1. STAR BAGS: certain extraordinary methods of bagging will earn the bagger a coveted star after the peak, which stars will count as tie-breakers in totals. There are three kinds of star-bags, all of equal weight:
a. WATERBAGS: An ascent up a single peak linking sea level to summit counts as a waterbag. Only one peak per sea level ascent. e.g.: Dip toe in ocean at Ambleside Beach. Run up Capilano Trails and Nancy Greene Way and Grouse Grind. Summit Grouse, Goat, and Crown = 1 waterbag, not three.
b. TRUE BAGS: as the true peaks of Crown and Gotha are semi-exposed, and there is a false summit very close, attaining the false peak will get you the point, and attaining the true peak will be starred.
c. GIFT BAGS: during a bag, doing an hour or so of trail maintenance (through trail flagging, sawing of limbs and suckers, and other trail maintenance) will be starred.
2. SPRING BAGS: in addition to the Howe Sound Island peaks, we've opened up the "front row" of more easily-accessible peaks to the April starting date, for anyone who wants to try a snowshoe bag. ONLY TRY IN CLEAR WEATHER and ALWAYS CHECK THE AVALANCHE REPORTS and BRING THE PROPER EQUIPMENT and BE CAUTIOUS!: BLA, HOL, STR, GRO, DAM, FRO, SLY, LYN, SEY, SUI, DEP.
3. GROUP BAGS: we hope to run a few "guided tour" Flash Events throughout the summer. The remote and rewarding playground of Mt Capilano will be a likely destination.
4. NEW BAGS: Added Suicide Bluff, which has a prominence of 57m. Easily accessible from Seymour Parking lot. We believe that we have now included all peaks that meet the criteria, but welcome nominations for additional peaks. We're eyeing some within-criteria peaks between CRO and PER, as well as the distant back-door bags of Bivouac and Eldee, but these are likely horrible and dangerous. The administrators reserve the right to add further peaks at their sole discretion at any time.
LOCATION: North Shore Mountains
WHAT: See how many North Shore peaks you can run up and bag in a summer. All but the island mountains qualify as munros (in excess of 3000 feet) under the Scottish peak-bagging system.
DATES:
Mainland peaks: June 23, 2012 to October 25, 2012 at 6:30pm
Howe Sound island peaks and front-row peaks (ONLY): April 1, 2012 to October 25, 2012 at 6:30pm
WHERE: non-technical or less-technical (Class 3 or easier) North Shore mountains (listed below). The peak must have its own name AND it must have a prominence of at least 50 metres (i.e. to climb to the next peak one must first descend at least 50 metres).
RESULTS: Post a comment setting out your mountainous conquests (or email "David Crerar" via the CFA Message email service on this site (see left column)), with the dates, and I will post ongoing standings. Please also feel free to post your trip reports in your CFA blog (log in and go to www.clubfatass.com/node/add/bog).
YOUR STORIES: CFA and your fellow Baggers love to hear about your Bagger Adventures. To share your stories, we recommend you blog about them in your CFA member blog. Log in, then go here to get started. You can read about the 2012 adventures posted so far here.
PHOTOS: Please post your photos, too. Add to the CFA Flickr Pool (instructions here. It's easy!), tag your photos: ClubFatAss ClubFatAssEvents ClubFatAssEvents2012 BaggerChallenge2012 BaggerChallenge (with a space separating each tag on the flickr template)
2012 Photos
Photo Archives
ARCHIVES
2011 Munro Quaich: Bill Maurer: 50 peaks
2011 Pippa Quaich: Carolyn King: 33 peaks
2011 Harry Quaich: Harry Crerar: 10 peaks
2011 Tundra Quaich: Tundra the Ultra Dog: 22 peaks
WINNING TIE-BREAKER MECHANISM: In the case of a tie for first place:
1. non-core peaks (i.e. those not on the North Shore and not listed) will not be counted;
2. if still a tie, the bagger with the most starbags (i.e. 1. water bags (i.e. peaks ascended from sea level to peak: see below) 2. true bags (i.e. true summits of GOT and CRO), 3. gift bags (i.e. trail work)) will win;
3. if still a tie, the bagger with the most unique bags (i.e. peaks that no one else visited) will win;
4. if still a tie, the bagger with the most write-ups and comments posted on the CFA Flickr website will win;
5. if still a tie, the bagger with the most photos posted on the CFA Flickr website will win;
6. if still a tie, the bagger with the most obscure/difficult bags (at the completely arbitrary discretion of the host) will win.
PRIZE: The winner will be the proud bearer of the CFA Bagger Munro Quaich cup for the year: the appropriate cup from which to drink a winter whisky and contemplate how awesome you are. There will be an auxiliary prize for the person who draws the most other people into the cult of peak-bagging.
BAGGERS' BANQUET: To cap off the bagging season, we will either have a get-together at a pub, or else a barbeque for all bagger participants and their significant others. The Bagger Quaich will be awarded.
