Submitted by Rick Arikado on 14 July, 2010 - 20:43.
This weekend it's something easy, tapering. Then FatDog100. Then a weekend of points building/recovery/taper. Then Stormy100. Then recovery/anniversary.
I've been cherry-pickin a few Bagger peaks to build the # up to look like I am in the game, but it is all for show.
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 14 July, 2010 - 20:17.
I'm with Killaine... if you don't know what mountain you are on, it's time to call it a day. Given the inquisition I had to deal with in front of the Bagger Council last year WRT Gotha Peak, you'd better come up with some solid evidence if you're to stand an icicle's chance in Hell of getting a baggage claim after a statement like that! =;-)
It seems like only yesterday that I saw David Crerar gorfing his guts out at kilometer 4 of the KneeKnacker, JP impaled on a pine tree and Gottfried, the poster boy, moaning in pain with a shattered tibia.
Gawd I love it! Hot donuts after a 50K. Going for #18 this year. Gotta outlive Ron Adams, David Brown, Neil Wakelin and Ron Nicholl!
Which brings us back to the Bagger Challenge. Does the KKNSTR go over the "true" summit of Black Mountain or do I have to make a detour to bag the sucker while in the race?
Submitted by Rick Arikado on 7 July, 2010 - 08:15.
I seriously doubt that anyone who ran KKSTR last year and claimed a bag of Black Mtn did the little side step to the east to stand on the higher bit of rock. Crerar is the final judge, but I doubt he wants to re-open the 2009 standings for two steps up a piece of granite.
BTW - Pace, Legg, myself and a few others DID stand on the higher plane yesterday during our KK course marking. Dave - count me in for a bag of Black!
Submitted by David Crerar on 7 July, 2010 - 11:24.
I trust that no one will exploit this leniency, but no one should be de-peaked for not standing on the precise highest millimetre of a given mountain.
To hit the chunk of rock that constitutes true Artaban Peak, for example, one must get semi-intimate with a pine tree (I confess that I did this, and do not wish it upon anyone).
Where the BPT passes within two paces of the highest chunk of rock on Black Mountain, it should count as a bag. Extra admiration (and perhaps pity) to those bagging purists who scamper around the afrighted aid stations volunteers and over the top.
All this chatter about Black made me think I should bag it - so I did. Please add Black to my total David.
BTW: David, thanks so much for all your work to organizing and keeping this event going for many long and busy months. It is no small task, so my sincere thanks!
I think I know the answer...if you do a peak more than once do you get a point each time you do it, or is each peak only counted once. Please say it is only counted once :) and save me from spending the next 3 months running up and down Lynn peak 600 times!
Submitted by Rick Arikado on 7 July, 2010 - 07:54.
Missed your yellow snow message - possibly "pluma diminuta" issues? I hear you got yourself a real job, maybe you can scarf a bigger pen from the supply closet there
I had more than my fill of running through snow of any hue at Scorched Sole. Fromme last weekend was nothing like the miles we slogged (twice!) through the cr*p in Kelowna. Toss up this coming Sunday between driving out to Squamish or bagging Dam Mtn plus ??.
Yesterday's KK trail marking jaunt up Black was happily completely without a trace of snow - lotsa nice black mud though.
It was a cool and gray day today. However, since the CBC promised sunny weather in the afternoon, a trio of baggers decided to go for a double bag.
We set out from the End of the Line cafe in North Vancouver. Bernhard rode his bike while Cubbon and Jackson ran. The route took us past the LSCR gazebo and up the paved LSCR trail approximately 5.5K to the Hydrolic Creek picnic area. Total time: 45 minutes.
Bernhard stashed his bike in the woods and we "man bagged" the Needles trail roughly 1 hour to the saddle. It was then about an hour to the true summit of Lynn Peak. (Note to other baggers: the scenic summit of Lynn Mountain is *not* the true peak. The true peak is a useless knob of rock and pine trees with no view whatsoever, but it is the true peak, so be prepared to suck it up and keep on running if you plan to ascend Lynn Peak from the other side and hope that it will count for points in the Bagger Challenge!)
