Bagger Challenge 2009

1. BRU Brunswick Mountain (1788m#1) (P: 1294m) {H1}

2. HAN Mount Hanover (1748 m#2) (P: 238m) {H!!!&&1}

3. CAT Cathedral Mountain (1737m#3)(P:832m){H!!!&&2}

4. WIN Mount Windsor (1689 m#4) (P: 264m) {m2}

5. CAP Capilano Mountain (1685 m#5) (P: 603m) {m1}

7. LIO West Lion (1654m#8) (P: 369m) {H!!!1}

8. HAR Mount Harvey (1652m#7) (P: 207m) {m1}

9. COB Coburg Peak (1645m#10) (P:152m) {H!!!2}

10. HAT Hat Mountain (1644 m#9) (P: 144m) {m2}

11. GOT Gotha Peak (1641m#11) (P: 111m) {m2} 

12. CFA Fat Ass Peak (1619m#12) (P: 50m) {m3}

1. 

   Middle Needle
   
2. Capilano
   
3. Crown
   
4. Paton Peak
   
5. Fromme
6. Hollyburn
   
7. Strachan
   
8. Bishop
9. Elsay
   
10. West Crown / Sleeping Beauty
    
11. Goat
12. Windsor
13. Gotha
14. Vicar
    
15. Cathedral

1. Capilano Mountain (1685 m)

2. Mount Windsor (1689 m)

3. Mount Fromme (1185m)

4. Mt. Liddell (Gambier Island)

5. The Needles (1258m)

6. Vicar Peak (1247m)

Combining views, sense of adventure, other highlights (lakes, tarns, berries), safety, reasonable distance and steepness and variety

Trail-tested by a kindergartener.

1. Hollyburn

2. Black

3. Seymour

4. Gardner

5. Strachan

6. Dam

7. Goat

8. Artaban

9. Little Goat

10. Grouse

1. Seymour
2. Hollyburn
3. Black
4. Capillano
5. Gardner
6. Dam
7. Goat
8. St. Mark's
9. Leading
10. Strachan
11. South Needle
    
12. Crown
13. Lynn
14. Burwell
15. Windsor

Other views?

1. Brunswick
2. Burwell
3. Bishop
4. Strachan
5. Crown
6. Leading
7. Capilano
8. Windsor
9. Harvey
10. South Needle

Liddell (L; West) and Killam (R; East) are the two highest peaks on Gambier Island. From the ferry to Langdale, they present an impressive pair, rising anvil-like above New Brighton, and separated by Mannion Creek. They have sad histories, being named after two boys who spent summers on Gambier Island and who were killed in WWII.

As recorded in their trip report, Ean and Craig were chewed up and spat out by Liddell. For the first three-quarters of the adventure I was tut-tutting their nasty disparagement of the run: the route from New Brighton to Gambier Lake was well-marked, and scenic, on smooth logging roads and single track. The next section becomes a little steep and hairy, but again, the markings guide one through. But the final ascent is the most hideous bushwhack experienced in the Baggers Challenge. The black and white trail markings vanish and one must push through interlocking walls of juvenile pine trees. Eventually one punches out to the ridge leading to the peak. After clambering over considerable deadfall, one hits the peak (keep heading south for the true peak). To add insult to injury, the main views are Port Mellon, and the clearcuts above it.

• From the Killam-Gambier Lake intersection, keep running NW, down towards and over Mannion Creek.

• about 5 minutes past Mannion Creek and uphill, there is a sharp right turn well-marked for Gambier Lake: take it.

• this good logging road narrows to single-track, and climbs steadily.

• at a fork, you will see a sign for Mt Liddell (the 103 Hikes route), and a sign for Gambier Lake. Take the latter (right, uphill).

• at the top of the road, there is a smaller lake to the left.

• descend down on single track, leading to a trail that doubles as a creek bed.

• eventually reach Gambier Lake.

• the trail hugs closely the lake, which after a week of heavy ran, had overflowed its bank and covered a portion of the trail.

• cross some treacherous slippery logs.

• at the sign of the toilet, head towards and past the toilets (ideally, no one will be using these al fresco commodes as you pass by). The toilet trail leads to another trail veering west along the north side of the lake.

• the trail leads to another slippery log crossing.

