful for easier travel beyond only discover yet more of the same up ahead. Ugh! But at least the scenery was easy on the eyes with an impossibly emerald-blue Midian Lake stealing the show!

Down into the next basin and back up the opposite side. Then over another moraine into the upper-most basin, where mercifully we could take to snow for much improved travel towards an imposing headwall just beyond. Snow was still a bit firm here and we were too lazy to bother with crampons, so instead traversed up and right over steep and horribly loose rock and hardened mud to FINALLY reach a prominent saddle low on the West Ridge of our objective. All that remained now was an easy scramble to the top, into and back out of a minor notch along the way. Took us just shy of 5 hours truck to summit. Outstanding views of course, better than the previous day in part due to less haze and smoke aloft. Rock and glaciers looking to the south and west, unmistakably more arid and greener looking north and east. The connecting ridge to Gideon looked tempting, but it also seemed like a long way to go, easily an hour or more from St. Jacobs. I think Finn was for it, whereas I just wanted to relax and save my energy for what I knew was going to be a slow and tedious descent. Also, didn't quite care for getting home past midnight. 45 glorious minutes on the summit before reluctantly commencing the hike back down.

Returning to the saddle, we found the snow now suitably soft for plunge stepping and made quick work of the headwall pitch. Then back across all the talus and whatnot to reach the deactivated road several hours later. Short walk back to where we were parked, ending about 10 1/4 hours after starting that morning. Had we gone for Gideon as well our day would have probably ended somewhere around 10 pm, never mind the ~3.5-hour drive back home. Made the right call as far as I'm concerned. Goes to show that it isn't always about the highest, as this hike demonstrates. The journey matters as much as the destination!

Mount David - Mount David Trail, August 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 15 December 2025 15:38:00 +0000

Mount David is the highest mountain on the famed Poet's Ridge in Glacier Peak Wilderness. From Longfellow Mountain to the west, up and over Whittier Peak, Mount Jonathon and culminating with David on the east end, this ~6.2-kilometer-long ridge forms the divide between the Indian Creek Valley to the north and Cougar Creek Valley to the south. It stands directly south of Glacier Peak and the Dakobed Range, for me one of the scenic climaxes of the Washington Cascades. A fire lookout once graced the craggy summit where now just the outhouse "grotto" remains. A maintained trail starting from the White River Trailhead leads for some 5,800 feet over about 11 kilometers directly to the top and features a nice hike along a raging river, waterfalls, breathtaking ridge walking and of course outstanding 360-degree summit views with Glacier peak crowing it all! With all that in mind including fond memories of past trips in the area - Clark Mountain (x2) and the Dakobed Traverse - I set my sights on this as my next mini-escapade south of the 49th!

Drove up the afternoon prior, stopping to check out along the way as doing so has somehow eluded me all these years, before pulling into one of the campgrounds situated along the White River for the night. The sky was tinged with a distinctive orange hue, obviously thanks to forest fires burning somewhere nearby. This was punctuated by the occasional clap of thunder overhead and served as a reminder that the forecast for the next several days was for afternoon thunderstorms. Raised the camper pop-top and turned in early hoping to get a jump on whatever weather instabilities were in the offing. Completed the short drive to the trailhead the following morning and set out across the footbridge spanning White River before turning left on the Mount David Trail. South along the river for ~1.5 kilometers before turning up for a steep grind to reach a low point on David's long SE Ridge. Tight switchbacks towards the top really got the blood pumping with trees beginning to thin and allowing for nice views overlooking White River Valley and peaks beyond.

The trail now continues along and just below the crest, following the path of least resistance by weaving right or left around the occasional crag otherwise blocking the way. Higher up, the trail makes a rising traverse into a large talus basin right of the crest before turning back up to regain the ridge. Repeated this pattern once more before completing the final bit now along the south and west sides of the peak to finally reach the summit. As expected, haze and smoke obscured the view on this day, as did the clouds which were beginning to accumulate on the neighboring mountaintops. Nonetheless, still able to clearly make out the entirety of Poet's Ridge to Whittier looking west with a blanket of marine clouds obscuring the lowlands beyond. Also, Glacier Peak, Tenpeak Mountain and the rest of the Dakobed Range showing up nicely to the north, and then finally a great albeit hazy view overlooking the SE Ridge with Lake Wenatchee peeking in the distance.

Spent about 35 minutes on top; located and briefly considered utilizing the "facilities" up there but ultimately decided against it - best to wait for the "can" down at the trailhead. Headed back the way I came, sans thunder or lightning or rain thankfully, detouring to see the White River Falls on the drive home - worth a look-see if you haven't yet! All-in-all, a very worthwhile and satisfying outing out and about in my old stomping grounds!

Goat Mountain (West) & Table Mountain - Goat Mountain & Table Mountain Trail, August 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 19 December 2025 14:28:00 +0000

Made the most of a marginal weather day in late August rambling about a corner of the North Cascades I affectionately refer to as "Bakerland". As my informal name suggests, this is the area around Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan including the peaks and tributary valleys immediately north of Nooksack River Valley. Served by Highway 542, the lifeblood of Mount Baker Ski Area and which literally dead ends in the aptly named Artist Point parking lot just beyond, this zone has been my go-to for year-round outdoor adventures for ages. Why? Because the scenery is stunning, among the finest in the Washington Cascades with peaks, glaciers and deep river valleys in all directions, the ski touring is superb, wilderness access couldn't get any better and as of circa 2017 it's practically in my back yard!

For this latest installment in said back yard, I decided on an objective that caught my eye several years ago from the lookout on nearby Winchester Mountain - Goat Mountain. The peak is comprised of two main summits: the lower West Peak being served by a maintained trail starting from NF 32. My plan was for a twofer by taking this trail up and over West, then down to the saddle between it and the main peak and finishing via the West Ridge to the true summit. I'd then return via a steep cross-country traverse across heather and grass on the south side of the peak to intersect the trail where it ascends the South Spur of West somewhere above treeline. This was all fine and dandy despite the approximately 5000 ft of gain and 10 kilometers round-trip to do so, but what I didn't consider in my plan was the earlier than predicted arrival of rain.

With an 8 am start, I raced up the trail and out of the forest only to see ominous dark clouds advancing from the northwest. Hmm...best to hurry along! Onwards up the South Spur for a bit before traversing the southwest-facing slopes and then along the final summit ridge with just a smidge of scrambling at the end to reach the top. A cold wind was blowing with the cloud ceiling already dropping on the higher peaks. Views still excellent and all-the-more dramatic thanks to the layered bands of atmospheric waves forming around me - north to the Border Peaks and Larrabee, south towards in-your-face Sefrit and Shuksan with Baker just beyond lording over the Nooksack River Valley, northeast towards the BC Cascades with Slesse, Rexford and company, and finally a marvelous view looking up Ruth Creek Valley with the serrated spires of the Picket Range still bathed in sunshine far to the east! And then it started to rain.

