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 Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2543 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2005 : 9:20 PM
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A week or two ago I receive a mysterious E-Mail from one "Peter Flynn". Hrmmmm. On this ancient tablet of an E-Mail are scribed the mystical words describing one not well known 'hubcap hill' trail in Hope.
After work I set off in the Jeep - perhaps to find this said hill of hubcaps or go to the Ladner Creek trestle bridge as a backup plan.
After heading down Highway 3, turning around at the Nicolum River Campsite and heading down the "highway 3 to 5 ramp connector" I park along a weird little gravel mine access road, probably created when they built the highway. It's about 6:30 and the road doesnt appear to have been used in ages. It's also locked, probably safe to park there off the road. There was another spot to park off to the side of the "connector ramp road".
I walked over the large Highway #5 bridge going over the Nicolum River. Not toooooo much fun, traffic blazing past at 120. Luckily the right lane of the bridge is the merge lane for traffic going to Merrit from Princeton via the toll booth. How many people do that?? Exactially - I get an empty "buffer lane" and a shoulder separating me from the semi trucks.
Not far on the other side of the bridge I come across this ancient trailhead marker:
The trail seemed to be well marked, with orange and orange polka-dot (!!!) flagging tape!
The trail began to steeply climb uphill. It wasn't a well established trail but it wasn't a bushwack either. It was easy to follow, especially for a trail that is not written down anywhere!
You may have noticed the mountain (aka hubcap hill) before as you blast down Highway #5. It's the rocky hill on the right as you head down the hill before Othello Road.
The trail eventually stopped having "orange tape" and only had "orange polka dot tape". I kept following it, and it opened up a little, showing some rock faces:
The trail ended at the base of a rock face. There was what climber-types might call a "chimney" and maybe a "ledge" or two 
Looks like it was a climber trail! I wander up to the edge of the cliff, decide I have no clue what I am doing. It was probably a 0.5 rated climb (well probably 3) but I am not much of a rock climber :-)
Some photos for the rock climbing CT types:
Woooooooo ledges
I thought maybe this crack was climbable.
Here is a view of the highway from there:
The area was a little wet and the mosquitos noticed my sweat, DOH. Not a good time to stick around.
I headed back down, only to discover that the trail branched a ways lower, with the non-polkadot tape leading off in a different direction.
I was tired and sweaty but I decided to follow it anyways. It lead around the side of the cliff area, and entered a darker forest.
I found this:
Holy cow, I knew that some highways in BC were getting overgrown but this is rediculous!!! Our tax dollars at work!  
After the highway marker I came across what a mountain biker would call an "Ewok Village"
Apparently the wise Ewoks have learned how to forge steel!
Soon after the Ewok ladders I reached the summit:
Could see Kawakawa Lake in the distance:
And thus concludes my adventure
UTM WGS84
Trailhead: 10 U 619236 5469772
Highway Sign: 10 U 619396 5469964
Ladders: 10 U 619638 5470036
Summit/Lookout: 10 U 619675 5469985
Round Trip Distance (GPS Guestimate): 2km (as the bird flies, does not take into account elevation. Could be 1km could be 4km. 2km is my best educated guess).
Elevation Gain: 300m
Average Grade: 0.30%
I checked my maps - I think the hill is the West part of Manson Ridge. |
Edited by - ShadowChaser on 04/22/2005 10:05 PM
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 canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6792 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2005 : 9:40 PM
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Well for a young fellow,you tend to get around and check into rather unusual places.I like it.Keep it up  |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6792 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2005 : 10:03 PM
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quote:
Apparently the wise Ewoks have learned how to forge steel!
It's aluminum |
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Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2543 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2005 : 10:04 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Aqua Terra
quote:
Apparently the wise Ewoks have learned how to forge steel!
It's aluminum
That's why I'm a programmer and not a building contractor  |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
175 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 4:25 PM
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Sounds like you had a fun day. Next time try Mt.Lincoln. It gives you a great view of Yale and the Coquihalla River. 
Have you ever checked out the bluffs right at the Coq and Crowsnest junction? I think spending a few hours around there would be fun. Might be some technical practice by the looks of it. |
Edited by - Nighthawk on 04/22/2005 4:27 PM |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 4:37 PM
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Here's a picture of young Hope local hot shot Tyler Linn rapping off "Hubcap Hill" after the first ascent of one of those "climbing routes" (ssshhh this crag isn't climbed out yet).
Except I thought it was called "Nicolum Knob"?
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Hope, B.C.
Canada
726 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 5:36 PM
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'Nicolum Knob' is a great name for that place! As for that picture of Tyler Linn - if his mother saw that!!!!!!
SC - I loved looking at the pictures. You have definitely inspired me to go up there. Thanks a lot! I think it's great that you went up there in the evening!
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Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.
St. Francis of Asissi |
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 6:06 PM
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The view of Kawkawa Kwakwakwa Kwawkwkwawkwawkwa whatever Lake and the Old Settler in the distance is superb at sunset 
Especially near the solstice |
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Hope, B.C.
Canada
726 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 6:09 PM
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That's Old Settler?
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Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.
St. Francis of Asissi |
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 6:12 PM
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Way, way in the distance, it MIGHT be.
If you draw the line on the map, Old Settler should be a bit further north, but it looks like the right shape. I'd have to see it when it wasn't sunset to be sure |
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Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2543 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 10:03 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Nighthawk
Sounds like you had a fun day. Next time try Mt.Lincoln. It gives you a great view of Yale and the Coquihalla River.
Have you ever checked out the bluffs right at the Coq and Crowsnest junction? I think spending a few hours around there would be fun. Might be some technical practice by the looks of it.
LOL. That's exactially what I did. Those bluffs are "Hubcap Hill Nicolum Knob". Check out the map!
I've done Mt Lincoln before - I was in an adventuring mood! |
Edited by - ShadowChaser on 04/22/2005 10:17 PM |
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Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2543 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 10:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
Here's a picture of young Hope local hot shot Tyler Linn rapping off "Hubcap Hill" after the first ascent of one of those "climbing routes" (ssshhh this crag isn't climbed out yet).
Except I thought it was called "Nicolum Knob"?
Cool Where did you hear about it? Is it one of those word of mouth places? Any background info or other data? Well known in climbing circles? |
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 4:28 PM
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| Tyler invited me out there, it's his very own "secret crag" |
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Hubcap Hill, Hope BC (aka Nicolum Knob)