Date: Friday, October 26, 2012. 6pm - 10pm.
Place: t.b.a.
NO SANDBAGGING: all claims to bagging a peak must be submitted as promptly as possible (in most cases, within 3 days) of the actual climb. Climbs of more than two weeks old will be stale-dated for baggers already in the contest. Old bags by new baggers will be considered on a case-by-case fairness basis at the sole discretion of the administrator: late bags by new baggers late in the season will likely not be counted.
ENTRY: There is no fee and you don't need to be a member of Club Fat Ass to participate in a Flash event, however whining is not allowed. That being said, many of the peaks listed should only be attempted by those with the experience and fitness level of a typical Club Fat Ass member (i.e. ample mountain running experience over long distances).
IMPORTANT SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: All of these adventures are potentially dangerous.
You are responsible for your own well being and safety and should be self sufficient.
Here are two useful lists of "MUST HAVE" survival items that all participants should carry:
Mountains marked with a !!! are scramble ascents or otherwise exposed or otherwise remote and undeveloped and should only be attempted by experienced climbers wearing helmets, etc. Don't try these routes in anything but perfect weather.
Use great caution when rocks are wet -- slipping is the cause of most accidents on North Shore mountains.
Always run/hike with a buddy.
CFA reserves the right to remove anyone from the Challenge for doing reckless, dangerous, destructive, or foolish actions.
PARTICIPATE AT YOUR OWN RISK: YOU ARE WAIVING LEGAL ACTION: By participating in this event you agree to be wholly responsible for your own well-being and agree not to sue anyone associated with this event or Club Fat Ass or any person in relation to this activity. By participating in this event you agree to the terms of the Release of All Claims.
THE 57 NORTH SHORE PEAKS (ranges from west to east)
Altitude listed first, in brackets (metres)
# = Top-12 highest peak
P= Prominence (distance one must first descend before climbing next peak)
[[[ = NOT AN OFFICIAL PEAK in the Bagger Challenge, due to real exposure. Should only be attempted by experienced and competent alpinists. Attaining one of these peaks will nonetheless count as a bagger point.]]]
Peak notes (in round brackets at end)
peaks in italics indicate those baggable from April 1st.
for greater certainty peak ("pk") location among several possible summits (North,South, East, West)
*** as the true peaks are semi-exposed, and there is a false summit very close, attaining the false peak will get you the point, and attaining the true peak will be starred and count as a starbag (i.e. a tie-breaker).
e.g. the proper peak of Crown is a hair-raising wedge of rock with an impressive drop on 3/4 sides; attaining the (unscary) platform just below this true summit will get you a point).
e.g.2 the proper peak of Gotha is the south peak, which is a semi-hair-raising traverse above a semi-sheer drop into Deaks Lakes way below; attaining the northern peak, with nearly identical height, will get you a point.
Resources and hyperlinks
103 = Bryceland & Macaree, 103 Hikes in Southwest British Columbia
MG = Matt Gunn, Scrambles in Southwest British Columbia
DH = Dawn Hanna, Best Hikes and Walks of Southwestern British Columbia
12= trip reports and maps
AB= peak photos
Note: the links to trip reports won't work unless your page is set to "50 comments per page" (the default setting)
Difficulty and Quality Rating {purple; in fancy brackets}
Difficulty: Hard; medium; easy
K = best hikes for kids
!!! = Dangerous: exposed or real risk of falling rock
!!!!!!!!! = Very dangerous; experienced mountaineers only
&& = trail at times faint or nonexistent; need route-finding skills
Quality: 1-5, with 1 being the best and 5 the worst
For a guided tour of the Bagger Peaks on Google Earth please click download the file attached below and open with Google Earth (and try the 3D flight simulator option under "tools"!)
For a full size Bagger map click on the image below:
Submitted by Rick Arikado on 8 July, 2012 - 15:21.
Hi Dave,
Put me down for SNE, LYN, SLY, please.
From LSCR parking lot, down Homestead, up Fishermans & Hydraulic Creek Trails. North to the South Needle. On the way back to trail junction I picked off that little flat-topped bump just south of the South Needle. The found the rock cairn marking the true Lynn Peak, plus summited every other little bump I could see as I worked towards the tourista lookout point. Back down the main Lynn Peak Trail to the parking lot.
Submitted by Bill Dagg on 13 October, 2012 - 11:23.
Earlier in the week, Jess and I were looking for some easy baggage to get in (with Sierra on back) on a Saturday morning before my son's soccer game a 2pm in North Vancouver. Scanning our brand-new North Shore Trail Map (love it -- waterproof; tearproof; Sierra-proof), de Pencier Bluffs looked like a good choice. On top of that, the weather forecast was continuing to look awesome for at least the next 7 days so we were hoping to get some good views in a direction we don't usually get.
