Given that Sunday was the last great hope for decent weather during the final days of the 2010 Bagger Challenge, some peaks had to be bagged. The question was, which ones and by whom?
It was an impromptu bag, if ever there was one. Given that the Middle and North Needles were on the ToDo list for most, the initial goal was to bag them. The email net was cast wide for prospective members of the assault team. Many prospects were scared off, however, as the Middle and North Needles are reputed to be out there in terms of difficulty and few wanted to miss Thanksgiving Sunday dinner or spoil same for members of North Shore Search and Rescue. Late Sunday evening the team of Carolyn, Neil, Craig and I gelled and a decision was made to tick off as many peaks as possible in the Deeks Lake area. Great call!
Here are some of the highlights of our adventure:
7:00. Neil and Carolyn arrive in their monster truck punctually at 07:00. It's cool out. Skies are overcast, but the call is for sun later in the day. We are cautiously optimistic that we may actually see something from whatever lofty perches we end up on
8:00. We drive to the Porteau exit. Neil gears down and his monster truck growls as we head up a rough dirt road about 3.5K to the trailhead. Recent rains have taken their toll so recommend you don't do this in your Prius. We hit the trail at exactly 8:00
10:00. Heavy rains the day before have turned the trail into rivulets of rushing water separated by ponds. I get a soaker within first 100m of running. Mushrooms love it, though, and many varieties are spotted as we make our way up the well-traveled trail to Deeks Lake. Vibe is positive as we look up from the lake and see hints of blue through the fog. Take the trail to the Deeks/Windsor saddle steeply up through old growth forest. The sound of rushing water is our constant companion. We arrive at Baggers Glen (the alpine tarn at the Deeks/Windsor saddle) in exactly 2 hours from the time we left the truck. "Is Gotha the real name for Peak 5400?" we wonder
decision time: do we break up or stick together? We have only 3 hours, as turkey dinners back in the civilized world require us to reassemble here by 13:00. Carolyn, Neil and Craig need all of the 3 peaks that are baggagable from here. I need Deeks, but I recall it took at least 2 hours to get to the peak. We opt for Deeks, and begin bushwhacking through the soaker-bushes. Craig wipes-out and gets his long baggy pants wet... no worries, it was like falling into a wet sponge
where it took me almost an hour to find the trail last year, Neil's eagle eye spotted an orange flag right away. It's a decent trail to Deeks, but not well flagged. (Note to self: bring tape next time!) Fog swirls around the ridge as we break through the forest and are treated to views of Howe Sound.
where it took Paul Cubbon and me a couple of hours to find the route last year, we zoomed up to the peak this year. (Note to all who follow: when faced with the impenetrable wall of rock near the final ascent to Deeks Peak, go left and along bottom of the cliff up through the bunny hole. It's way easier and a far more rewarding option)
woo hoo! We pause to snack, sign the guest book and take some peak shots before heading back down. The fog lifts slightly and the sun threatens to come out. We can almost touch Windsor and Gotha peaks! Everyone gets a chance to grope Carolyn as she maneuvers around a craggy-bit near the bunny hole
11:30. Back at the tarn. Windsor is a no-brainer. We hop the ridge and head-up via a loosely-marked trail through a boulder field below the north face. The sun is now shining and it's a glorious day for bagging. Windsor is bagged by all. With the prospect of a 2 hour bushwhack up to Gotha now facing them, Neil and Carolyn are clearly in damage-control mode regarding Thanksgiving dinner. Potential excuses for arriving late, covered in mud, in smelly running gear and trailing pine needles are discussed openly. We look for the most expeditious way to Gotha
13:00. Try a few routes around Windsor, but end up getting cliffed-out. Back at the tarn at almost exactly our pre-determined departure time of 1:00. We opt to leave the sun-drenched Gotha for another day and head down. Baggers picnic at Deeks Lake. We discuss bagging strategy and postulate as to the activities of others in the Bagger Challenge this weekend. Neil is clearly focused on getting another peak in during the 24-odd remaining hours of the 2010 Bagger Challenge. Could he squeeze-in de Pencer before dinner in Maple Ridge this evening?
14:45. We arrive back at the monster truck. Gravel flies. Something goes thunk. No pieces of truck left behind. Back in sunny North Van, Neil and Carolyn clean up as Craig and I work our suntans on the deck and pick pine needles out of our hair.
That's it for my year of bagging. It's truly been a blast. Thank you, bagger-buds for the trail time and the happy memories. See you at the Baggers Banquet!
Note: Wife out bagging Hollyburn. Camera with her. Photos to follow.
7:00. Neil and Carolyn arrive in their monster truck punctually at 07:00. It's cool out. Skies are overcast, but the call is for sun later in the day. We are cautiously optimistic that we may actually see something from whatever lofty perches we end up on
10:00. Heavy rains the day before have turned the trail into rivulets of rushing water separated by ponds. I get a soaker within first 100m of running. Mushrooms love it, though, and many varieties are spotted as we make our way up the well-traveled trail to Deeks Lake. Vibe is positive as we look up from the lake and see hints of blue through the fog. Take the trail to the Deeks/Windsor saddle steeply up through old growth forest. The sound of rushing water is our constant companion. We arrive at Baggers Glen (the alpine tarn at the Deeks/Windsor saddle) in exactly 2 hours from the time we left the truck. "Is Gotha the real name for Peak 5400?" we wonder
11:30. Back at the tarn. Windsor is a no-brainer. We hop the ridge and head-up via a loosely-marked trail through a boulder field below the north face. The sun is now shining and it's a glorious day for bagging. Windsor is bagged by all. With the prospect of a 2 hour bushwhack up to Gotha now facing them, Neil and Carolyn are clearly in damage-control mode regarding Thanksgiving dinner. Potential excuses for arriving late, covered in mud, in smelly running gear and trailing pine needles are discussed openly. We look for the most expeditious way to Gotha