Paul was running a bit late (yes, my guesstimate of total run time was off by about 2 hours), so he and Bernhard decided to let me continue alone to the cloud-shrouded Needles. No problem. Check out my photos. Double bag for Jackson. Yahoo!
So I'm hammering down the narrow trail hoping to catch the dudes back at the car before they decide to drop me and make me run an extra 10K home to the beer fridge, and who do I see about 10 minutes from the Needles? Yes: Bernhard and Paul... who had somehow missed the obvious turnoff back down the hill and climbed about 2/3 up the final push to the Needles! Snooze, ya lose, boys... 1 peak for you, 2 for me!
Anyway, we wasted no time dropping back down the man bag trail back to the paved LSCR trail (45 minutes) and from there, it was 45 minutes to the car.
Total run time from the car and back: 4.5 hours.
Paul Cubbon and Bernhard Neugirg - Lynn Peak
"Back in Action" Jackson - Lynn + Needles
After being stood up today for my planned bushwhack on Bowen, Pamela Keck and Sibylle microbagged Black Mountain today. 40min up and 35min down. Definitely much shorter than I had in mind! Very little snow, a bit more mud ;-)
Seeking some peace in the mountains, Guy and I decided to head up the South Needle today. We cycled from home to Hydraulic Creek and took that route up in the rain and fog. It was soggy. It was steep. I swore a lot. I fell a lot on the way down. I did not like Hydraulic Creek. I can't remember disliking a hike so much, however, as sometimes happens with these seemingly pointless and annoying slogs, the view on top as the fog lifted momentarily made it all worthwhile. It had a bit of a big mountain feel to it and fabulous views of the city and the surrounding terrain. We and tried to scope out where the route to the Middle Needle might go - need to learn more about that one. For the meantime, please add South Needle to our tallies.
If you mean steepness, it is that. The only time it stops being steep is when it gets steeper. I think it is a man-bag - it takes more muscle than most hikes. The steepness really turns it into a gym-like workout. Going up is like doing 6000 calf raises; going down is like doing 6000 deep knee bends. I just kept thinking of the chocolate ice cream in my freezer, and that got me through it. That said Sibylle, although higher on the suffering scale than most hikes, you can do this hike and you should! Like me, you may curse the entire time but it builds character and being on top is glorious. If it pushes your limits, that's always a good feeling. Just be sure to go on a dry day. There are a few scrambley bits towards the top and the wet/mossy rock in yesterday's rain made it a bit slick. There is one spot about 30 m down from the peak which is clearly exposed and where slipping is not an option. You'll see it when you get there, it is where you first get awesome views. Just stay in or very close to the bushes on the right of the rocks so you have lots to hold on to. I've not done the Lynn approach but it would definitely be less steep, but you'd still have to deal with the scrambling and exposed bit. Go for it!
Thanks for the encouragement, Killaine. Not too worried about steepness, but don't have much tolerance for exposed rocks... Will never be a contender for the 50 peaks ;-(
My partners for Bowen all bailed/didn't show today, so I changed plans and will head up Hollyburn or Black with another friend later this pm. Do you have GPS data for Collins?
Hey Sibylle, we do not have GPS data for the route. We use the GPS to orient us along the way but not to generally track the routes we travel. We only let it run if we're concerned about being off track.
Could you please add Lynn, Hollyburn, and Grouse to my tally. I did them all today in my day of micro-bagging. There is tonnes of snow on Hollyburn, the other two were fine and remarkably quiet for a weekend (I guess it's the rain). Guy did just Grouse.
Pat Barry, Claudia Bullington and myself happily bagged Mt Fromme today. First bag of the season!
Started at Skyline/Powerline, BP east, Old Grouse Highway, detour to the Kwai Bridge, Witches Broom, Per Gynt, Bills Trail, South Summit: returned via unnamed trail to intersection with Pipeline Trail and Eric the Red, followed Pipeline to Mountain Highway, down Mountain Highway, down Old Grouse Highway back to the BP and Skyline. 5h round trip, still quite a bit of snow on the peak and downhill stretch. Heard 3 owls, multiple Grouse', saw a woodpecker and ate salmon berries and fiddleheads. Great afternoon all around! Blog post of the day is here.
Submitted by David Crerar on 20 June, 2010 - 21:59.