The week goes on ... the weather forecast degrades. Sigh. Oh well, at least will get a quick bag in. Who knows, we might even have time to bag Suicide Bluffs too!
Saturday morning. Forecast now shows drizzle. Not to be turned off by a little bit of water in the air, off we headed. We arrived at the Seymour parking lot to misty conditions with poor visibility but it was raining and was still relatively warm. Neither of us had been to de Pencier Bluffs before but it looked pretty straight forward -- a simple hike up to Mystery Lake and then take a right not far past that.
First hitch. Due to construction in the Seymour 2 detour options are provided to get up the mountain. Head left out of the parking lot to go up the trail and ski run towards Mount Seymour, Mt. Elsay, etc. or go right and then up a different ski run to Mystery Lake. The right option seemed like the most direct option so off we went.
Problem is, once directed off on the detour, the Parks decides to abandon you and give you no further direction to get you back were you want to be. After about 1 km we came out to a nice little lake (Goldie Lake, we later deduced) and a trail junction with directions to various places we'd had no intention of going. No mention of Mystery Lake. One of the trails mentioned was the Perimetter Trail which I recalled seeing on the map in the vicinity of the Bluffs so, if nothing else, we figured we could go that way.
A few minutes later another trail junction and another sign directing you to "Deep Cove Lookout via Permitter Trail". Did this mean this was the trail to Deep Cove Lookout or was it the direction to the trail to Deep Cove Lookout. If it was the latter, we figured we'd come to a T intersection and be able to go in the direction away from the Lookout. Shrug. Let's assume it's the latter. Off we went.
Not long later we come to another intersection -- Deep Cove Lookout right; Dead End Trail left. Also, way up on a tree, a much older "Permitter Trail" sign which seemed to imply that Dead End Trail was actually Permitter Trail in the direction we wanted to go. Dead End Trail it is then.
According to the map, Permitter Trail is what's classified as a "secondary" trail which, we later surmised, basically means "Nice knowing you. Who should we call when you don't come back?"
To be fair, Permitter Trail was not that badly marked. This a good thing because the trail seems to be so rarely used, is covered in significantly-sized fallen trees and is so overgrown that, without the markings, you often wouldn't be able to tell there was a trail at all. Perfect conditions for hiking with infant on back. Jess took the lead for most of it but failed miserably at her prime task (in my view) of brushing all of the water off of the bushes before Sierra and I got to them. Despite being physically dampened, our spirts were not. On we pushed with fingers crossed that we could actually come out somewhere.
Not sure how long it took (45 minutes - 1 hour?) but eventually we came to a "junction" in the middle of the forest with a sign pointing to de Mystery Lake and Pencier Bluffs in one direction and "Ski Lodge" in the other. (I put junction in quotes because we couldn't really see a trail in the Ski Lodge direction. I'm sure it was there.)
The trail got a bit steeper at this point. Not crazy steep but steep enough that we both hoped we wouldn't have to come back down it. Finally we climb one last steep pitch and come out to a considerably better travelled and maintained trail.
We can see some bluffs just off to the right so that seems like the direction to go. 5 minutes later we're on some bluffs that we can imagine must have some spectacular views. We are forced to imagine because we can't see diddly squat. Are these the de Pencier Bluffs? It bothers me that on the other side of the trail there's an outcrop that is probably about 20 m higher but no obvious way to get to it.
We head a bit further on the trail and starts to go downhhill. We start to think that we should have gone left when we came out to the good trail. We turn around and head back past where we'd come up. 5 minutes later. Crap! The trail to Mystery Lake from the chairlift. Wrong way.
Turn around. Back past the bluff we'd wondered about and downhill (not very far). No long later we see some big bluffs on our right. These must be de Pencier. Hike a bit further through a nice little meadow looking for trails off to the right. Don't see any. The trail starts to head uphill into the mist. Maybe the bluffs are further ahead yet. 10 minutes later. Double crap! Mystery Chair again! The previous bluffs on the right must have been de Pencier and we somehow missed the trail.
Jess: "Are we going to go back?"
Bill: "Yup."
Jess "Damn!"
Back we go. Downhill to the meadow the meadow (bluffs now on left). While in the meadow, Jess spies a piece of flagging tape up on the ridge to the bluff. Must be some way to get to it. 5 minutes further. Well that's a pretty obvious trail (from this direction)! 10 minutes later and we're on top of the bluff. Again, amazing views from the top (we imagine). 2:03 to the top.
We spend a few minutes taking snaps and looking around before heading down (the easy way). I joke. "I bet it will take less than 1 hour to get down." Back to Mystery Chair and down back to the parking lot. Descent time: 41 minutes.
No time for Suicide Bluffs today (we wouldn't be able to see anything anyway). It would have been boring going the proper way anyway. :-)
I don't know if I was at the top of Little Goat (LIL) or not. I followed the trail that said Little Goat from end to end and did a side excursion to what seemed like the highest point in the area. There were a couple of little lakes there but nothing that was obviously a peak. Was I in the right spot? Maybe you can tell from the GPS track.