Hunkered down for a few minutes thinking perhaps it was just a passing shower, but no such luck. Abandoned my designs on the main summit, mainly because I don't much care for the slip 'n slide of wet, steep heather, and headed back to the trailhead with my tail between my legs. Back by 2 pm, and naturally the rain had stopped by then. With a few hours to burn, I drove on up to Artist Point for a short hike to Table Mountain. Previously been up it, but that was in the winter many moons ago. The dusk descent from the summit directly to Bagley Lakes marked the culmination of a ripper day shredding laps out by Coleman Pinnacle! Alas, there'd be no shredding this time, just the untimely return of rain which shooed me off the summit for the second time that day. Back to the trailhead, whereupon surprise! it ceased raining again. And so over to Huntoon Point I go for no other reason that it being a named summit not 5-minutes from the parking lot. Got to the top, at which point yup, you guessed it, the rain returned.

Back to the parking lot one final time and having run out of day and silly peaks to tag and especially my patience with the unpredictable weather, I did what I should have done hours ago and drove home!

Griswold Pass - Tuber Hill, Glacier View, Baryon, Muon, Meson & Lepton, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 31 December 2025 14:16:00 +0000

Finally made the journey out to Griswold Pass for a few days of exquisite alpine rambling! Officially part of the South Chilcotin Ranges, bound by the Lillooet River Valley to the south and the Nemaiah Valley (almost) far to the north, this is an incredibly remote area of pristine alpine beauty. The pass itself is situated among a cluster of peaks toward the headwaters of the Bridge River Valley, adjacent to the mighty Lillooet Icefield, and serves as an excellent base camp for adventures further afield. Access to the zone is by way of the Lillooet River FSR, Hurley River FSR, and Bridge River FSR, for a whopping ~110 kilometres of travel over unpaved roads and about six hours from my home in North Vancouver. The trailhead lies a few paces from a small cabin tucked near the end of the road, some 60 kilometres from the nearest "town," assuming the community of Goldbridge qualifies for such a distinction. Aside from that, there is literally nothing but a mind-boggling wilderness of peaks, valleys, and icefields that seem to go on forever. It goes without saying that this place truly feels like the back of beyond, a big part of why I'd wanted to visit ever since first learning of it some years back.

Wes and I had been discussing a trip out to Griswold Pass for some time and finally settled on making it happen over the Labour Day long weekend. We tossed around a few ideas for peaks to hike-something that would provide a good introduction to the area-and eventually settled on the "Subatomic Peaks" of Baryon, Meson, Muon, and Lepton, leaving Neutrino for another time perhaps. We also considered the pass's namesake, Griswold Peak, if time allowed, in addition to Tuber Hill and Glacier View Peak, both of which are easily bagged on the hike to camp at Griswold Pass proper. Proud to say we succeeded on all of the above except Griswold Peak, which would probably have been the least interesting of the lot anyway. Photos for this trip are organised by day and viewable by clicking the following links:

With Wes, Gabby, and Ross having departed the afternoon prior, Gina and I set out from North Vancouver on a fine September morning for the long drive up and over Railroad Pass toward the confluence of the Hurley and Bridge Rivers. Familiar territory for me, after so many peak-bagging trips in the Goldbridge area over the years. We turned left onto the Bridge River FSR, passed the spur used to access Mount Vayu almost 15 years ago now, and finally entered a new frontier. Many dusty kilometres of otherwise good travel brought us to the bridge over the river, followed by several more into the headwaters area, where the road proceeds a short distance northward into a tributary valley. A bit overgrown with water bars toward the end, but nothing the average SUV couldn't handle. I parked near a few other cars, one likely belonging to Ross, just steps from the cabin.

There's a minor fork in the road where we parked, the lower leading to the cabin and the upper directly to the flagged trail. Unaware of this, we decided to check out the cabin first before continuing beyond it toward a raging creek flowing down from above. We turned up alongside the creek and bushwhacked a short distance to intersect the trail as it climbed steeply through forest. Following the edge of a large ravine over loose volcanic gravel and pumice, we soon popped out above treeline and entered a beautiful meadow with views to infinity. Proceeding northward, we gained a broad saddle with several lakes and flat gravelly spots suitable for camp. We stopped to set up our tents for the night before embarking on a late-afternoon hike to nearby Tuber Hill and Glacier View Peak. An easy hike up talus led to the rounded summit of Tuber Hill before continuing on to the main course-Glacier View. As the name suggests, there's an outstanding view of the mighty Bridge Glacier from the summit, one of the largest lobes emanating from the Lillooet Icefield directly west of us. Plenty of other glaciers were on display as well, along with a good look toward Griswold Pass, where we'd be headed next.

We enjoyed a leisurely start the next morning, traversing slightly rightward from our camp saddle into Nichols Creek Valley. Hoping to avoid losing more elevation than necessary, we stayed well left of the main creek drainage by contouring along the west side of the valley over mostly heather, steering clear of the large talus slopes above. We were forced to skirt around the toe of at least one sizable talus wash before resuming our otherwise pleasant trek toward Griswold Pass, where we expected to rendezvous with the rest of our party. Upon reaching a pass-like area dotted with numerous lakes, with a large lateral moraine blocking our view northward, we decided to stop and set up our tents for the night. We were in the general area of the pass and figured there was nothing but talus ahead, so we might as well stop where pitching tents was easy. No sign of Wes and company, and not really in the mood to go searching at that point either.

With our tents set up along the shore of yet another beautiful alpine lake, we turned our attention to the next objective. Immediately to the west, some 1,700 feet directly above camp, stood Baryon Peak. Recharged after a bite to eat and a short break, Gina and I angled upward below the east face, aiming for the edge of a moraine we hoped would deliver us near the peak's North Ridge for the final ascent. As we gained elevation, it quickly became apparent that this moraine was unlike anything I'd seen before-part lateral moraine, part terminal moraine-forming a large circular enclosure with additional lakes inside and, more importantly, wide sandy flats where a couple of tents glistened in the bright sunlight. I let out a loud "cooee," and the response confirmed it was indeed Wes and party camped below. With that settled, it was back to the task at hand, weaving around wide ledges and blocks to gain the ridge crest. Turning left, we scrambled over blocky terrain along a gradually sharpening ridge to finally reach the summit. Holy mole-what a view! Unknown peaks and glaciers (to me) stretched in all directions, save for the familiar subatomics nearby. Absolutely stunning.