Spot the gnomes on the true summit of Gardner.
Don't be deceived by the two false cairn summits to the south or the flashy viewpoint summit (but lower by 10m) to the north, at the helicopter pad: look for the teepee and the (spanking new) direction sign.
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 21 June, 2010 - 07:28.
You are a master negotiator, Mr. Crerar. No amount of convincing, cajoling, threatening or otherwise would see my gnomes join me on such an epic expedition. Did you have to hide Easter eggs along the trail for the gnomes?
Just a question, but what if a gnome, a hound or a brass pig were to bag the most peaks in the 2010 North Shore Bagger Challenge? Would they drink Scotch whiskey from the quaich of victory?
On our second try Guy and I waterbagged Liddell today. It was 9 hours of cycling, running, hiking, and bushwacking. We knew the route because we came close last time, so had no route finding difficulties we just pushed right through. It was a long day even though we moved at a good and consistent pace. Our running was slightly hampered by our hiking boots, but it was a good choice given the wetness in the upper part. Guy (who, by the way, says: "bushwack, what bushwack, that's nothing.") GPS'ed us through the "bushwack" with precision.
Honestly, I don't believe there is any way short of sheer luck that you can start from New Brighton, find the peak, and make the 6:30 ferry from Langdale without a GPS. A GPS is absolutely essential, and gloves are also a recommended item. Clue to those yet to try it: you need to find the white square markers with black stripes after you're out of the bushwack, in order to make it to the peak. They mark the last 200 metres or so.
In the end, and after having spent far more time exploring Gambier than I'd ever thought I would, I think a great way to do the Gambier peaks would be taking a water taxi to Artaban, doing Artaban then hiking through to Gambier Lake, overnighting there, doing Liddell in the morning followed by Killam and hiking out to New Brighton.
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 21 June, 2010 - 07:23.
Great job of bagging Liddell! WRT our earlier chat, it could be a decent trail with a little love. A bit of a letdown at the "peak" however, don't you think?
I thought a lot about our conversation about creating a trail. I am conflicted. I couldn't help but think that if there was a nice clean trail up Liddell it wouldn't be the challenge it is, and the Baggers Challenge wouldn't be the challenge it is. It would really just be a long walk-up with no particular draw or uniqueness.
I agree, more people would do it, but they can do Killam and many others and get pretty much the same thing. So, while I agree a nice trail is a nice thing, I don't think a nice trail on that mountain is a challenge and thus my quandary. Another consideration could be related to the "Growth and Yield" flagging I saw up there. I don't know if it was or currently is a research plot, or if someone just wandered up and used that flagging for their own purposes, but if it is a G&Y plot you'd probably need permission of BC to cut a trail. Maybe that's why the trail ends where it does?
BTW: do you know we did 1600 metres of climbing to do a 900 metre peak. Now that's a challenge, and perhaps a silly one at that!
While Vancouver 100 runners were sleeping, soaking in Epsom salts or washing mud, blood and sweat out of their gear, two diligent Baggers eliminated another peak from their summer To-Do list.
Ken MacLeod and Ean Jackson hereby lay claim to Bowen Island's Mount Gardiner.
New to the Bagger Challenge, MacLeod made a penetrating observation: there is a higher shitbag peak and a lower, more popular tourist peak to Gardiner, but there is only one true peak to Gardiner. Are all Baggers bagging the correct peak? Food for thought at the next Bagger Council meeting!
For those who follow, we recommend you take the Gardiner Hardiner trail via the south, as it leads to the true peak. The Hardiner is a nice trail that is clearly marked with red tin can lids. Be sure to follow the trail named Skid Road.
Macleod wiped out at the bottom of Gardiner and skinned hands and one knee. I was ambushed by a large rock at a hairpin corner shortly thereafter. We looked like quite the pair to the well-dressed older women in the coffee shop.
Total round-trip from the ferry to the top of Gardiner and back was just over 2.5 hours. According to the Hardiner scale, that would make us both demi-Gods. While we did the run at a decent pace, it was hardly that of a demi-God, so I suspect most Baggers should budget between 2-3 hours at a moderate pace all-in.