Parked the bike at the Learning Center near the LSCR parking lot yesterday (June 25), ran 5km to Hydraulic Creek, then up to the col between the Needles and Lynn peaks. Headed north over South, Middle, and North needle. Got to snow after South Needle and used the ice axe. The hiking boots were definitely required (over runners). I didn’t use the crampons. The snow was soft enough in most places that I could kick steps when required. The route to Middle and North Needle was a bit technical involving some rock scrambling and steeper snow slopes. It was slow progress having to go out and back over the same terrain. Once back and over Lynn Peaks I could keep going south down the regular Lynn Peak trail and back to my bike at the Learning Center. That part was a nice loop. Got some good photos. The trail does not go over the real Lynn Peak but skirts around it. It is on the south end of the summit contour in a clearing facing south. It has a rocky outcrop, with a boulder on it which has a summit cairn on top. The clearing on the north end of the summit contour with the bent tree that the trail passes through and has lots of flagging is not the "real" summit. There is slightly less snow in the Middle and North Needles area than there was at the same time last year. Time this year was close to 9 hours and distance was 22km.
SLYSouth Lynn Peak (999m)
LYNLynn Peak (1015m)
SNE South Needle (1163m)
MNE Middle Needle (1258m)
NNENorth Needle (1256m)
Next time I'd like to approach from Norvan and traverse the ridge cleanly from north to south and avoid any out and back sections. There's a technical section to cross gaining access to the ridge north of North Needle on this approach.
Well done Bill! Have you ever done the traverse later in the season? The blueberry bushes make things a bit nasty. I'd imagine that the ridge is a lot more civilized this time of year.
If you (or anyone else, for that matter) is interested in tackling Perrault, that may be another peak where an early season ascent would avoid much devil's club.
I slept past my alarm this morning and got to the MEC Grand opening too late (anyone get a gift card?), so I decided a quick bag of Strachan was in order. The fog on Cypress Bowl Road was so thick I almost turned around. Luckily I didn't, and the fog cleared just as I got to the parking lot.
The HSCT was still snow covered but manageable without microspikes or an ice axe having stared at 10:30. Christmas Gully shows evidence of its yearly avalanche cycle. Wouldn't want to be there for one of them. I made due with a fortuitous piece of avv debris as a makeshift axe. Not recommended, but highly effective. Hung out briefly on the North summit waiting for intermittant views of the Lions, then retreated via the South summit and various ski runs.
Got on the bike heading for Rice Lake to do the Lynn and Needles sweep this morning. Saw they were in cloud and pushed the abort button. Would have been a good TCT day with lots of sun in the valley. 0 points for me today.
Go Matt Go. Have to find a Vancouver Mountains web cam. Can't see them from the house.
Close to buying an Alpaka Packraft, the ultimate amphibious vehicle for the DIY bagger.
Today, the first day of summer, I went up to the snow. After a slog up the BCMC, I continued through the throngs of tourists, past lumberjacks and grizzly bears and onward to Dam (DAM). There was snow as soon as I hit the road to the trailhead but it was warm and easy. I sat at the top for a couple minutes, then had a nice slippy, slidey time coming down. I won't tell you about how I creamed myself on the way down St. Georges trail a while later and had to hobble and hop my way out of the forest and back to the Grouse parking lot, because that would just be a downer and I'm here to be happy... it's summer!
Parked at BP trailhead (exit 2). Caught the Cormorant water taxi to Gambier from Horseshoe Bay on Saturday morning. On Saturdays they typically leave at 8:45 and get to Fircom by 9:30. Cost is $25pp. Call Brian at 604-250-2630 to make a reservation. They leave from the public dock next to Sewell's marina near the Boathouse.
Had a good track of the route which helped a lot. It's very easy to get off track as there are trails and old roads crossing the island at virtually every bay. Headed across the well marked route over Artiban to the dock at Brigade Bay to set up for water bag 2. Headed over Burt's Bluff and descended cross country down to Lost Lake. The final section to the top and down to the lake is a route only. There is some flagging but you're essentially heading through the forest. It's very easy to go wrong at the lake as it is the intersection of about 5 trails and the cross island route does not start directly at the lake. Headed along the cross island trail towards Gambier Lake going wrong at one point along the road that goes to Douglas Bay causing a 20 minute delay. Quickly retraced my steps and headed uphill to Gambier Lake which was reached at 3:40pm. Then up the now well flagged route to Gambier and Liddell. Was surprised to find snow on the upper ridge. From Liddell, headed directly down an unflagged route to Lilypad Lake negotiating a number of cliff bands in the process. The ideal descent would probably follow the creek slightly further west. Reached the lake at 7:00pm, too late to attempt Killam, so headed down the road to New Brighton.
