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 Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2007 : 10:25 PM
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Well, not really. Lana, B, myself and Nomad decided to go up the Swann Falls trail and see if Dilly Dally was accessible. If so, I wanted to do the reverse loop and head back down and maybe catch Croker lookout on the way. These guys were foolhardy enough to agree so away we went.
Left the car at a little before 9AM and reached the top of DD a little before 1 PM. We were dithering and just enjoying ourselves with a relaxed pace. Took several breaks. Hey, it was hot and muggy and there were bugs so the headnets came out about 1/2 way up. Nomad had forgotten to bring his and I decided to bring an extra just in case so it was all good. Nomad got a couple of good pics of us in our headgear at the col between DD and Eagle. I'm sure he'll post them.
Lunch on DD and then headed down the North side. What a terrible idea that turned out to be. B had neglected to tell us that she had done that once before and decided it was not fun. Grrrr. Shy people  Just kidding, B. We love you 
Why was it a terrible idea? Well, it's very slippery steep. We didn't have much snow to deal with but that is a very steep section of trail and pretty rough. The past few years have not been kind to that section and it has not, I repeat, it has not been maintained. Halvor Lunden, the trail's creator is no longer maintaining it and it is no longer the pleasant ramble through the woods that it used to be. It will take several days of serious trail work to put it back to rights and frankly, I don't think it's worth it. Other than the historic value of the old road there with the railroad tracks, it has nothing to offer. The Swan Falls trail is a great trail with a good grade. Steep but very forgiving, with sufficient switchbacks. If it was up to me, I'd just keep that section maintained and let the rest go.
On the way down we went over to Croker lookout and that is not worth doing anymore either. Trees have overgrown the view so the view at lookout 157 is better now. There is a view off the Croker trail before you get to the end that offers a nice view up the arm to the North and that IS worth seeing. We took a few pics of that to share.
Back down to the road with few stops again, one really nice one at a rapidly running creek to rinse off and refresh. Took the powerline road back and got to S. Beach a few minutes before 7 so total time hiking was 10 hours.
So I officially pronounce Dilly Dally and the rest of Eagle ridge open for business. All clear with only very consolidated minor snow patches to walk across.
With the excursion to Croker on the way down, I give it 24.5K total return and about 1400M with all the ups and downs.
Fun but tiring day with great trail companions. We'll post some pics in the next few days. Here's a couple to whet your appetite.
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Edited by - Scrambler on 07/17/2007 10:39 PM
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Fast hikin, carrot chompin, always grinnin, gear scatterin recipient of the Theta Lake manouver
Burnaby
2039 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2007 : 06:37 AM
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Nice trail analysis. 
Seriously though, it is good to hear route updates. Thanks. No bike to the trailhead along the road? Bug headgear - sounds like a good idea these days.  |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2007 : 08:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by burnabyhiker
Nice trail analysis.
Seriously though, it is good to hear route updates. Thanks. No bike to the trailhead along the road? Bug headgear - sounds like a good idea these days.
Biking to the TH is definitely my preferred way to go but this came together too quickly to arrange for that so we walked. With bikes and not doing the North side of the loop, I guesstimate this is more of a 6-7 hour day at a relaxed, non-simonc pace  |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2007 : 7:55 PM
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Whew Rich, that sounds exhausting. That picture of your trademark hat I initially took to be some giant flowr before zooming in on it.
Look forward to the rest of your pictures.
Regards, |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2007 : 10:38 PM
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okay, as promised- some pics for y'all.
   
1. the cabin at the start of the Swann falls trail
2. a bit of rock at the first view
3. Lana approaching the view
4. the view
  
1. Another shot of the falls
2. more water shots. I love taking pictures of moving water. Maybe someday I'll get it right
3. Nomad checking out the water and rocks
4. Lana modeling the latest in alpine gear
you're not gonna believe this but Brenda actually posed for me!!! Scroll down to see B.
Heh heh, better luck next time
   
1. At the col between Eagle and Dilly Dally. Hey, where is everyone??!
2. Oh well, I'll take a few pictures while I wait for them.
3. Hey, here comes Nomad
4. And the ladies. Ok, now we can go up DD.
   
1. the summit marker of Dilly Dally
2. the view with a bug for good looks. We stayed up here for about 30-45 minutes eating lunch and then headed down the North side.
3. Time to start heading down
4. boy those gals can move downhill fast. Nomad and I kept saying "where'd they go?!"
   
1. some not-so-well-defined-sections of trail
2. view from lookout 157
3. Start of the trail to Croker lookout. Pretty soon you won't be able to find that either!!
4. view from Croker lookout. Disappearing fast as the trees grow in.
   
1. the better view on the Croker trail. Just on a little spur off it.
2. Another break to freshen up before we come to the road. Nomad filtered some water for us all and we all hosed off a bit to cool off.
3. another rocks and water shot.
4. my good deed for the day. All redundant or found on trail bed.
And that's the rest of the story |
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| Paulo
Intermediate Member
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
768 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2007 : 11:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Scrambler
4. my good deed for the day. All redundant or found on trail bed.
Very impressed with your waterfall photos and your efforts to clean up the trail. |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5465 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 01:35 AM
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Great to see the latest runway fashion. London, Paris, Milan....Poco trails:
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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 02:29 AM
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| Thanks for the update. Good thinking to bring extra head net. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 08:01 AM
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Great pictures and report, I hope to get up there this year.
Happy trails,
Lynn |
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Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5900 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 09:50 AM
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I see you missed getting a shot of B. Maybe I should do a collage for you ?
“Only kidding” ! ….. but I do have some good shots.
Thanks for the update Rich. This is in my own backyard but I have not been there for a bit. The falls are looking fairly low. I guess this is going to be a bad year for bugs unless we get a long hot spell to dry up all the standing water.
Did you see any signs of the Indian Arm trail while you were up there?
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 2:45 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hiker
Did you see any signs of the Indian Arm trail while you were up there?
I didn't and I was thinking of looking for it but we were running a bit late so I didn't wander around like I was planning to. |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
719 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 5:15 PM
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| Thanks for the TR (which I printed out for insertion into "103 Hikes") and the pictures. The information you provide is exactly why I joined CT. It's very useful to me to know that I shouldn't bother with the Croker Lookout loop, but do this hike, or by the same token, the one to Eagle Peak, using the Swan Falls trail both up and down. |
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 chinese hot-pot gourmand, costco pirate, 103 hikes completin', picture postin', commander of our newest canadian trekkers
Vancouver, BC
Canada
1740 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 7:23 PM
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| good job! enjoyed your TR as always |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2007 : 8:51 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by greyowl
Thanks for the TR (which I printed out for insertion into "103 Hikes") and the pictures. The information you provide is exactly why I joined CT. It's very useful to me to know that I shouldn't bother with the Croker Lookout loop, but do this hike, or by the same token, the one to Eagle Peak, using the Swan Falls trail both up and down.
my pleasure  |
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 | Q
Senior Member
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chocolate lovin, Bailey's slurpin, cold feet hatin', veggie eatin', true Cancerian water lovin', CT smilin', boulder dodgin', nosummitosis survivor
1594 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2007 : 10:46 AM
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| Cool! I'm going to have to try and get up there. Thanks for the update. |
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surrey, bc
Canada
1389 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2007 : 09:13 AM
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these are much nicer than the coleman ones! just fyi, i went to mec in n.van and they didn't have any mediums.. so i went to mec on broadway and i got the last medium yesterday.. |
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Dithering up Dilly Dally (+pics), July 15.2007