Comments
Further away than that
This weekend it's something easy, tapering. Then FatDog100. Then a weekend of points building/recovery/taper. Then Stormy100. Then recovery/anniversary.
I've been cherry-pickin a few Bagger peaks to build the # up to look like I am in the game, but it is all for show.
Dear Craig,
it is time to go home if you're not sure if you are on Seymour :)
WTF?
I'm with Killaine... if you don't know what mountain you are on, it's time to call it a day. Given the inquisition I had to deal with in front of the Bagger Council last year WRT Gotha Peak, you'd better come up with some solid evidence if you're to stand an icicle's chance in Hell of getting a baggage claim after a statement like that! =;-)
He is safely off the
He is safely off the mountain and thinks he didn't reach the final peak of Seymour. Something for Judge Crerar to figure out ;-)
Fromme bagged
Paul Cubbon and Wendy Montgomery bagged Fromme yesterday.
Start: Capilano Road & Handsworth
-Nancy Greene Way
-Powerline to Mosquito Creek
-Baden Powell, St. George's Trail, Peer Gynt
-Mountain Hwy to Pipeline
-North Peak, South Peak, Bill's Trail to Mtn Hwy
-Peer Gynt, St. George's Trail, paved roads to finish
Finish: Capilano Road & Handsworth
Good trip report and snow condition summary of HSCT peaks
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35944
Still very snowy.
Dam bagged
Another snowy, slushy slog - mark me down for the Dam bag, please. http://www.clubfatass.com/blog/rick-arikado/through-dam-backdoor
Harry Crerar: first bagger to bag HOL in 2010
still some snow and a large, dangerous crow on top.
Wendy bagged Grouse Peak
Wendy bagged Grouse Peak when marking the Seek the Peak course last week. One waterbag point for her, please!
Black Mountain and KKNSTR
Ah yes, it's that time of the year again: www.kneeknacker.com
It seems like only yesterday that I saw David Crerar gorfing his guts out at kilometer 4 of the KneeKnacker, JP impaled on a pine tree and Gottfried, the poster boy, moaning in pain with a shattered tibia.
Gawd I love it! Hot donuts after a 50K. Going for #18 this year. Gotta outlive Ron Adams, David Brown, Neil Wakelin and Ron Nicholl!
Which brings us back to the Bagger Challenge. Does the KKNSTR go over the "true" summit of Black Mountain or do I have to make a detour to bag the sucker while in the race?
I think you might need to
I think you might need to plan in for a 5min detour... ;-)
close enough?
Well Ean, it is the honour system so if your conscience is ok with claiming a peak you didn't actually bag, you go for it :)
Circle aid station 1?
I seriously doubt that anyone who ran KKSTR last year and claimed a bag of Black Mtn did the little side step to the east to stand on the higher bit of rock. Crerar is the final judge, but I doubt he wants to re-open the 2009 standings for two steps up a piece of granite.
BTW - Pace, Legg, myself and a few others DID stand on the higher plane yesterday during our KK course marking. Dave - count me in for a bag of Black!
Black Baggers
Ken MacLeod and I bagged the "true" peak of Black Mountain this morning. http://www.flickr.com/photos/clubfatass/4781227091/
BTW, it appears I did *not* bag the true peak of Black Mtn last year.
Black Peak
I trust that no one will exploit this leniency, but no one should be de-peaked for not standing on the precise highest millimetre of a given mountain.
To hit the chunk of rock that constitutes true Artaban Peak, for example, one must get semi-intimate with a pine tree (I confess that I did this, and do not wish it upon anyone).
Where the BPT passes within two paces of the highest chunk of rock on Black Mountain, it should count as a bag. Extra admiration (and perhaps pity) to those bagging purists who scamper around the afrighted aid stations volunteers and over the top.
Black - Check
All this chatter about Black made me think I should bag it - so I did. Please add Black to my total David.
BTW: David, thanks so much for all your work to organizing and keeping this event going for many long and busy months. It is no small task, so my sincere thanks!
Question
I think I know the answer...if you do a peak more than once do you get a point each time you do it, or is each peak only counted once. Please say it is only counted once :) and save me from spending the next 3 months running up and down Lynn peak 600 times!
Ha ha ha
Nice try!