Reached New Brighton at 8:10, well past the last sailing of the Stormaway which left at 6:50. Managed to hitch a ride with an islander that was just heading to Langdale at the same time. Normal fair for the Stormaway is $7.50. Another option if arriving late is Gambier Water Taxi, 604-740-1133, which charges $75 for the crossing to Langdale. The last Langdale ferry to Horseshoe Bay leaves at 8:45.
ART*, GBU*, GAM, LID* (note: LID reached water on the descent, does that count?)
Conclusion: It's not possible to catch the Cormorant Water Taxi on one side and make it to the last Stormaway sailing if doing the full island sweep in 1 day since it takes at least 12 hours. Next time, I'd throw in a lightweight sleeping bag, stay on the island, and catch the first Stormaway sailing back at 7:45am.
Drove to the BP trailhead parking lot (take exit 2) on Saturday morning. It was the beginning of the long weekend and I got one of the last spots. There are no overnight restrictions in this lot so many islanders use it for free weekend parking. There was even a boat trailer left here. In any case, its the premium Horseshoe Bay parking spot for the island challenges. Rode onto the 6:00am ferry with the mountain bike with a handful of other passengers. It was a very quiet ride. Did the typical Gardner loop which crosses both south and north summits. The day was clear so there were great views from the towers although it was looking a bit hazy in the Vancouver area. Cycled back to Snug Cove in prep for a 2nd water bag and then out Miller road to the east side of Collins. Found a new subdivision with a road that goes almost to the level of the reservoir approx 1/2 km to the south. Made my way through reatively open forest to the top and the distinguishing fishing net that's draped there. Headed back down the same way using my Samsung Galaxy tab to help with navigation. Then back to Snug Cove with the bike for water bag 3, Mt Apodaca. Headed along Grafton road to the access road on the NW side of Apodaca which was gated this year but no problem for bike access. Found the summit cairn and ski pole this year just a few yards from where I was last year. Both Apodaca and Collins are treed summits that require traversing watershed areas so stealth travel is required. That's all part of the challenge of the Challenge! Headed back to the Snug Cove dock, ice cream, and a folk band while waiting for the 3:00pm ferry back. An enjoyable kick off to the 2012 season.
Baggermeister: Gardner, Collins, and Apodaca triple water bag s'il vous plait.
Added Suicide Bluff, which as a prominence of 57m. Easily accessible from Seymour Parking lot. For trail, see: http://www.clubtread.com/routes/Route.aspx?Route=994
To those who would follow, the boulder field and plateau on Black Mt. are both pretty sloppy right now if you don't have snowshoes. Post-holing a-pleanty. Still, nice to get in my first bag of the season - and a waterbag to boot.
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 7 April, 2012 - 11:01.
Perfect spring evening on Thursday. Got the call from Phillip indicating in strong terms that the time had come for us to go snowboarding. Who am I to argue?
Drove to Grouse. Took the skyride (cable car) to the alpine area where it was a winter wonderland with a breathtaking panoramic view that took in Vancouver Island, the Orcas, the mountains of northern Washington state (including a snow-covered Mount Baker). Took the Olympic chair to near the peak of Grouse Mountain. Ran about 3 meters with the snowboard to the peak of GRO.
Celebrated with a pitcher of Granville Island Winter Ale... which tasted especially good as it was on sale!
Comments
First bags of the year
Hi Dave,
Put me down for SNE, LYN, SLY, please.
From LSCR parking lot, down Homestead, up Fishermans & Hydraulic Creek Trails. North to the South Needle. On the way back to trail junction I picked off that little flat-topped bump just south of the South Needle. The found the rock cairn marking the true Lynn Peak, plus summited every other little bump I could see as I worked towards the tourista lookout point. Back down the main Lynn Peak Trail to the parking lot.
Rick
Add Black too, please
I'll claim Black too Dave, the KKNSTR "freebie".
Waterbag of GRO
Put me down for an Ambelside to Grouse waterbag on June 12. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188772351#.T-0-AOorgR0.email
Thanks
Welcome to the Bagging Season, Bill!
DAC
St. Mark's (MAR) with Jess
Out-and-back from Cypress Bowl this morning to St. Mark's (MAR) with Jess.
Thanks.
GPS Track: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228230568
de Pencier Bluffs (DEP) Adventure Diaper Bag with Jess
Earlier in the week, Jess and I were looking for some easy baggage to get in (with Sierra on back) on a Saturday morning before my son's soccer game a 2pm in North Vancouver. Scanning our brand-new North Shore Trail Map (love it -- waterproof; tearproof; Sierra-proof), de Pencier Bluffs looked like a good choice. On top of that, the weather forecast was continuing to look awesome for at least the next 7 days so we were hoping to get some good views in a direction we don't usually get.
The week goes on ... the weather forecast degrades. Sigh. Oh well, at least will get a quick bag in. Who knows, we might even have time to bag Suicide Bluffs too!