• head north, along an old skid road.

• Now the trail (to Damsoon Lake) gets considerably more wild and woolly. It remains, however, well-marked with white markers and tape flagging: if you go for more than 30 seconds without seeing a trail marker, backtrack and regroup: this is not a trail for improvisation.

• the trail follows a creek bed before cutting sharply NW up a gully. Much deadfall but well marked.

• eventually out of the gully, but still a steep climb.

• the trail then flattens out. Apparently there is a side-trail to Damsoon Lake, but I missed it.

• the trail travels SE around a knoll before diving SW into a heavily-overgrown swampy corduroy road. This is where the marking gets thin and the first bout of grisly bushwhacking starts.

• eventually you punch out up onto a rocky logging road. Liddell Ridge is straight in front of and above you, through the dense forest.

• Turn left, and go up the road until it peaks and turns downhill. Somewhere around this point punch right into the forest (I was good and disoriented at this point, and didn;t go up the road. Instead, I cut up straight through the dense forest of low pine and hellish bushwhackery to the Liddell ridge, where the forest mercifully thins out).

• travel SW to the peak along the relatively clear ridge.

• just before the peak, the black and white trail markers reappear, just as it gets thick and bushy again.

• scramble to the treed peak.   

• take the Killam road at the intersection.
• this quickly leads to a quarry.
• a trail to your left is signposted "Gambier Lake (temporary route)". Take it.
• this trail traverses the quarry and a clearcut above it. Mannion Creek burbles below you, to your left.
• just past the clear cut, you will see another sign for "Gambier Lake (temporary route)". Don't take it.
• instead, follow the markings heading south (and down) along an old logging road that is perfect for running.
• immediately after the first creek, look for the Mt Killam sign. It is heavily flagged, and has a hiker sign, but I still motored right past it. If you hit a second creek you've gone too far.
• take the Killam turnoff. Hike steeply up for 700m, following gray trail markers and liberal flagging tape. You should be able to see a trail marking at any time, or else you've stumbled off trail.
• you'll top out on a ridge. Cut left, NW, traversing a few bumps, until you hit the peak, towards the north end.

On return, miss the last Gambier-Langdale ferry for evening by 5 minutes. On dying cell-phone ask wonderful wife to locate and dispatch water-taxi. Return to Langdale triumphantly across water. Wash blood, mud, and sweat off legs in waiting room washroom at ferry terminal. Alarm group of travelling schoolchildren by eating $16 of chips, juice, and pop in 10 minutes. Contemplate the fortuitous glory of living in Southwest British Columbia.

Congratulations: 

Ken Legg

Winner of the Munro Quaich for the inaugural 2009 Baggers' Challenge

If dogs run free, then why not we
Across the swooping plain?
My ears hear a symphony
Of two mules, trains and rain.
The best is always yet to come,
That's what they explain to me.
Just do your thing, you'll be king,
If dogs run free.

A Dam fine final bagging adventure: 

a night hike up Dam Mountain.

Met by a black-tailed buck on the way home.

Fun for all.

A good season at an end.

Stories of pirates and plunder sparked my interest in this concept when I was but a boy.  Recent events have caused me to ponder on it again.  What constitutes honor?  Is it a myth or the stuff upon which legends are built?

The clock ticks down to the conclusion of the 2009 Baggers Challenge...

It has come to my attention that recent monsoons have caused serious slope instability in and around Strachan Peak in Cypress Provincial park.  All official personnel are recommending very strongly that right-minded individuals avoid this area until at least Friday of the current week.

Separate independent sources have confirmed that the relatively warm temperatures in the alpine area have confounded the resident wildlife.  A herd of rabid grizzly bears was spotted in the area last night just beyond the Cypress Provincial Park parking area... site of the 2010 Olympic games.  Furthermore, cougars have been attacking hikers and dog-walkers.  It is recommended that anyone foolish enough to risk venturing into the back-country in the area carry automatic weapons to protect themselves. 

The H1N1 vaccine is now available.  Government authorities are recommending that all otherwise healthy trail runners, hikers and climbers may be at risk if they venture outdoors in humid weather before receiving their shots.

Baggers take note:  Representatives from PETA and other animal protection agencies are currently harassing dog owners who appear to be taking their hounds on rough trails.  They cite that it is cruel and unusual punishment to do so.  Please refer to YouTube for recent videos of dog-loving back-country enthusiasts being drubbed by protesters.