Call it ego, poor judgement, or plain stupidity, but I made a bad call convincing Gina that descending the West Face directly from the summit would be faster and more pleasant than retracing our ascent. The upper half was fine enough-typical talus travel-but unseen from above were cliffs that had to be negotiated, followed by runnelled walls of hardened mud guarding the final 100 feet above the ice. Descending this absolutely sucked, and it was with great relief that we finally reached the glacier proper. That discomfort quickly faded as we descended the glacier, weaving around meltwater channels and peering with wonder into the countless moulins scattered across its surface. We stepped off the glacier near its snout and hiked over glacial till and talus toward where we'd seen the tents earlier. The tents were there, but no humans-likely out bagging a peak somewhere. Onward to our camp we went, annoyingly a good kilometre as the crow flies from where the others were camped. Another blissful night under the stars followed, with eager anticipation for whatever adventures the next day would bring.

We were moving shortly after sunrise, returning to the others' camp before continuing as a group. Retracing our steps from the previous afternoon, we gained the toe of the glacier and made an ascending traverse across the ice to a saddle between Meson Peak and Muon Mountain. Topographic maps show this saddle as fully glaciated, essentially connecting two main lobes of the glacier into one. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, as we soon left the ice behind and kicked up loose glacial till and talus onto the crest. An easy scramble northward brought us to our first peak of the day-Meson. We lingered to enjoy the stellar views before dropping back to the saddle and continuing toward Muon. From there, we followed the edge of the western glacier lobe toward the peak ahead, contouring left to avoid a steep buttress-like feature before turning upward for more easy scrambling to the summit. Nearly on the edge of the Lillooet Icefield now, the views only improved.

After feasting our eyes on the spectacle around us, we moved on, descending steeply down the South Ridge to the head of the main glacier, with a deep turquoise glacial lake providing a dramatic backdrop. Back on the ice, we contoured along the lake's edge, stopping frequently for photos and otherwise entranced by the otherworldly scenery that was entirely ours. We ascended mostly low-angled ice to a prominent saddle between Muon and Lepton, then finished via the Southwest Ridge to gain Lepton's summit. Still no end to the views, and now finally able to peer over the divide toward Nichols Creek Valley and the dry peaks straddling the South Chilcotin Provincial Park boundary beyond. After a long break on top, we continued our loop by descending Lepton's North Ridge toward the saddle between it and Baryon. With the others still needing to finish Baryon, Gina and I bid our comrades adieu and followed an aesthetic snow arete down onto the glacier, which we followed back to the snout as we had the previous day.

We crawled back into camp after about 9.5 hours on the move, tired but thoroughly satisfied with what we'd accomplished-not just that day, but the days prior as well. We briefly considered relocating camp to share the final evening with the rest of the party, but it felt like too much work. Besides, Wes paid us a visit and shared the last of his hooch before turning in for the night. We regrouped at our camp the following morning and headed out together at a leisurely 9 a.m., reaching the trailhead about 3.5 hours later.

In the end, Griswold Pass delivered exactly what I'd hoped for and then some: vast, remote terrain, engaging scrambles, and a sense of space that's becoming increasingly rare. The Subatomic Peaks proved to be an ideal introduction to the area, offering varied routes, satisfying glacier travel, and nonstop views in every direction. While there are plenty of objectives left unfinished-Griswold Peak among them-that only adds to the appeal. This is the kind of place that stays with you long after the dust has settled and the packs are unpacked, and one I know I'll be drawn back to again.

Yellow Aster Butte - Yellow Aster Butte Trail, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 15 January 2026 14:40:00 +0000

Spent a couple-three days in early September doing the vanlife thing and hiking with my SO out in the Mount Baker backcountry. First up on the agenda was a quick late-afternoon rip up to Yellow Aster Butte (YAB). This was my second time kicking dirt up the Tomyhoi Lake Trail, having skipped YAB on the first visit and instead continued on to bag Tomyhoi Peak. Beautiful area as always-good trails, excellent scenery, and all that-except I always seem to visit toward the end of summer or into fall, when fire-smoke season is often at its peak. At least this part of the North Cascades is much closer to home than it was back in 2003 when I was still Seattle-based, and despite the limited distance views on this day, it's hard to beat the view-to-effort ratio on this one.

We didn't get started until shortly after 3 p.m., but with the extended summer daylight we didn't need to rush. We left the main trail at the junction a bit over 2.5 kilometres in, shortly before Gold Run Pass, then traversed along the south side of YAB to reach a dirt platform low on the west shoulder of Peak 6148. The spur trail branching left toward a collection of small lakelets below was the route we'd followed en route to Tomyhoi all those years ago. This time, we turned right, climbing a series of tight switchbacks to the top of 6148. A short descent to a saddle followed, then an easy stroll along a well-defined trail to the summit proper, only about half a kilometer away.

A wonderful 360-degree panorama awaited us on top, with the Border Peaks-Larrabee Group hard to miss to the north. Goat Mountain also showed nicely to the southeast, with Mount Shuksan visible behind despite the smoky haze. About 2.5 hours one-way at a casual pace, we were back at the trailhead by 8 p.m., with just enough daylight left to make it to a nearby campground before nightfall. A solid way to kick off a few relaxed days of wandering around Bakerland.

Mazama Dome - via Chain Lakes Trail, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 22 January 2026 15:06:00 +0000

Day two of a weekend spent vanlifing it up the North Fork Nooksack River Valley. We'd snuck in a hike up Yellow Aster Butte the afternoon prior and awoke to overcast skies at Silver Fir Campground, where we'd overnighted. With little on the agenda for the day, we enjoyed a lie-in, had breakfast, and didn't get moving until sometime after noon. What to do, what to do? How about driving up to Artist Point to see if the weather might be any better up there?

Approaching Picture Lake, the clouds were slowly starting to part, with tantalizing patches of blue showing through. Hmm...not expected. Perhaps sensing my sudden restlessness, Agata suggested I take Pepper for a quick hike somewhere nearby while she hung back and listened to her audiobook. I'd been through the Bagley Lakes basin several times before, but always in winter, usually returning from a day of ski touring out in the Ptarmigan Ridge backcountry. It would be nice to finally see what it looks like without snow, I figured, and so-with puppers in tow-down from the parking lot to Bagley Creek we went.

We merged onto the Chain Lakes Trail at the outflow of Upper Bagley Lake and proceeded up into the small valley toward Herman Saddle. With the improving weather, glimpses of nearby Mount Shuksan began to appear, hinting at excellent views that would soon be ours to behold. We reached the saddle in what seemed like no time at all and, leaving the trail behind, turned up steep heather toward the crest of the timbered East Ridge of Mazama Dome. I wasn't entirely sure what my objective was, other than getting up on top of something with a name I could claim as a feather worthy of my cap. Mount Herman to the north looked interesting, but seemed a bit more involved than I realistically had time for-I'd promised to be back in about two hours, tops. Fortunately, Mazama Dome was just a short stroll away, and deciding it best to remain in Agata's good graces, I settled on this as my high point for the day.

