Pebble to North Creek - via Pebble Glacier, July 2023
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 near 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!
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