Enjoy the trails... and remember to be responsible at all times by not venturing into the back-country without having completed all household responsibilities including, but not limited to, folding your socks, vacuuming the playroom, cleaning the eves-troughs, cutting and trimming the grass, cleaning up the garden, putting away all garden hoses and other yard chores.

Still stinging from a nasty spanking on LID a week earlier, Moore and Jackson tempted fate in an attempt to be the first baggers in the 2009 Bagger Challenge to bag Mount Killam on Gambier Island.

Results:  positive

Recommendation:  Avoid at all costs this week!  Detailed report to follow...

Upload your photos by Thursday night -- in additional to other curiosities and conviviality, we'll have a slideshow at the Baggers' Banquet.

The twin gluteal peaks of Fat Ass Peak (1619m), on the trail from the Howe Sound Crest Trail to Hat Mountain. 

It will be included on the Bagger List 2010.

My final day of bagging during the contest, before the strategic genius Mr Legg swoops in to claim the quaich, was a gloriously exhausting one. I tasted bitter irony once again, slogging to two peaks that I might well have left off the baggers' list:  Hanover, because it marks the border line of my comfort zone; and Wettin, because it is obscure and practically bereft of trails and trip reports.

Mount Hanover (left, above): Hanover is easily the scariest, most difficult and potentially dangerous peak on the list (although a seasoned alpinist like Mr Legg will mock my knocking knees). It is also the second highest peak on the Baggers' List, after Brunswick, which looms to the south.  See the Matt Gunn Scrambles book for a further route description.

• The minor but obvious trail departs the HSCT about half-way between the Brunswick Lake hut and the Mt Brunswick ascent trail.
• After a while, the trail peters out but the looming destination is obvious. 
• North along a boulder field, then down into a soggy creek valley.
• Then the ascent up Hanover. 
• The first part is blocked by a dense green patch. On my first ascent, last year, I had an unpleasant bushwhack through the patch. This time, I climbed a creek on the west side of the patch. It is all slippery, with a few dicey bits that can be avoided by holding on to the trees beside the creek. At one point, there is a short side-climb/bushwhack away from the creek, to avoid a large boulder in the main creek.
• Higher up the climb the creek bed is submerged under large boulders, signalling the second phase of the ascent: pretty fun vertical boulder-hopping (if that is your thing) on massive granite boulders. Then scrambling up steeply on smaller granite boulders (think Hanes Valley).
• This leads up to the base of Hanover peak. Two gullies, facing SE (ie not obvious until the end of the boulder-hopping) are the routes up.
• Go up the left gully. This consists of some five rocky platforms, with vast boulders above you. Each presents a mental game: which single combination of hand placements will allow a safe ascent to the next platform? And which will lead to a broken leg or back? Several moments of minor fear and hesitation.
• After the final platform, there is a gravelly slope leading to the peak (to the right and up). Sign the peak register and gingerly and carefully descend.
• A helmet is a must with Hanover: the gully is full of loose rocks. A dislodged rock will ricochet down the gully. I'd urge you to wait until the first person has reached the peak before even starting, and to stay well clear of the bottom of the gully.

Wettin Peak (right, above): Wettin is the second significant peak on a ridge below and to the north of Hat Mountain. There is no trail per se to Wettin, although at times one can see a route of sorts along the ridge. Ken Legg was correct when he said that Wettin, despite its obscurity, was a pleasant surprise and a pleasant ridge-walk along gentle meadows and heather.