A decent 360-degree panorama awaited from the partially treed summit, especially considering it tops out at a rather lowly 5,820 feet. The afternoon sun was doing its best to burn off the stubborn clouds swirling around neighboring mountaintops, but I couldn't linger long enough for that to fully materialize. Still, there were nice views toward Shuksan slowly emerging from its blanket of cloud, the craggy south face of Mount Herman, and down Anderson Creek Valley to the north. To the south, Table Mountain dominated the skyline, with a trio of lakes-Iceberg, Hayes, and Arbuthnet-spread out below to the southwest.

I returned via the low saddle between Mazama Dome and Mount Herman before rejoining the trail for the quick hike back to the parking lot. If a couple hours is all you got to work with, I'd say Mazama Dome fits the bill perfectly!

The Portals (East Peak) & Coleman Pinnacle - via Ptarmigan Ridge Trail, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 8 February 2026 13:11:00 +0000

For our third and final day of hiking in the greater Mount Baker area, we set our sights on something a little more ambitious and headed out toward Ptarmigan Ridge, culminating with an ascent of the East Portal. Using the same approach as the Park Glacier route, it's an all-trail journey of roughly 9 kilometers each way to reach a somewhat unremarkable summit - made entirely worthwhile by the stunning, in-your-face view of mighty Mount Baker.

Not my first rodeo, as they say. I've lapped the slopes around Ptarmigan Ridge and Coleman Pinnacle several times on my snowboard, and also toured through the area during the final leg of the Watson's Traverse back in May 2013. This time, I allowed myself a minor detour to tag Coleman Pinnacle - because, well, it's there and practically begs to be climbed. It ended up being a bit more involved than expected, especially approaching from the north, but more on that shortly. This was also my first summer visit, snow-free, and I was joined by Agata and Pepper for an extremely enjoyable trek deep into the Baker hinterland.

We set out at a very civilized 9:45 a.m., following the Chain Lakes Trail below the south-facing slopes of Table Mountain for about 1.7 kilometers to the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail junction. From there, we continued along an exceptionally scenic stretch beneath Ptarmigan Perch and into the heart of the Ptarmigan Ridge area, with Coleman Pinnacle and the Sholes, Park, and Rainbow Glaciers providing a spectacular backdrop.

Rounding the south shoulder of Coleman Pinnacle, we finally caught sight of our objective, though it was partially obscured by cloud. Along the way, we spotted a herd of roughly 20 mountain goats grazing on a grassy bench below us. Continuing on, we reached a large saddle with Camp Kiser just beyond. From there, we followed the East Ridge of The Portals (East Peak) for a short distance more before reaching the summit. Clouds swirled constantly, allowing only fleeting glimpses of the heavily fractured Park Glacier below. We waited for quite some time in hopes the clouds would lift, but it wasn't meant to be, so we stopped for a bite to eat before retracing our steps.

I parted ways with Agata and Pepper at a small saddle immediately east of Coleman Pinnacle and began ascending what appeared to be a viable route toward the gap below the peak's southwest ridge. What wasn't visible from below, however, was friable rock and steep, hardened mud, which eventually forced me out onto a small ice sheet clinging to the north side of the peak. Without crampons or an ice axe - and therefore no reliable way to ascend or arrest a fall - I chose the lesser evil of carefully scratching my way up the impervious hardpan. Somehow, I managed to reach the gap without losing my footing and cheese-grating my way back down. Phew.

From there, a final easy scramble was all that remained to reach the summit. The reward was a fantastic 360-degree panorama: south across a moonscape-like basin with a hanging lake at its far end, northeast toward the peaks surrounding Bagley Lakes, and even glimpses of glorious Mount Shuksan, still partially hidden by clouds. After snapping a few quick photos, I began my descent, this time dropping down steep grass and loose terrain south of the gap to reconnect with the main trail.

I made my way back to Artist Point, where Agata was waiting with a freshly cracked can of Chuckanut Pilsner - the perfect way to end the day!

The Portals (East Peak) & Coleman Pinnacle - via Ptarmigan Ridge Trail, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 12 February 2026 16:26:00 +0000

For years, Tetrahedron Peak had been sitting there-visible from afar, quietly taunting me across Howe Sound. The highest point in Tetrahedron Provincial Park and the most significant peak in the Sechelt area of BC's Sunshine Coast, it had long captured my attention. Despite requiring a ferry ride for us mainlanders to reach it, the peak is clearly visible from the Sea-to-Sky Highway and lies less than 50 kilometres away as the crow flies from my home in North Vancouver. I got my first up-close look at it in November '22 from the summit of Mount Steele, which reignited my interest in scaling this enigmatic mountain. The only problem was a relative dearth of reports online, and those that did exist mostly complained of terrible bushwhacking.

Fast forward to summer 2024, when reports began surfacing of ascents starting from newer forest roads on the southeast side of the peak. Bush was still said to be unavoidable, but it didn't sound particularly bad by South Coast standards, and the stats seemed very reasonable. As with so many other objectives in recent years, this became a drop-everything-and-get-it-done moment for Andrew and me. We recruited Finn-whom we'd climbed The Old Settler with earlier that summer-and hopped on the first Horseshoe Bay-Langdale sailing on a warm Saturday in September.

We drove off the ferry and proceeded north toward Port Mellon, an industrial site with a checkpoint guarding access beyond. We relayed our intentions to the person manning the booth, who registered our plates and waved us through. Continuing along the perimeter of the facility, we turned left onto the Rainy River FSR, then left again onto Branch 04 after about 7.5 kilometres. We drove as far as we could in Andrew's Subaru Outback before stopping at a large cross-ditch. Pulling up beside one other vehicle already parked there, we packed our gear and started up the road on foot.

After 2 or 3 kilometres, we reached the road's end and entered the forest, continuing along an old, very overgrown road into the valley immediately southeast of the peak. A few more kilometres brought us to flagging that directed us left across a creek and up along the crest on the left side of a minor ravine. We followed this for a while before making a quick jog right to pop out onto a dry, boulder-strewn creek bed-likely the upper portion of the same ravine we'd been hiking beside earlier.

We hopped boulders up the creek bed toward a headwall at its upper end. A keen eye would have spotted a strip of flagging on the left just before the headwall comes into view. It marks the continuation of the route, which again follows a sharpening crest left of the creek bed as it narrows back into a ravine. Of course, we missed it. Rather than retracing our steps, we clawed our way up loose ground and brush out of the steep-sided ravine instead. It was miserable work, to be honest, and only Andrew had the good sense to turn back and locate the proper route. Back on the crest-where, lo and behold, the trail reappeared-we wisely followed it into the forest above. More flagging and a faint path led through heather, eventually depositing us into a large talus bowl southwest of the peak. From there, we climbed the bowl to reach a minor saddle on Tetrahedron's West-South Ridge.