Finally in the game
...or at least one checked off the list for me. See tale at www.clubfatass.com/blog/rick-arikado/fromme-dumb-way and put me down for Fromme.
Thanks
Rick
I was wondering where you were
Glad to hear you are still in the land of the living. Did you see the greeting in yellow in the snow I left for you?
Enough snow for this year
Missed your yellow snow message - possibly "pluma diminuta" issues? I hear you got yourself a real job, maybe you can scarf a bigger pen from the supply closet there
I had more than my fill of running through snow of any hue at Scorched Sole. Fromme last weekend was nothing like the miles we slogged (twice!) through the cr*p in Kelowna. Toss up this coming Sunday between driving out to Squamish or bagging Dam Mtn plus ??.
Yesterday's KK trail marking jaunt up Black was happily completely without a trace of snow - lotsa nice black mud though.
The Needles and Lynn Peak are Bagged!
It was a cool and gray day today. However, since the CBC promised sunny weather in the afternoon, a trio of baggers decided to go for a double bag.
We set out from the End of the Line cafe in North Vancouver. Bernhard rode his bike while Cubbon and Jackson ran. The route took us past the LSCR gazebo and up the paved LSCR trail approximately 5.5K to the Hydrolic Creek picnic area. Total time: 45 minutes.
Bernhard stashed his bike in the woods and we "man bagged" the Needles trail roughly 1 hour to the saddle. It was then about an hour to the true summit of Lynn Peak. (Note to other baggers: the scenic summit of Lynn Mountain is *not* the true peak. The true peak is a useless knob of rock and pine trees with no view whatsoever, but it is the true peak, so be prepared to suck it up and keep on running if you plan to ascend Lynn Peak from the other side and hope that it will count for points in the Bagger Challenge!)
Paul was running a bit late (yes, my guesstimate of total run time was off by about 2 hours), so he and Bernhard decided to let me continue alone to the cloud-shrouded Needles. No problem. Check out my photos. Double bag for Jackson. Yahoo!
So I'm hammering down the narrow trail hoping to catch the dudes back at the car before they decide to drop me and make me run an extra 10K home to the beer fridge, and who do I see about 10 minutes from the Needles? Yes: Bernhard and Paul... who had somehow missed the obvious turnoff back down the hill and climbed about 2/3 up the final push to the Needles! Snooze, ya lose, boys... 1 peak for you, 2 for me!
Anyway, we wasted no time dropping back down the man bag trail back to the paved LSCR trail (45 minutes) and from there, it was 45 minutes to the car.
Total run time from the car and back: 4.5 hours.
Paul Cubbon and Bernhard Neugirg - Lynn Peak
"Back in Action" Jackson - Lynn + Needles
Is that one or two Needles?
Just South, correct?
Black Mountain Micro Bag
After being stood up today for my planned bushwhack on Bowen, Pamela Keck and Sibylle microbagged Black Mountain today. 40min up and 35min down. Definitely much shorter than I had in mind! Very little snow, a bit more mud ;-)
Black
Wow, that's quick! I think we're running out of bagging options until the snow starts to melt!!
South Needle - check
Seeking some peace in the mountains, Guy and I decided to head up the South Needle today. We cycled from home to Hydraulic Creek and took that route up in the rain and fog. It was soggy. It was steep. I swore a lot. I fell a lot on the way down. I did not like Hydraulic Creek. I can't remember disliking a hike so much, however, as sometimes happens with these seemingly pointless and annoying slogs, the view on top as the fog lifted momentarily made it all worthwhile. It had a bit of a big mountain feel to it and fabulous views of the city and the surrounding terrain. We and tried to scope out where the route to the Middle Needle might go - need to learn more about that one. For the meantime, please add South Needle to our tallies.
I was told that I would not
I was told that I would not like the approach via Hydraulic Creek...something about heights ;-) Has anybody done the Needles from Lynn Peak?