• As Wettin is 100m below Hat, I tried to get fancy by attempting a traverse of Hat from the Fat Ass Peak - Hat Mountain col. Despite promising contour lines, the various cliffs were a turn-off.
• I thus went down to the Wettin Ridge straight off the north side of Hat.
• Very slowly and carefully -- it is difficult to see what lies below the trees, and often there is a nasty drop. There are cliffs to the NE to be avoided.
• Pay close attention to your GPS, and follow the contour lines pointing out the ridge down to the Hat-Wettin col.
• Head generally NW, using Wettin as a target.
• On Hat's NNW flank (ie left on the descent) is a rock-slide area which is the most gentle and clear (but still steep) descent.
• Still necessary to grab much heather and many branches to make descent safe.
• Slippery and scary when wet (which it was).
• Once you hit the shoulder between Hat and Wettin, the route up Wettin is easy: just follow the contour lines up the ridge.
• You will see human boot routes, but no flagging or formal trail.
• Most times on the ridge you are bushwhacking, but the bushes are generally low and inoffensive.
• Hit the first (shorter) Wettin ridge peak and dip into a little shoulder.
• Then up to Wettin's peak proper. There are actually two peaks, of which the south is higher (I think). I hit both to be sure.
• Both peaks are treed in, with compromised views. Wettin Peak (the southern Wettin spot) offers a good view of glorious Anvil Island.

On return, I hauled my fat ass up Hat and Fat Ass Peak (making it a superfluous triple bag of each for the season) and then back along the HSCT to the Brunswick ascent/descent route and down to Lion's Bay: a great and glorious end for me to the 2009 Baggers' Challenge.

Hello David et al,

Put myself down and my friend Rob McDonald for 'Deacon peak' (DEA).  Through my masterful navigating we did Deacon when we were intending to do Bishop via Gerry's escape.  Truth be told we didn't know we were on thewrong peak till we summited.  Anyhow now I know where Bishop and Presbeter are for next year . 

We had a blast and enjoyed a very pleasent (all be it chilly) Thanksgiving Monday.

See you Friday!

Cheers,

Mike

Twas a cold and blustery day as the jolly roger was hoisted up the mast of the Evergreen II early Sunday morning.  Pirates-in-training Glenn(1), Glenn(2), Ken, David and Jackson set sail shortly after 7:00 am for a full day of baggage up and down Howe Sound.

After a couple of days of heavy fall monsoons, the rain mercifully stopped.   To the tune of "Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum" and with visions of misty, remote peaks, the motley crew motored under the Lions Gate bridge in darkness.

First stop was Gambier's Mount Artaban (ART).  A relatively easy trail, we started off by getting lost and bushwhacking up a cliff.  Beautiful trail, though.  (I will take a stab at describing it in detail elsewhere.)  Total time from sea level to the peak and back:  about 2:45.

Next stop was Leading Peak (LEA) on Anvil Island.  Some logistics were involved with getting to the trail, but we managed to do so without getting lost.  Wonderful, steep trail up beside a waterfall that was bursting from recent rains.  The bagging gods were with us this day, as immediately upon arriving at the peak, the clouds parted and we could see most of Howe Sound below.  (I will take a stab at describing it in detail elsewhere.)  Total time from sea level to the peak and back:  about 3:00, including some dilly-dallying at the peak.

I hope the other pirates will add their 2-cents below.  Here are some of my highlights of the day:

• how the weather cooperated
• awesome camaraderie
• seeing bald eagles, seals and sea lions
• experiencing a couple of great trails I know of, but had never run
• champagne at the top of Leading Peak
• seeing phosphoresce in the waters off Bowen Island.  Wow!
• having a dinner of BBQ steaks and fine wines in Snug Cove on Bowen Island
• seeing the lights of the Lions Gate bridge as we returned in the dark
• arriving home to a warm bed before 1:00 am

Today Wendy, Neil and Carolyn bagged the South Needle. We rode our bikes from LSCR to the trail at Hydraulic Creek - stashed the bikes in the bushes and went straight up and then down! It was foggy but we think that was a good thing - it helped disquise the steep drop offs below us. Ean's comment about a 1 km fall without a bounce went through my head a few times. So...any of you out there who don't like the steep drop offs - try it in the fog! ;-)

Cheers,

Carolyn

Sad to report that the Bagger Challenge will wrap up one week from today, on Thursday, October 22, at sundown.

I am not sure what we (or our companions) will do with ourselves.

Submit those peaks, and make sure that your tallies above are complete and accurate.

Happy frantic last bagging.