Saturday morning. Forecast now shows drizzle. Not to be turned off by a little bit of water in the air, off we headed. We arrived at the Seymour parking lot to misty conditions with poor visibility but it was raining and was still relatively warm. Neither of us had been to de Pencier Bluffs before but it looked pretty straight forward -- a simple hike up to Mystery Lake and then take a right not far past that.
First hitch. Due to construction in the Seymour 2 detour options are provided to get up the mountain. Head left out of the parking lot to go up the trail and ski run towards Mount Seymour, Mt. Elsay, etc. or go right and then up a different ski run to Mystery Lake. The right option seemed like the most direct option so off we went.
Problem is, once directed off on the detour, the Parks decides to abandon you and give you no further direction to get you back were you want to be. After about 1 km we came out to a nice little lake (Goldie Lake, we later deduced) and a trail junction with directions to various places we'd had no intention of going. No mention of Mystery Lake. One of the trails mentioned was the Perimetter Trail which I recalled seeing on the map in the vicinity of the Bluffs so, if nothing else, we figured we could go that way.
A few minutes later another trail junction and another sign directing you to "Deep Cove Lookout via Permitter Trail". Did this mean this was the trail to Deep Cove Lookout or was it the direction to the trail to Deep Cove Lookout. If it was the latter, we figured we'd come to a T intersection and be able to go in the direction away from the Lookout. Shrug. Let's assume it's the latter. Off we went.
Not long later we come to another intersection -- Deep Cove Lookout right; Dead End Trail left. Also, way up on a tree, a much older "Permitter Trail" sign which seemed to imply that Dead End Trail was actually Permitter Trail in the direction we wanted to go. Dead End Trail it is then.
According to the map, Permitter Trail is what's classified as a "secondary" trail which, we later surmised, basically means "Nice knowing you. Who should we call when you don't come back?"
To be fair, Permitter Trail was not that badly marked. This a good thing because the trail seems to be so rarely used, is covered in significantly-sized fallen trees and is so overgrown that, without the markings, you often wouldn't be able to tell there was a trail at all. Perfect conditions for hiking with infant on back. Jess took the lead for most of it but failed miserably at her prime task (in my view) of brushing all of the water off of the bushes before Sierra and I got to them. Despite being physically dampened, our spirts were not. On we pushed with fingers crossed that we could actually come out somewhere.
Not sure how long it took (45 minutes - 1 hour?) but eventually we came to a "junction" in the middle of the forest with a sign pointing to de Mystery Lake and Pencier Bluffs in one direction and "Ski Lodge" in the other. (I put junction in quotes because we couldn't really see a trail in the Ski Lodge direction. I'm sure it was there.)
The trail got a bit steeper at this point. Not crazy steep but steep enough that we both hoped we wouldn't have to come back down it. Finally we climb one last steep pitch and come out to a considerably better travelled and maintained trail.
We can see some bluffs just off to the right so that seems like the direction to go. 5 minutes later we're on some bluffs that we can imagine must have some spectacular views. We are forced to imagine because we can't see diddly squat. Are these the de Pencier Bluffs? It bothers me that on the other side of the trail there's an outcrop that is probably about 20 m higher but no obvious way to get to it.
We head a bit further on the trail and starts to go downhhill. We start to think that we should have gone left when we came out to the good trail. We turn around and head back past where we'd come up. 5 minutes later. Crap! The trail to Mystery Lake from the chairlift. Wrong way.
Turn around. Back past the bluff we'd wondered about and downhill (not very far). No long later we see some big bluffs on our right. These must be de Pencier. Hike a bit further through a nice little meadow looking for trails off to the right. Don't see any. The trail starts to head uphill into the mist. Maybe the bluffs are further ahead yet. 10 minutes later. Double crap! Mystery Chair again! The previous bluffs on the right must have been de Pencier and we somehow missed the trail.
Jess: "Are we going to go back?"
Bill: "Yup."
Jess "Damn!"
Back we go. Downhill to the meadow the meadow (bluffs now on left). While in the meadow, Jess spies a piece of flagging tape up on the ridge to the bluff. Must be some way to get to it. 5 minutes further. Well that's a pretty obvious trail (from this direction)! 10 minutes later and we're on top of the bluff. Again, amazing views from the top (we imagine). 2:03 to the top.
We spend a few minutes taking snaps and looking around before heading down (the easy way). I joke. "I bet it will take less than 1 hour to get down." Back to Mystery Chair and down back to the parking lot. Descent time: 41 minutes.
No time for Suicide Bluffs today (we wouldn't be able to see anything anyway). It would have been boring going the proper way anyway. :-)
Photos: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCdc3iW
GPS Track: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228230558
Diaper Baggage - GOA; DAM; LIL
Diaper bagged GOA, DAM and LIL with Jess (& Sierra) today. I already had DAM and LIL so just GOA for me.