Looking up and right, we could now see the final scramble section and crux of the route. The idea is to climb along the krummholz as far as possible before cutting left into a shallow gully. A short scramble up and out of the gully leads to the base of a giant dihedral, where steep but straightforward scrambling gains the final summit ridge. Exposure is moderate at most, largely due to the steepness, but the horizontal plane is broad, with short scrambly steps interspersed with easier ground. We topped out on the summit ridge, with the true summit marked by a cairn a few paces to the south.

We enjoyed a few minutes of solitude before being joined by another party-presumably the owners of the vehicle we'd parked beside that morning. Clouds swirled about the summit-seems to be a trend lately-but there were still good views north across the valley containing Salmon Inlet, with Mount Gustavson and other peaks beyond. To the east stood Rainy Mountain and additional summits, though mostly obscured by cloud. The highlight, however, was the sweeping panorama to the southeast and southwest, overlooking Gambier Island and other islands in Howe Sound, stretching all the way toward Point Grey and the Strait of Georgia, with Vancouver Island faint on the horizon. Our ascent time was about 4.5 hours, with roughly 30 minutes spent on top before retracing our steps. Round trip came in just under 8.5 hours total for a thoroughly satisfying day in Tetrahedron country. The only disappointment? The four-hour wait for the return sailing to Horseshoe Bay. Ugh!

In the end, Tetrahedron Peak proved well worth the years of quiet curiosity. The views-when the clouds allowed-reminded me why these ferry-access summits hold such appeal. Remote yet so close to home, it felt like finally checking off a long-standing local classic. And with plenty more peaks scattered across the Sunshine Coast, I'll doubtless endure the crossing to and from Langdale many more times in the years ahead!

Lone Cone and Peak 86 - via Lone Cone & Pk. 86 Trail, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 18 February 2026 12:28:00 +0000

Several months earlier, Agata won a two-night stay at Pacific Sands Beach Resort in Tofino, complete with round-trip transportation by Harbour Air Seaplanes. What better way to celebrate her birthday? It wasn't our first floatplane departure nor our first visit to Tofino, but it would prove to be one of the most memorable-and certainly the quickest. Far more civilized than the long ferry crossing and the winding drive across Vancouver Island, we lifted off from Vancouver's Coal Harbour, pontoons skimming the water, and touched down at the Tofino marina just 45 minutes later. Efficient, scenic, and hard to beat.

On previous trips, surfing had been the main draw. As fun as that's always been, it inevitably consumes the schedule and overshadows some of the region's other attractions. This time, we set our sights on the land-specifically, a pair of hikes promising expansive views over Clayoquot Sound and the wild Pacific shoreline. First up was Lone Cone, a 7-kilometre outing with roughly 2,400 feet of elevation gain on Meares Island. Until recently, public access to the island had been restricted by local First Nations; visitation has since resumed, though with an understanding that cultural sensitivities and respect for the land remain paramount.

The trail begins gently, winding through dense coastal rainforest thick with moss and punctuated by predictably muddy stretches. Before long, however, the route tilts upward in earnest. The climb is sustained and steep through the latter half, relenting only near a small saddle between two modest summit humps. We bypassed the slightly higher, forested north summit-reportedly viewless-and continued to the south summit, where a rocky bluff opens to a sweeping southern panorama. From this airy perch, Clayoquot Sound stretched before us, dotted with countless islands, with the tip of the Esowista Peninsula and the town of Tofino beyond, and the Pacific Ocean fading into the horizon. Two hours brought us to the top; another leisurely hour was spent soaking in the view before descending. A bracing cold plunge by the jetty while awaiting our water taxi capped off a thoroughly satisfying day in the Tofino backcountry.

That evening unfolded in relaxed fashion-fireside drinks with old friends who, by coincidence, were also in town. The next morning dawned clear and calm, late-September light illuminating the beach. One final objective remained before our flight home. This time, no ride was required. From our doorstep, we simply wandered south along the sand, boots in hand, to the unsigned trail leading to Peak 86. As its name suggests, the summit rises a modest 86 metres (282 feet), but what it lacks in stature it makes up for in scenery. The lookout provides a lovely vantage over Cox Bay, the surrounding peninsula, Lone Cone, and the open Pacific. Naturally, I pushed a bit farther through the brush in search of a superior viewpoint from the true high point-there wasn’t one-before rejoining Agata on the beach for our stroll back to the suite.

We closed the weekend with a glorious return flight to Vancouver, this time under clearer skies. The aerial tour featured highlights such as Kennedy Lake, 5040 Peak near the Effingham River Valley, Sproat Lake, and Port Alberni, before crossing the Salish Sea and gliding over Howe Sound into Burrard Inlet for a smooth landing back at Coal Harbour.

Mount Athelstan ("Peak 2460") - South Route via Upper Lillooet FSR, September 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 20 February 2026 16:32:00 +0000

My fascination with Mount Athelstan began with a failure-an aborted attempt at Athelney Pass back in May. Looking up from the final stretch of the FSR, the ascent to the alpine appeared mercifully clear. A wildfire had swept through years prior, leaving a ghostly, silvered forest of charred trunks without the usual tangled understory. It looked like a rare gift in the brush-choked Coast Mountains. Determined to sneak in one last "big" objective before the scrambling season draws to a close, I lured Kevin and Wes into joining me on this remote objective at the headwaters of the Lillooet River Valley.

We drove up the night before, carving out a base camp at an abandoned recreation site near the Meager Creek confluence. As we sat by the fire, the mood was tempered by what we'd seen on the drive in: a healthy, silver dusting of fresh snow on the high peaks. I'll admit, I was the skeptic. Over beers, I suggested a pivot to a lower objective, but Kevin and Wes weren't having it. The vote was cast, the plan was set, and we turned in under a cold, starless sky.

We set out for Athelstan at first light. We parked as high as the logging roads would allow and stepped into the skeletal remains of the forest. We had started too far left of the old pumice mine-the traditional starting point-and paid for it with a grueling ascending traverse. We spent the morning side-hilling across a slope of low-slung vegetation, leaping across two deep, ravine-like gashes in the earth. Eventually, we gained a timbered spur. The grade steepened instantly, but as we climbed, the reward arrived: sweeping, dramatic views of the Upper Lillooet River Valley and the Mount Meager Group rising precipitously from the opposite valley wall. The spur ended abruptly at a massive talus field. We hopped boulders, eventually gaining a lateral moraine that led us toward the vast pumice slopes guarding the summit.

The mountains, however, weren't cooperating. Clouds clung stubbornly to Athelstan's crown, and as we climbed, the "dusting" of snow became a thick, icy plaster on the rock. Looking at the rime and verglas-covered summit tower, I knew the odds of a safe, enjoyable scramble were plummeting. For me, a summit without a view is a dealbreaker. I told the guys I was out. While Kevin and Wes disappeared into the whiteout to test their luck, I turned right and headed for "Peak 2460" instead.