SN
If you mean steepness, it is that. The only time it stops being steep is when it gets steeper. I think it is a man-bag - it takes more muscle than most hikes. The steepness really turns it into a gym-like workout. Going up is like doing 6000 calf raises; going down is like doing 6000 deep knee bends. I just kept thinking of the chocolate ice cream in my freezer, and that got me through it. That said Sibylle, although higher on the suffering scale than most hikes, you can do this hike and you should! Like me, you may curse the entire time but it builds character and being on top is glorious. If it pushes your limits, that's always a good feeling. Just be sure to go on a dry day. There are a few scrambley bits towards the top and the wet/mossy rock in yesterday's rain made it a bit slick. There is one spot about 30 m down from the peak which is clearly exposed and where slipping is not an option. You'll see it when you get there, it is where you first get awesome views. Just stay in or very close to the bushes on the right of the rocks so you have lots to hold on to. I've not done the Lynn approach but it would definitely be less steep, but you'd still have to deal with the scrambling and exposed bit. Go for it!
Thanks for the
Thanks for the encouragement, Killaine. Not too worried about steepness, but don't have much tolerance for exposed rocks... Will never be a contender for the 50 peaks ;-(
My partners for Bowen all bailed/didn't show today, so I changed plans and will head up Hollyburn or Black with another friend later this pm. Do you have GPS data for Collins?
Collins
Hey Sibylle, we do not have GPS data for the route. We use the GPS to orient us along the way but not to generally track the routes we travel. We only let it run if we're concerned about being off track.
Micro-Bagging Day Report
Hi David,
Could you please add Lynn, Hollyburn, and Grouse to my tally. I did them all today in my day of micro-bagging. There is tonnes of snow on Hollyburn, the other two were fine and remarkably quiet for a weekend (I guess it's the rain). Guy did just Grouse.
Mt Artaban
It would be unkind to skip the peak of the magus who didn't make it, so a brisk ascent of Mt Artaban today in the sun and rain.
Call the nice people at Cormorant Marine Water Taxi ( (604) 250-2630: $25 a head if other people are also travelling).
Walk past the parked cars and then turn left (uphill) or right (downhill): both lead to Jay Road, at the top of which the trailhead is located.
The gravel road has several blue direction signs to the trail, and the trail itself is a ticker-tape parade of marking.
Plate 1: Spot the shy Artaban peak reindeer
Plate 2: The Artaban Route
Plate 3: Someone ate our porridge
Fromme Gets Mounted Twice in 2 Days
You can add me to the list. Nice trail on east side of Mosquito Creek then Bill's Trail to the snow-covered summit.
Jackson and Company Waterbag Artiban
Steve Deller and Steve Dietrich joined "Back in Action" Jackson on Saturday 26 June to bag Mount Artiban on Gambier Island.
It was a gorgeous day to be bagging. Highlights of our trip include:
David, Harry... I hope you get my message (nailed to a tree at the entrance to the trail at the top of Jay Road.)
On a personal note, that would complete my sweep of the Howe Sound Islands for the 2010 North Shore Bagger Challenge. On to the mainland!
Mount Fromme Bagged
Pat Barry, Claudia Bullington and myself happily bagged Mt Fromme today. First bag of the season!
Started at Skyline/Powerline, BP east, Old Grouse Highway, detour to the Kwai Bridge, Witches Broom, Per Gynt, Bills Trail, South Summit: returned via unnamed trail to intersection with Pipeline Trail and Eric the Red, followed Pipeline to Mountain Highway, down Mountain Highway, down Old Grouse Highway back to the BP and Skyline. 5h round trip, still quite a bit of snow on the peak and downhill stretch. Heard 3 owls, multiple Grouse', saw a woodpecker and ate salmon berries and fiddleheads. Great afternoon all around! Blog post of the day is here.
Congrats...
and thanks for helping represent the CFA ladies in this year's event!!!
A nice Father's Day
Spot the gnomes on the true summit of Gardner.
Don't be deceived by the two false cairn summits to the south or the flashy viewpoint summit (but lower by 10m) to the north, at the helicopter pad: look for the teepee and the (spanking new) direction sign.
Happy Father's Day!
You are a master negotiator, Mr. Crerar. No amount of convincing, cajoling, threatening or otherwise would see my gnomes join me on such an epic expedition. Did you have to hide Easter eggs along the trail for the gnomes?
Just a question, but what if a gnome, a hound or a brass pig were to bag the most peaks in the 2010 North Shore Bagger Challenge? Would they drink Scotch whiskey from the quaich of victory?
