Last Updated: December 4, 2024



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Upcoming reports & photos:

Oh my! Quite the backlog here...

  • Isollilock Peak - scramble (October 2023)
  • Mount Manson - Mount Hatfield Traverse - scramble (October 2023)
  • The Gargoyles & Columnar Peak - scramble (October 2023)
  • Opal Cone and Lava Glacier - hike (October 2023)
  • Park Butte (WA) - hike (October 2023)
  • Trappers Peak (WA) - scramble (October 2023)
  • Rattlesnake Ledge (WA) - hike (November 2023)
  • Sauk Mountain (WA) - hike (November 2023)
  • Sunshine Coast (Mount Daniel, Pender Hill) - hike (November 2023)
  • Mount Dickerman (WA) - hike (November 2022)
  • Verona Peak AKA Winter's End - snowshoe (November 2023)
  • Dolomites (IT) - snowboard (December 2023)
  • Red Rock Canyon (NV) - scramble (January 2024)
  • Flute Summit & Oboe Summit - snowboard (February 2024)
  • Whistler Miscellaneous (Train Wreck, Loggers Lake, Shadow Lake and more) - hike (February 2024)
  • Mount Underhill - hike (March 2024)
  • Bombtram Mountain - snowshoe (March 2024)
  • Steep Peak - snowboard (March 2024)
  • Ruby Mountain (WA) - snowshoe (April 2024)
  • Blustry Mountain - hike (April 2024)
  • Sowerby Peak (Barr East) - snowshoe (April 2024)
  • Picacho Peak (AZ) - hike (April 2024)
  • Kitt Peak Observatory (AZ) - (April 2024)
  • Mount Wrightson (AZ) - hike (April 2024)
  • Saguaro National Park (AZ) - April 2024)
  • Superstition Peak/Benchmark (AZ) - scramble (April 2024)
  • Mount Humphreys (AZ) - hike (May 2024)
  • Petrified Forest National Park (AZ) - (May 2024)
  • Piestewa Peak (AZ) - hike (May 2024)
  • Channeled Scablands (WA | Columbia Gorge, Ancient Lakes, Potholes Lake, Palouse Falls and more) - hike (May 2024)
  • Rhododendron Mountain ("Pk. 2220") - snowshoe (June 2024)
  • Flora Peak - hike (June 2024)
  • Gibson Peak - snowshoe (June 2024)
  • Mount Urquhart - scramble (June 2024)
  • Rock Mountain (WA) - hike (July 2024)
  • Ladies Pass Quartet (WA | Cape Horn, Ladies Peak, Snowgrass NE Peak, Snowgrass Mountain) - scramble (July 2024)
  • Old Snowy (WA) - scramble (July 2024)
  • Dog Mountain (WA) - hike (July 2024)
  • Mount Ratney & Mount Bardean - scramble (July 2024)
  • Torrent Peak - scramble (July 2024)
  • Steep Peak - Darkside Peak Traverse - scramble (July 2024)
  • Silvertip Mountain - scramble (July 2024)
  • The Old Settler - scramble (July 2024)
  • Silent Hub Peak - scramble (August 2024)
  • Saint Jacobs Mountain - scramble (August 2024)
  • Mount David (WA) - scramble (August 2024)
  • Goat Mountain West Peak & Table Mountain (WA) - hike (August 2024)
  • Griswold Pass (Tuber Hill, Glacier View Peak, Subatomic Peaks: Baryon, Meson, Muon, Lepton) - scramble (September 2024)
  • Yellow Aster Butte (WA) - hike (September 2024)
  • Mazama Dome (WA) - hike (September 2024)
  • Ptarmigan Ridge - (WA | The Portals East Peak, Coleman Pinnacle) - hike (September 2024)
  • Tetrahedron Peak - scramble (September 2024)
  • Lone Cone & Peak 86 (Tofino) - hike (September 2024)
  • Mount Athelstan ("Pk. 2460") - scramble (September 2024)
  • Excelsior Peak and Cowap Peak (WA) - hike (October 2024)
  • Hollyburn Peak - hike (October 2024)
  • Cheam Peak - hike (October 2024)
  • Blanchard Needle - scramble (October 2024)
  • Debeck's Hill & 4 Lakes Loop - hike (October 2024)
  • Mount Hallowell - hike (November 2024)
  • Anderson Mountain (WA) - hike (December 2024)
  • Sumas Mountain (WA) - hike (December 2024)

*As of 12/04/2024


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Friday, July 14, 2023

Zupjok, Llama & Alpaca - via Zopkios Rest Area, July 2022



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!

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Monday, July 10, 2023

Three Brothers Mountain - Heather Trail, July 2022



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!

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