I crossed a wide, lonely pumice slope to reach the West Ridge of 2460. It was a trudge through sliding volcanic grit, eventually giving way to snow-choked rock near the top. To my surprise, I found snow-filled footprints in the pumice-proof that I wasn't the first person to settle for this unremarkable sub-summit as a consolation prize.

I remained on the summit of 2460 for 35 minutes, shivering in the hopes that the clouds would magically lift. They didn't. I headed back down to find the others; as predicted, they had abandoned their bid after realizing the summit tower was a bit more involved than hoped for. We retraced our steps down the moraine and the spur, but this time, we chose the "smart" route: heading straight for the pumice mine to avoid the morning's traverse. It was a brilliant plan until the very end.

Just as the mine came into view, the open forest vanished. I found myself drowning in a literal sea of chest-high ferns. Every step was a physical battle against dense, green resistance that seemed determined to keep us on the mountain. By the time we hit the flats, we were exhausted, damp, and humbled-but at least we knew which way not to go next time.

Excelsior & Cowap - via Damfino Lakes Trail, October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Tue, 3 March 2026 13:27:00 +0000

Excelsior Peak is essentially a high point along the roughly 28.5-kilometre ridge that runs more or less uninterrupted from Church Mountain in the west to Mount Larrabee and the Border Peaks in the east. Much of this crest is served by established trails-primarily the High Divide Trail-along with several feeder routes approaching from both the south and north sides. Unsurprisingly, it's a very popular hiking area, offering expansive views in all directions. Regardless of the chosen approach, distances and elevation gain are generally quite friendly, with options for extended thru-hikes, loops, and add-on peaks depending on one's ambition. It makes for a low-stress late-season objective, complete with fall colours and pleasantly unhurried travel. Being an otherwise new area for me, I opted to approach via the Damfino Lakes Trailhead.

The trailhead was already bustling when I arrived shortly after 11 a.m. on an early October day, forcing me to park along the shoulder below the official lot. It's just over a kilometre to Damfino Lakes-quaint but otherwise "meh"-passing the Canyon Ridge/Boundary Way junction I'd later use for Cowap Peak. From the lakes, another 3 kilometres or so of steady climbing led to Excelsior Pass, with autumn reds beginning to show in the heather along the way. A short hike from the pass gains Excelsior proper, where the promised views were immediately delivered. All the usual suspects were out: Mount Baker, Shuksan, Church, Sefrit, the Border Peaks, Ruth, Icy, the Twin Sisters, and even farther east toward Redoubt. Not bad for an otherwise ~5,700-foot "nothing" peak.

After soaking in the views, I descended via the east saddle for a small loop around the south side before returning to Excelsior Pass and Damfino Lakes. With time to burn, I turned my attention to Cowap Peak. Taking the right fork at both junctions, I quickly reached a saddle on Cowap's Northeast Ridge. From there, a short stroll led to the summit, with a slightly rocky crest at the very end providing a touch of interest on an otherwise straightforward hike. The views were largely similar to those from Excelsior, though with Mount McGuire looming impressively to the north and the Fraser Valley stretching beyond. About 3.5 hours into the day at this point, I settled in for a proper break, basking in the weak October sun as high cirrus and lenticular clouds drifted in from the west.

Eventually, with shadows beginning to lengthen and the air taking on that unmistakable autumn chill, I packed up and headed back down toward the lakes and the steadily thinning crowd. Excelsior may not boast the stature of its more famous neighbours, but as a relaxed ramble along a scenic ridge with easy access and big rewards, it more than earns its keep. Add in a splash of fall colour and a bonus summit on Cowap, and it made for a thoroughly satisfying early-October outing!

Hollyburn Mountain - Hollyburn Peak Trail, October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 6 March 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Of the peaks in the immediate vicinity of the Cypress Mountain ski resort, Hollyburn is arguably the lowest. Like its taller neighbours-Mount Strachan, Black Mountain, even Saint Marks Summit-it's a very popular objective, served by good trails and conveniently close to home. I'd been up Hollyburn once before, but that was in December 2018 under full whiteout conditions. With a couple of hours to burn on an otherwise fine October afternoon, it seemed like a good excuse to get out, stretch the legs, and-more importantly-see what I'd missed the first time around.

After a short drive up to the Nordic area, I set out along the wide powerline road with puppers in tow. A "winter" trail just north of here bypasses the road and heads in the same general direction, but the road was closer to where I parked, so that's the route I took. It's only a little over half a kilometre to the warming hut, where I turned left and continued northward along a broad trail. I carried on uphill, ignoring an obvious junction on the left about another 0.7 kilometer in-it leads down toward the resort base area. From there, it was another kilometer or so to the rocky summit outcrop.

It took a bit of wandering around to find the best viewpoints, but the summit area is just open enough to offer decent glimpses of peaks, inlets, and islands depending on where you look. To the south, the Fraser Valley stretched out with Mount Baker and Shuksan looming on the horizon. Down below lay Burrard Inlet with its parade of container ships, while to the west Bowen and Keats Islands stood out clearly with Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast beyond. To the east rose the Crown group and Cathedral Mountain, and to the north the peaks of the Sky Pilot group and Mamquam Mountain completed the panorama.

After lingering a while and enjoying the clear autumn views, I eventually turned back the way I'd come. The descent was quick and easy, and before long I was back at the Nordic parking area with daylight still to spare. For a quick outing close to home with surprisingly good views, you could do worse than Hollyburn-especially when the weather cooperates.

Cheam Peak - Mount Cheam Trail, October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 8 March 2026 14:33:00 +0000

Repeating a theme from my recent Hollyburn report, Cheam Peak is arguably the lowest summit in the Cheam Range, and my interest in repeating it was due to the whiteout conditions during my previous visit. Having climbed numerous other peaks in the range over the years-Welch, Stewart, Baby Munday (North), and Lady-I can say with confidence that Cheam offers the best views. From nowhere else can one enjoy such expansive vistas of the Fraser Valley, stretching from near Hope in the east to Abbotsford and beyond in the west. The summit itself is reached by a relatively short and easy hike from the trailhead, and despite its popularity and the steadily deteriorating access road, it remains very much a gem of the BC Cascades.

With all that in mind-and another fair-weather October day to work with-I found myself bouncing along the Chipmunk and Mount Cheam FSRs. The drive is doable in a 4x4 all the way to the end, but as mentioned, it's becoming increasingly rough and unpleasant. The burned-out hulk of what looked like a Jeep Compass sitting in the middle of the road partway up attested to the road's rough state-likely bottomed out in one of the deep cross-ditches, overheated, and caught fire. Fun! Thankfully, I encountered no commuting drama of my own and reached the trailhead to find no other vehicles parked there, which was both surprising and welcome.