"what bushwack?"
On our second try Guy and I waterbagged Liddell today. It was 9 hours of cycling, running, hiking, and bushwacking. We knew the route because we came close last time, so had no route finding difficulties we just pushed right through. It was a long day even though we moved at a good and consistent pace. Our running was slightly hampered by our hiking boots, but it was a good choice given the wetness in the upper part. Guy (who, by the way, says: "bushwack, what bushwack, that's nothing.") GPS'ed us through the "bushwack" with precision.
Honestly, I don't believe there is any way short of sheer luck that you can start from New Brighton, find the peak, and make the 6:30 ferry from Langdale without a GPS. A GPS is absolutely essential, and gloves are also a recommended item. Clue to those yet to try it: you need to find the white square markers with black stripes after you're out of the bushwack, in order to make it to the peak. They mark the last 200 metres or so.
In the end, and after having spent far more time exploring Gambier than I'd ever thought I would, I think a great way to do the Gambier peaks would be taking a water taxi to Artaban, doing Artaban then hiking through to Gambier Lake, overnighting there, doing Liddell in the morning followed by Killam and hiking out to New Brighton.
Liddell
Great job of bagging Liddell! WRT our earlier chat, it could be a decent trail with a little love. A bit of a letdown at the "peak" however, don't you think?
The Liddell Quandary
I thought a lot about our conversation about creating a trail. I am conflicted. I couldn't help but think that if there was a nice clean trail up Liddell it wouldn't be the challenge it is, and the Baggers Challenge wouldn't be the challenge it is. It would really just be a long walk-up with no particular draw or uniqueness.
I agree, more people would do it, but they can do Killam and many others and get pretty much the same thing. So, while I agree a nice trail is a nice thing, I don't think a nice trail on that mountain is a challenge and thus my quandary. Another consideration could be related to the "Growth and Yield" flagging I saw up there. I don't know if it was or currently is a research plot, or if someone just wandered up and used that flagging for their own purposes, but if it is a G&Y plot you'd probably need permission of BC to cut a trail. Maybe that's why the trail ends where it does?
BTW: do you know we did 1600 metres of climbing to do a 900 metre peak. Now that's a challenge, and perhaps a silly one at that!
Jackson and MacLeod Bag Gardiner (both of 'em)
While Vancouver 100 runners were sleeping, soaking in Epsom salts or washing mud, blood and sweat out of their gear, two diligent Baggers eliminated another peak from their summer To-Do list.
Ken MacLeod and Ean Jackson hereby lay claim to Bowen Island's Mount Gardiner.
New to the Bagger Challenge, MacLeod made a penetrating observation: there is a higher shitbag peak and a lower, more popular tourist peak to Gardiner, but there is only one true peak to Gardiner. Are all Baggers bagging the correct peak? Food for thought at the next Bagger Council meeting!
For those who follow, we recommend you take the Gardiner Hardiner trail via the south, as it leads to the true peak. The Hardiner is a nice trail that is clearly marked with red tin can lids. Be sure to follow the trail named Skid Road.
Macleod wiped out at the bottom of Gardiner and skinned hands and one knee. I was ambushed by a large rock at a hairpin corner shortly thereafter. We looked like quite the pair to the well-dressed older women in the coffee shop.
Teepee peak...
...is 3 metres higher. Happily, the (very clear) trail passes over all three summits: fake south, real south, and fake north.
Waterbag
Oh... that would be a waterbag of Gardiner!
A new leader
But I would've thought Ken could have just kept going and bagged Gardner after the Vancouver 100K.
Now a six-way tie
As Killaine & Guy waterbag Artaban.
Collins
well, maybe, though Ean told me his version of Collins didn't involve the peak with the cairn....hummmm....hope we have a good DR process.
Gambier Waterbag
Hi David,
Guy and I did Mt. Killam today. It was quite pleasant for a rainy day. Oh, and we waterbagged it.
Legg had better start
Legg had better start polishing the quaich for handover.
Keep me posted on any upcoming baggage!
This fat ass needs to get off the couch!!!
Fridays & Mondays are especially good! Overnights work well too anytime from Thurs night to Mon night.
EB