For Jess, she enters the list with:
And, also, BLA from Knee Knacker (stale, I know).
Thanks
GPS Track: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228230501
DAM, CRO and maybe LIL
Here's my route from today.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/212166263
I don't know if I was at the top of Little Goat (LIL) or not. I followed the trail that said Little Goat from end to end and did a side excursion to what seemed like the highest point in the area. There were a couple of little lakes there but nothing that was obviously a peak. Was I in the right spot? Maybe you can tell from the GPS track.
Thanks
Please add 3 more
Yesterday did SNE, LYN & SLY.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/210274131
Thanks.
Oh! Already done, I see. You're fast! Cheers
Two more for the list.
Thanks David. Might as well add the following to my list now :-)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/194817550#.T_DZfCWG9Bg.email
My bagging secrets
Here they are, the tracks and routes to get you to the tops of the most peaks in the least days.
This is a work in progress but feel free to use as needed:
http://millsoft.ca/maurer/BaggersGuide/
Needle and Lynn sweep
Finally, a sunny day!
Parked the bike at the Learning Center near the LSCR parking lot yesterday (June 25), ran 5km to Hydraulic Creek, then up to the col between the Needles and Lynn peaks. Headed north over South, Middle, and North needle. Got to snow after South Needle and used the ice axe. The hiking boots were definitely required (over runners). I didn’t use the crampons. The snow was soft enough in most places that I could kick steps when required. The route to Middle and North Needle was a bit technical involving some rock scrambling and steeper snow slopes. It was slow progress having to go out and back over the same terrain. Once back and over Lynn Peaks I could keep going south down the regular Lynn Peak trail and back to my bike at the Learning Center. That part was a nice loop. Got some good photos. The trail does not go over the real Lynn Peak but skirts around it. It is on the south end of the summit contour in a clearing facing south. It has a rocky outcrop, with a boulder on it which has a summit cairn on top. The clearing on the north end of the summit contour with the bent tree that the trail passes through and has lots of flagging is not the "real" summit. There is slightly less snow in the Middle and North Needles area than there was at the same time last year. Time this year was close to 9 hours and distance was 22km.
Next time I'd like to approach from Norvan and traverse the ridge cleanly from north to south and avoid any out and back sections. There's a technical section to cross gaining access to the ridge north of North Needle on this approach.
Well done Bill! Have you ever
Well done Bill! Have you ever done the traverse later in the season? The blueberry bushes make things a bit nasty. I'd imagine that the ridge is a lot more civilized this time of year.
If you (or anyone else, for that matter) is interested in tackling Perrault, that may be another peak where an early season ascent would avoid much devil's club.
scope out Ryan C's writeup of the Norvan - Needles traverse
In relative terms, if even Ryan found it to be a dicey route, then I'd wager that it is a near-death experience.
Hollyburn
Knocked off Hollyburn this morning. It's sloppy on the BP right now so watch out!
Let the Baggage begin!
Bagger Challenge generally open today.
Strachan in the fog
I slept past my alarm this morning and got to the MEC Grand opening too late (anyone get a gift card?), so I decided a quick bag of Strachan was in order. The fog on Cypress Bowl Road was so thick I almost turned around. Luckily I didn't, and the fog cleared just as I got to the parking lot.
The HSCT was still snow covered but manageable without microspikes or an ice axe having stared at 10:30. Christmas Gully shows evidence of its yearly avalanche cycle. Wouldn't want to be there for one of them. I made due with a fortuitous piece of avv debris as a makeshift axe. Not recommended, but highly effective. Hung out briefly on the North summit waiting for intermittant views of the Lions, then retreated via the South summit and various ski runs.
lynn and needles
Got on the bike heading for Rice Lake to do the Lynn and Needles sweep this morning. Saw they were in cloud and pushed the abort button. Would have been a good TCT day with lots of sun in the valley. 0 points for me today.
Go Matt Go. Have to find a Vancouver Mountains web cam. Can't see them from the house.
Close to buying an Alpaka Packraft, the ultimate amphibious vehicle for the DIY bagger.
Dam.
Today, the first day of summer, I went up to the snow. After a slog up the BCMC, I continued through the throngs of tourists, past lumberjacks and grizzly bears and onward to Dam (DAM). There was snow as soon as I hit the road to the trailhead but it was warm and easy. I sat at the top for a couple minutes, then had a nice slippy, slidey time coming down. I won't tell you about how I creamed myself on the way down St. Georges trail a while later and had to hobble and hop my way out of the forest and back to the Grouse parking lot, because that would just be a downer and I'm here to be happy... it's summer!
Black Bag
Claiming Black Mountain (BLA). Here's a photo of Mike Wardas and me at the lofty summit as documentary proof. (Taken during the Vancouver 100)
Gambier Sweep, almost
Parked at BP trailhead (exit 2). Caught the Cormorant water taxi to Gambier from Horseshoe Bay on Saturday morning. On Saturdays they typically leave at 8:45 and get to Fircom by 9:30. Cost is $25pp. Call Brian at 604-250-2630 to make a reservation. They leave from the public dock next to Sewell's marina near the Boathouse.