Soon enough I was back on the familiar trail, heading into the small amphitheatre formed by Lady and Cheam, passing the crater-like lakelet and continuing upward into the alpine. I ignored the spur leading to Lady about two kilometres in before switchbacking up Cheam's south slopes. The crest of the southwest ridge came quickly, with the true summit just a short climb away to the right.

The views from the top were as stunning as advertised. The obvious highlight was the Fraser River and valley spread out almost directly beneath my feet, with Harrison Lake gleaming to the north and peaks ranging from Breakenridge to the right across to the Chehalis Range, Robbie Reid, and Judge Howay to the left. Looking south, a familiar yet timeless panorama unfolded, with Slesse, the Border Peaks, Tomyhoi, and Mount Baker stealing the show. Finally, there was a fine view along the spine of the Cheam Range itself, from Lady Peak right next door across to Welch and Foley at the far end, and even the runt of the litter-Conway-beyond that.

Having finally satisfied my curiosity about Cheam, I began the descent content to have at last experienced the legendary views for myself-and fairly confident it would be a very long time before I felt the urge to bump my way back up that road again.

Blanchard Needle - South Face, October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 3 April 2026 11:15:00 +0000

After Golden Ears and Edge Peak, Blanshard Needle is the next tallest of the named summits along the north-south crest of the Golden Ears Range. Seen from many vantage points-particularly from the Fraser Valley-it stands out as a prominent horn rising from the forested uplands at the southern end of the range. Typically approached via Alouette Mountain immediately to the south, it makes for an enjoyable, albeit longish, day trip featuring engaging scrambling with just a smidge of low fifth-class climbing thrown in for good measure. I'd been up Alouette twice before, the latter a solo attempt on Blanshard Needle itself. That effort ended at the base of the short technical pitch, where I turned back due to a worrisome case of dehydration compounded by losing my only water bottle somewhere on the approach. Feeling dizzy and a bit delirious-with not even a seep of water to be found on an unusually warm October day-I made the difficult decision to retreat with my tail between my legs.

Beaten but not defeated, I resolved to return someday. First, though, I needed to let the memory of the approach trail fade a little. Factoring in Evans Peak, I'd already been at least most of the way to Alouette three times, and I'm not much for repeats-let alone four. Eventually, the stars aligned for redemption in October 2024, this time with Andrew along for the ride. Once again, we set off from the West Canyon Trailhead and began the familiar, steep, and somewhat monotonous grind toward Alouette. Between Alouette and Blanshard lies a deep chasm choked with brush, though a faint trail winds its way through the worst of it. I'd previously scoped out where to begin the descent into this chasm: just south of Alouette's summit, along the right-hand edge, following a small dry watercourse that turns into a loose and unpleasant gully farther down. I don't recall any flagging marking the entrance, though there were some markers lower down.

We descended steeply through the gully until it opened onto a grassy apron, then traversed right into the forest. Following intermittent flagging, we worked upward along a worn path leading toward a saddle, with the infamous Fly's Gully dropping away on the opposite side. A short final descent brought us to a staging area directly below a steep rock wall where the crux of the route begins. Here we roped up, with me taking the lead for a short pitch-just a move or two with exposure-to reach a small alcove where I set up a belay. Andrew followed, and we then stashed the rope for the remaining scramble to the summit.

The next section above the belay was technically easy but steep and somewhat exposed. Higher up, the terrain eased into a mix of ledges, gullies, and short steps to scramble over. Near the top, the route traverses left to a notch with a precipitous drop on the far side before ascending the upper South Ridge to the summit. The views from this airy perch were superb, with the broad expanse of the Fraser Valley to the south and a sweeping panorama of peaks stretching from west to east. There were also excellent perspectives on Edge Peak and Golden Ears, along with familiar landmarks like Robie Reid and Judge Howay.

After a short break to soak it all in, we turned our attention to the descent. We retraced our steps to the belay alcove without too much fuss, then made a rope-stretching rappel on our 30-metre rope back to terra firma. Back across the chasm and over Alouette once more, we retraced the long trail back to the West Canyon Trailhead, tired but satisfied, and the rest, as they say is history!

Belcarra Mountain - via Springboard Trail, October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Thu, 9 April 2026 09:46:00 +0000

Second time's the charm at Belcarra, returning primarily for the views I'd been denied on my first visit. With no low-lying fog this time, I made my way over to Belcarra Regional Park for a quick couple of hours of wandering in the woods. The true summit is fully treed, as one might expect for such a modest peak, but the real appeal lies at a lookout on a minor bluff just west of the high point. From there, a fine view opens over the mouth of Indian Arm, looking down Burrard Inlet toward the distant city skyline.

There's a bit of a maze of trails in this area, but most will want to start via the officially named Springboard Trail. After that, an offline map is helpful-or otherwise, good luck. With Pepper in tow, we traversed over the summit as before, then followed a trail descending gently westward to intersect another path coming in from the northeast. A left turn here led a short distance to the lookout. Just under 3 kilometres of travel all told. After the obligatory oohing and ahhing, we headed back, this time continuing along the northeast trail for a small loop that eventually rejoined the Springboard Trail.

On our previous visit, we'd continued south from the lookout to intersect the Admiralty Point Trail, looping back to the parking area from there. It's a longer outing but recommended for a first-time visit. With the fog finally lifted and the views delivered, it felt like proper closure for this small but satisfying Belcarra revisit.

DeBecks Hill - North Ridge Trail (plus 4 Lakes Loop), October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Fri, 10 April 2026 13:29:00 +0000

DeBeck's is a forested hill immediately north of Squamish city limits, adjacent to Alice Lake. Several mountain bike trails provide access to its radio-tower-infested summit from the south, but only one approaches from the north-the aptly named North Ridge Trail. With nothing better coming to mind on an otherwise marginal late-October day, I tossed my backpack and Pepper into the truck and headed for the North Ridge trailhead for a lazy day hike.

Having never actually visited nearby Alice Lake Provincial Park, I decided to up the ante by turning the outing into a loop. From the summit, I descended via the "DeBeck's Grind" FSR, which leads directly to the southern end of Alice Lake. From there, I continued along the "Four Lakes Loop," following established trails linking Alice, Edith, Fawn, and Stump Lakes, before returning to Alice Lake via the campground on its north shore. A short walk along the paved access road then brought me back to my starting point just shy of Highway 99.

The views of the Tantalus Range from DeBeck's summit were better than expected, and it's hard to go wrong with a network of trails connecting a series of picturesque lakes. The stretch of trail along the Cheekye River, just east of Stump Lake, was particularly scenic, offering a unique perspective on Alpha Mountain with the Crescent Glacier looming in the distance. Wrapped it up with a short drive up a nearby FSR for some more views before calling it a day. All told, expectations for this little adventure were fairly low, yet it proved to be far more interesting-and enjoyable-than anticipated.