Last week I received a call from an old friend Mike T. (see picture) who is on the Canadian Ski Mountaineering Race team and he wanted to check out Mt. Harvey.  The main reason is to scope out a number of backcountry ski lines which Harvey provides a great vantage point.  So we set this up for Monday at noon.  We knew we didn't have too much time so it was a quick ascent of Mt. Harvey from Lions Bay in 2 hrs 20 minutes.  At the summit we were in some wind and the temp dropped quickly for a few minutes.  We were able to check out a few promising lines; a coulior off of Unnecessary which might be a first bagger, a line just short Mt. Harvey's summit down into the Harvey/Lions basin and numerous lines of the Harvey col above Mag Meadows.  Since there was little snow we descended the steep NE trail down to show Mike the hut.  

We didn't want to go back over Harvey so we jumped on the HSCT eastbound till an intersection that had signage showing instructions to Harvey to the west, the Lions to the East and Lions Bay to the south.  I thought I had good info on this Lions Bay return as it would be good to know if attempting a ski in this area.  The trail is somewhat evident but is mainly bushwacking for the first 30 minutes until we hit an old logging road.  The logging road headed south traversing below the Harvey col.  At the end of this logging road which is mainly rock is a large cairn with little trail marking.  We checked out every angle and finally settled on a trail that headed back in the opposite direction and you are in heavy brush.  Does anyone have any further info on this trail from this point?

There are some faint yellow and some orange flagging but we mainly headed down this on instinct.  What was worrying is that the trail traversed back toward the end of this bowl opposite from the direction we needed.  After another 10 minutes of bushwacking on this remote trail we finally hit a main trail heading southwest in the right direction and so we picked up our hiking pace.  Neither of us really wanted to run as our legs were hurting form the previous day's mountain bike rides.  In a short time we made it to the intersection towards the Lions and we made it back to the Lions Bay parking lot in 5 hrs 30 minutes.  Lets pray for a good snow season.  Can't wait to get up there with the boards.

An ideal, if slightly chilly, day along the Howe Sound Crest Trail and up the steep slopes to the North (higher), and then the South peaks of Mount Strachan (which a proper Scot would surely pronounce somewhere between the Trinity College Toronto "Strawn" and the Vancouver "Strackan", to half-rhyme with "lochan"). Spectacular views. A descent past the 1963 plane crash remnants back to the parking lot. And not late for turkey dinner.

This is a perfect climb for sturdy and adventurous kids.

Pippa claims first-bagger kindergarten bragging rights.

Thanksgiving indeed.

Olav Brusletto joins the Baggers Challenge.  On a crisp, sunny Thanksgiving Day, we bagged the South Needle.  In a first for yours truly, we actually accomplished the goal in less time than anticipated, thereby insuring that I did not ruin our family Thanksgiving dinner.  Bonus points!

Here's a brief overview:

• left chez moi in the Edgemont area of North Vancouver at 9:45 on bicycles
• rode to the LSCR (Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve) via pipeline bridge, then up the paved trail
• at about the 5.5K mark, there's a little rest area called Hydraulic Creek.  The trail starts on the north side of the bridge opposite the outhouses.  It is not obvious until you see it.
• I was shocked at how well marked and beautiful the trail was.  About 100m up the trail, some kind soul has put very accurate trail descriptions in a baggie and attached to a tree.  (I will share those directions below)
• the trail is steep, but not too steep.  (Think slightly steeper than BCMC trail).  It took us under 90 minutes to get to the peak at an aggressive hiking pace
• breathtaking views from the top.  We were blessed with clear skies
• It took us under 45 minutes to drop back down to the paved trail.  The surface was soft:  dry pine needles, rotten wood and moss.  Beautiful to run on.  I suspect it would be very slippery when wet.  
• another 30 minutes and we were back at my place

In summary, a very pleasant surprise!  Jackson gives it 5 stars for a sunny day.  I'd take my kids on it.

Light baggage, but nonetheless a peak...  Wendy, Jill and I had been emailing and facebooking on unrelated threads over getting out the past two days and this morning I decided to pick up the phone and get serious.  Sorry for waking you up, Jill!

We scooted up Black Mtn. in record speed for this slow FA and were back before lunch.  Beautiful views and warmer temps than yesterday made for a wonderful hike with friends.  Jill got some peak photos...as my camera was out peaking with ActionJackson on the Needles ;-)

Please mark Wendy Montgomery, Jill Warland and myself down for BLA.

Neil and Carolyn have spent a few days on the North Shore Mountains!