Had a good track of the route which helped a lot. It's very easy to get off track as there are trails and old roads crossing the island at virtually every bay. Headed across the well marked route over Artiban to the dock at Brigade Bay to set up for water bag 2. Headed over Burt's Bluff and descended cross country down to Lost Lake. The final section to the top and down to the lake is a route only. There is some flagging but you're essentially heading through the forest. It's very easy to go wrong at the lake as it is the intersection of about 5 trails and the cross island route does not start directly at the lake. Headed along the cross island trail towards Gambier Lake going wrong at one point along the road that goes to Douglas Bay causing a 20 minute delay. Quickly retraced my steps and headed uphill to Gambier Lake which was reached at 3:40pm. Then up the now well flagged route to Gambier and Liddell. Was surprised to find snow on the upper ridge. From Liddell, headed directly down an unflagged route to Lilypad Lake negotiating a number of cliff bands in the process. The ideal descent would probably follow the creek slightly further west. Reached the lake at 7:00pm, too late to attempt Killam, so headed down the road to New Brighton.
Reached New Brighton at 8:10, well past the last sailing of the Stormaway which left at 6:50. Managed to hitch a ride with an islander that was just heading to Langdale at the same time. Normal fair for the Stormaway is $7.50. Another option if arriving late is Gambier Water Taxi, 604-740-1133, which charges $75 for the crossing to Langdale. The last Langdale ferry to Horseshoe Bay leaves at 8:45.
ART*, GBU*, GAM, LID* (note: LID reached water on the descent, does that count?)
Conclusion: It's not possible to catch the Cormorant Water Taxi on one side and make it to the last Stormaway sailing if doing the full island sweep in 1 day since it takes at least 12 hours. Next time, I'd throw in a lightweight sleeping bag, stay on the island, and catch the first Stormaway sailing back at 7:45am.
Bowen Sweep
Time to wade into the 2012 challenge!
Drove to the BP trailhead parking lot (take exit 2) on Saturday morning. It was the beginning of the long weekend and I got one of the last spots. There are no overnight restrictions in this lot so many islanders use it for free weekend parking. There was even a boat trailer left here. In any case, its the premium Horseshoe Bay parking spot for the island challenges. Rode onto the 6:00am ferry with the mountain bike with a handful of other passengers. It was a very quiet ride. Did the typical Gardner loop which crosses both south and north summits. The day was clear so there were great views from the towers although it was looking a bit hazy in the Vancouver area. Cycled back to Snug Cove in prep for a 2nd water bag and then out Miller road to the east side of Collins. Found a new subdivision with a road that goes almost to the level of the reservoir approx 1/2 km to the south. Made my way through reatively open forest to the top and the distinguishing fishing net that's draped there. Headed back down the same way using my Samsung Galaxy tab to help with navigation. Then back to Snug Cove with the bike for water bag 3, Mt Apodaca. Headed along Grafton road to the access road on the NW side of Apodaca which was gated this year but no problem for bike access. Found the summit cairn and ski pole this year just a few yards from where I was last year. Both Apodaca and Collins are treed summits that require traversing watershed areas so stealth travel is required. That's all part of the challenge of the Challenge! Headed back to the Snug Cove dock, ice cream, and a folk band while waiting for the 3:00pm ferry back. An enjoyable kick off to the 2012 season.
Baggermeister: Gardner, Collins, and Apodaca triple water bag s'il vous plait.
welcome back, Munro Champion!
how many deer skeletons and grow-ops did you see on Apodaca?
Suicide Bluff
Added Suicide Bluff, which as a prominence of 57m. Easily accessible from Seymour Parking lot. For trail, see: http://www.clubtread.com/routes/Route.aspx?Route=994
Black Mt from Eagle Harbour*
To those who would follow, the boulder field and plateau on Black Mt. are both pretty sloppy right now if you don't have snowshoes. Post-holing a-pleanty. Still, nice to get in my first bag of the season - and a waterbag to boot.
GRO in the Snow
Perfect spring evening on Thursday. Got the call from Phillip indicating in strong terms that the time had come for us to go snowboarding. Who am I to argue?
Drove to Grouse. Took the skyride (cable car) to the alpine area where it was a winter wonderland with a breathtaking panoramic view that took in Vancouver Island, the Orcas, the mountains of northern Washington state (including a snow-covered Mount Baker). Took the Olympic chair to near the peak of Grouse Mountain. Ran about 3 meters with the snowboard to the peak of GRO.
Celebrated with a pitcher of Granville Island Winter Ale... which tasted especially good as it was on sale!
Was that with or without
oxygen assistance?
Caution: avalanche danger on HIGH these days
Don't rush out to bag the front row yet.