Mount Hallowell - Mount Hallowell Trail, November 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Sun, 12 April 2026 14:09:00 +0000

Out on the Sunshine Coast, north-northeast of the town of Sechelt, lies Spipiyus Provincial Park. As a destination, the park is rather unremarkable, existing primarily to protect pockets of old-growth forest and the fauna that depend on them. That said, there are a couple of "peaklets" with decent trail access that tend to attract local prominence-baggers, starting with the park's namesake and highest point, Spipiyus Peak. As it's reportedly a completely viewless summit, I saw little appeal and instead turned my attention to the only other officially named peak in the park-Mount Hallowell. Home to a now-dilapidated fire lookout, the summit is said to offer expansive views over the maze of lakes and inlets that define the region. I say "said to" because low-lying cloud obscured most of those views on this particular day-but more on that in a moment.

This outing followed a previous attempt in November 2023, which had been thwarted by an unusually deep water bar on the FSR we'd used to access the peak from the south. Rather than risk losing a bumper-and lacking buy-in from my partner for the longer standard approach from the west-we opted to bail and instead hike a couple of nearby objectives: Mount Daniel and Pender Hill. Fast forward a year, and I found myself once again looking to the Sunshine Coast for a low-stress, dog-friendly late-season outing. Hallowell was still unfinished business, so Pepper and I boarded the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale ferry and made our way through Sechelt and beyond on a crisp November day.

I turned right off the highway just before Sakinaw Lake Road and began climbing a surprisingly rough and steep FSR labeled "High School Confidential" on CalTopo. Not entirely sure what that's about, but I followed it as far as I was willing before parking and continuing on foot. What followed was a fairly monotonous grind up the road-left at a junction, then more cold, shaded walking before finally reaching the actual trailhead. From there, less than a kilometre remained to the summit. The final stretch climbed steadily, eventually breaking above the cloud layer into welcome sunshine and blue skies. I reached the summit and lookout just over two hours after leaving the truck.

While the sunshine was appreciated, the hoped-for views remained frustratingly elusive. A blanket of low cloud obscured most of the surrounding landscape, with only occasional glimpses appearing through drifting gaps. I lingered for about an hour in hopes things might clear, but it was largely in vain. At least Pepper made the most of it-bounding around in the light dusting of snow and poking around the slowly collapsing lookout. Eventually, with little sign of improvement, I packed up and started the descent, retracing my steps down the cold forest roads back to the truck. Win some, lose some they say-Pepper clearly enjoyed this much more than I did!

Anderson Mountain - North Route via South Bay Drive, November 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Wed, 15 April 2026 13:13:00 +0000

Continuing my race to the bottom-now officially entering dumpster-dive territory thanks to the changing of the seasons. I'm still on the hunt for hikes or peaks that are new to me and offer at least some redeeming quality: a view, a lake, something. Anderson Mountain, rising above the south shore of Whatcom Lake, fit the bill nicely, ticking both boxes for what might otherwise be a fairly uninspiring objective.

From an unmarked trailhead off South Bay Drive, the route passes through an open field before turning upward into the forested north-facing slopes of Anderson. Arguably more of an MTB downhill track, it makes for a sometimes steep and sustained grunt up to a large cutblock area about 0.75 kilometres shy of the "summit." From here, a surprisingly good view opens over Whatcom Lake, with Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters Range standing out beyond.

Continuing above the cutblock, the trail follows a minor spur back into the forest before easing off for a short final walk to a small lookout, complete with a couple of plastic patio chairs and fine western views out toward the San Juan Islands and beyond. We cracked a couple of beers and soaked in the weak sunshine as it cast a warm orange glow over our little perch. A trail continues beyond this point and appears to descend to intersect a forest road coming up from the south-again, likely more of an MTB route than anything else. The true summit lies somewhere beyond, reportedly viewless and likely trailless, so we didn't bother pushing any farther.

About three hours up and a little less back down, followed by the requisite Trader Joe's stop in Bellingham and our favourite Mexican fare at El Gitano. Buen provecho!

Sumas Mountain - via Ridge Trail, December 2024

noreply@blogger.com (sverdina) — Mon, 20 April 2026 11:27:00 +0000

There are a couple of Sumas Mountains that I'm aware of. One lies in the Fraser Valley, immediately northeast of Abbotsford, BC, while the other sits about 24 kilometres to the south, just across the border in Washington State. This report is for the latter. I've been up the BC Sumas a couple of times, where a fantastic view unfolds over the Fraser River just downstream of its confluence with the Harrison River. As is often the case with these lower peaks, the best viewpoint isn't from the actual summit, which is treed and cluttered with communications infrastructure. The Washington Sumas is no different in that regard-its summit is also viewless and even requires a bit of bushwhacking to reach. That said, there are numerous excellent viewpoints along the way and near the top, including one looking back toward its northern namesake.

Looking to make the most of a fair-weather early December day, Pepper and I set out to explore the "other" Sumas for ourselves. It was a chilly start when I pulled into the Gold Mine Trailhead, with frost coating the pasture beside the trail. From there, we headed into the forest and turned left at the junction toward the "cabin." Originally built in the 1890s and later rebuilt, it's a quaint structure-at least from the outside-and apparently serves as a resting place for hikers and equestrians alike. Continuing past the cabin, we turned right onto the Cabin Loop Trail, followed shortly by a left onto the Ridge Trail.

As we gained elevation, views began to open to the south over the northern Whatcom County lowlands. The trail soon reaches the toe of Sumas's north-northeast ridge, where the first unobstructed views north toward the Fraser Valley appear. From the Chehalis Range peeking out to the left, across to the "other" Sumas, Urquhart, Old Settler, Vedder (with Cultus Lake at its base), and finally the Cheam Range to the far right, the panorama was surprisingly impressive, and I took my time soaking it all in.

Continuing up the Ridge Trail, more views toward the Border Peaks area unfolded before the route made a sharp jog right to intersect a forest service road just below the summit. From here, an expansive panorama stretching from southwest to northwest opened up. The Olympic Mountains and San Juan Islands sat off to the far left, Birch Bay lay ahead, and to the right, snowcapped peaks such as Judge Howay, Robie Reid, Golden Ears, and the Misty Icefield stole the show. This little peak punches well above its weight. I poked around the north side of the summit area to see if any additional views could be found and was rewarded once again with a great look at Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters.

Finally prying myself away from the views, we headed back the way we came, making a short detour near the bottom to check out the old gold mine. It wasn't especially compelling, and with time ticking on, we didn't linger long before heading home. All things considered, for a "dumpster dive," this version of Sumas is about as good as it gets-and on a clear day, it makes for an excellent shoulder-season objective!