Please add for Neil: LYN, SEY, ELS, MAR, UNN

Please add for Carolyn: LYN, SEY, ELS, MAR, DAM, GOA, LIL

We really enjoyed seeing many new trails and Peaks. The weather was so awesome we couldn't resist going out 3 days in a row. However, today we declined Ean's invitation for the Needles - the house/barn/school chores were calling! If it is OK conditions next Saturday Neil and I would be interested in the South Needle...any takers?

Happy Thanksgiving! - we should be on time for dinner. ;-)

Carolyn

Too nice a day to not be in the mountains.  The little Jackson and I bagged Lynn Peak yesterday.  Slow on the uphill, flying on the downhill.  Views and sunshine were perfect, but the air sure was chilly.
BTW, Caroline, Wendy, Neil, EJ Powderhound and Jackson havn't gotten a point for Fat Ass Mountain/Hat1...Has a decision been reached on this topic ;-)

Wouldn't miss it!

Can't wait to hear all of the stories!

Cheers,

Mike

And the weather holds...

Word has it it's possible to ride your bike up the LSCR trail to Hydraulic Creek and bag this peak in under 4 hours.  Hey, why not add another couple hours and bag Cathedral?

Hummm...

Anyone in for some late-season baggage? My place at 8:45 Monday for a 9:00 departure.  Bring your bike.

It's 8:30 am on a glorious Saturday morning.  The air is crisp.  The leaves are turning.  Buddy Steve is making one last trip to Gambier Island before hauling his boat out of the water. Time to make some quick decisions...

I wake Craig.  "Let's bag a couple of peaks on Gambier today. Boat leaves in a half hour", I say.  "Back in time for dinner?", asks Craig.   "Never been there, but according to the maps and the water taxi schedule, should be no problems", I respond.

We arrived home at 20:00, a good 2.5 hours late.  We bagged 1/2 peaks we were hoping to bag.  Here are the highlights:

• dropped the car off at Horseshoe Bay.  Big weekend, so parking was scarce.  $14 at the Boathouse parking lot
• car pooled with Steve to Brunswick dock.  Scrape bird shit off his boat.  Step in seal shit.  Ewwwww!  Smell of rotten fish soon all over boat seats.
• zip over to just north of Douglas Bay.  Tour of Steve's 2 properties (one with a view of heaven is for sale, campers!) then visit another buddy, Jeff, who is finishing his roof before the monsoon season
• it's almost noon.  Need to bushwhack to main trail.  Spook a guy who is working on his remote cabin, but get decent directions.   Take trail to Gambier Lake.  Nice trail.  No problems.
• Hook north on a sketchy trail that goes up to Liddell behind the lake.  Lots of time lost route finding.  Detailed map falls out of my pocket somewhere about 1K short of the summit prompting many bad words and forehead banging from yours truly
• Craig notes that there are no bird sounds. Odd.  There are no sounds other than our huffing and puffing and my swearing
• Eventually arrive at peak after bushwhacking for about 1.5 hours.  No carin.  Only sign of humans ever being there was a tiny piece of orange flagging tape that was almost white from age.  Decent view of Horseshoe Bay, The Howe Sound Crest Trail to south and Port Mellon pulp mill on north. 
• bushwhack down south face of peak back to main trail.  Not recommended as almost vertical and many cliffs to negotiate.  Found occasional small pieces of orange tape on ground.  Probably deposited after passing through digestive track of seagulls
• almost to the big trail and Craig almost gets his eye poked-out by an errant piece of deadwood
• arrive at New Brighton around 17:30.  Buy coconut-lemon tarts and eat on the sun-drenched pier.  Call home and (again) beg for forgiveness
• take $5.10 water taxi to Langdale.  Wait 20 minutes for BC ferry.  Compare scratches and dents with Craig over coffee on way home. 
• 20:30.  Pine needles fall all over clean floor.  Reheat thanksgiving salmon in microwave

Craig gives this a 7/10 for the adventure, I give it a 3/10 because my expectations were not met.  (I expected a "trail" and to be able to bag both Liddell and Killam peaks, although I have to acknowledge it was an adventure!)

Note:  I am game to bag Killam one day this week.  My expectations are minimal.  (Read:  "I know how to get to the base of the mountain, but expect a 4-hour bushwhack to the peak and about the same back down, at least a couple of puncture wounds, possibly a broken bone or 2.  Cell reception spotty at best, so whiny calls to SAR may go unheard and i/we may die a miserable death of exposure.")

BAGGERS' BANQUET: To cap off the bagging season, we will be hosting a feast for all bagger participants and their significant others.

Bagger lasagne (meaty and veggy), bagger cake, and other carb-rich foods will be served.

The Bagger Quaich will be awarded to great fanfare.

Please please please please RSVP ASAP: my wife will be surly and angry at me if there is not enough food.

Date: Friday, October 23rd. From 6pm.

Place: 1368 West 21st Street (near Capilano Elementary School, in Pemberton Heights).

Map: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1368+west+21st+street+north+vancouver&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=41.516812,106.962891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1368+21st+St+W,+North+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&z=16

RSVP jeldac "at" shaw "dot" ca

Another glorious day to be alive in Southwest British Columbia as GP & I hiked the three peaks that tower above Deeks Lake: Gotha (aka Peak 5400),  Windsor, and Deeks. Perfect weather, stunning views.

The route was relatively easy, although it must be emphasized that it is a route, rather than a trail, and route-finding and occasional bushwhacking are likely necessary. They were for us. Happily the bushes to whack are not so bad. You'll have to use your hands, especially for Gotha, but you'd have to make an effort to put yourself in real danger. Good weather and a GPS recommended.

All three are accessible via the HSCT from Porteau Cove. There is a new parking lot slope-side at the laid-out Porteau Cove residential development (south of Porteau Cove Provincial Park). A vehicle with decent power and clearance can bypass most of the dull ex-logging road approach road, saving about 3 steep kilometres, and there is enough space for parking at the third wooden HSCT post.

At Deeks Lake, instead of continuing along the HSCT (right; counterclockwise), turn left onto a well-trod lakeside trail. At the SW quadrant of the lake, slightly upslope there is a sturdy red plastic sign indicating the trail up the Windsor-Deeks col. After some steady climbing one comes to another sturdy red plastic sign marking a junction between the Windsor and Gotha routes (we must have overlooked the Windsor/Gotha - Deeks junction sign).  

GOTHA: The southernmost peak, Gotha was the first destination. From the sign, the route becomes sparsely flagged. Go up and over the tarned meadows. Gotha is on a ridge of peaks leading to the backside of Hanover. The lowest peak rises to your SW. In order to avoid the bluffs and cliffs, veer down to the east, towards a pleasant small lake. Gotha Peak, with an under-rated and pleasing craggy point, rises up to the south, with an obvious boulder-hopping scramble up. Up and over a few false peaks to the summit, with amazing views of Howe Sound, Brunswick, Hanover, Hat, and Deeks Lake, a very swift drop straight down.

WINDSOR: Instead of returning to the subalpine junction with the sturdy red plastic sign, we hiked back down into the meadow that separated Windsor from Gotha, and then straight up Windsor's southern slope. Not flagged, but some humans or other animals had tromped this route recently. After some steep whacking of (low) bushes, and much tugging and abuse of heather, one punches out into clear ramp heading up W. This intersects the (flagged) route to the summit of Windsor, another pleasingly pointy peak with amazing views.

DEEKS: west of Windsor is an obvious rocky slope: descend to a tarny area, where there is some flagging leading to the base of the col between Windsor and Deeks. Here we lost the trail, but bushwhacked and scrambled in a traverse to the two peaks of Deek Peak. The western, lower peak is drudgery to get to, but affords one of the finest views of Howe Sound and the Tantalus Range. From here, it looks as if you can reach out and touch Black Tusk. A well-flagged route leads back, east to the main Deeks Peak, again with superb views. We discovered and filled out a peak register in a black tube under the summit cairn: Fat Assers dominate recent entries. We also discovered that there is a superb echo if one yells to the east, as we did to the two figures of hikers on distant Windsor. What began as a friendly exchange ended when I yelled out "Fat Ass?," a query perhaps misinterpretted and met with silence.

Return: It was now about 1:30. Given the rapdily-approaching darkness, and the lure of Mountain Woman hamburgers and poutine at Britannia Beach (oh so good), we pulled the plug on a planned ascent of Wettin and Hat and descended via an improvised steep bushwhack leading back down to the main Windsor-Deeks col trail.