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Smurf Village, BC
Canada
1533 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 09:49 AM
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Well, it's yet another rainy weekend. I'm on vacation and want to hike. But where to go? I don't want to climb anything difficult in this weather. Plus, there won't be much in the way of views today.
Hmm, how about something easy? Like Mount Elsay...<long interlude of laughter ensues>
9:20am we arrive at the Seymour parking lot (2 cars already parked)
It is raining lightly and the trail is wet. But the good news is, there are no bugs!
1-Did I mention the trail was wet?
2-Approaching 1st Pump peak, we notice the "puddle" seems to have grown since last summer.
3-Trail marker between 1st/2nd Pump peaks
  
The turnoff to the Mount Elsay route is marked by some faded yellow flagging just before the final approach up the 3rd Pump (Mount Seymour summit).
4-looking back at the nicely groomed trail
From here, we descend down, down, then down some more. The trail wraps around the west side of Mt Seymour before ascending once again to a viewpoint. Here, we get a misty glimpse of Runner Peak.
5-Runner Peak
From here, guess what? The trail descends again! (This is repeated a couple more times) Although the route is well flagged, there are several sections where you really have to pay attention. It would be hellish route finding in foggy weather.
6-Can you see the trail?
7-How about now?
 
The rain has eased up, lifting our spirits. Unfortunately, we soon discover the beneficial effects of the rain. Here come the bugs!!! The next section of our hike becomes a blur as our speed seems to double. Run away!
The trail leads to the base of Elsay where some flagging to the right (East) descends the massive rock slide area. Paul and I will be following this route on our return journey. I pause to pin up the fallen trail sign at the intersection. As we ascend Mount Elsay, we spot another trail offshoot to the left (West). I think I remember another trip report saying that this goes to Mt Bishop. Presumably, via Rector, Curate, and Vicar Peaks.
8-Hooray! The summit is in view
We don't stay for long. The view is...well, there isn't one...too foggy. And the bugs don't taste good with my lunch.
We descend and take the turnoff East down the rockslide. The route is marked with small cairns. In sections, the rocks are slippery, so we take care not to bum surf our way down.
9-Rockslide
10-Cairns mark the way
 
We were graced with the presence of a small black bear during our descent. He/she effortlessly bounded up the boulders away from us, no doubt scoffing at our comparitively clumsy climbing skill.
11-Onlooker
At the base of the slide, there were a lot of opportunities for photos of alpine flowers, stream beds, ferns etc. But if you don't know the area, this is also where it's most important to search out the trail markers and cairns.
12-Subalpine Spirea (Spiraea densiflora), ID'd by Shrubhugger
13-Ferns
 
Eventually, the route intersects the Elsay Lake trail. Turning right leads back to the parking lot, left to the lake.
The valley is really beautiful, rain or shine. We cherished the journey, despite the lack of summit views.
14-looking east from Elsay Lake trail
15-there is a trail here...really, there is
 
As we crossed more rockslides, we were treated with views of Seymour's precipitous East side. Cool cliffs! From here, Wes's Staircase begins. It's a long, steep climb back to the Seymour trail. Along the way, we almost make a wrong turn. Some really faded flagging descends towards Theta Lake. Take note:
* Wes's Staircase does not go down, just up (if you're coming from Elsay, that is).
* The trail here is well worn, not a steep bushwhack.
So, once the light bulb goes off in my mind, we sheepishly turn around and rejoin the proper trail again. After a gruelling 6 hours, we are back at the car. If you are going to try this trail, plan on the suggested 9 hours. We travelled fast and were spurred on by ferocious black flies (gotta love Seymour for that). The cumulative elevation gain is significant.
16-elevation profile from a trail map
Off to Starbuck's for refueling! But wait! There's more! "Paul, stop the car!"
17-Stag munching away next to the Seymour road
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Edited by - guntis on 08/22/2007 07:30 AM
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Coquitlam, British Columbia
Canada
1727 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 12:42 PM
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| ...ummm deer...dinner kids! Look what daddy brought home!!! ;) |
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Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia
Canada
221 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 4:04 PM
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| Nice velvet shot! Thanks for the TR. |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
310 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 5:17 PM
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| Easy? The stats for Mt Elsay make it look easy, but the trail ... well, the route is not. Well done! we did Mt Elsay with similar views (of cloud) on the 12th. Didn't start raining til the summit, but the bushes (and thus the hikers) were pretty wet. We only went up the rockslide though, came back via the Seymour bumps. Rough trail both ways. Easy ... (chuckle, chuckle) |
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 Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13090 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 5:23 PM
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Nice report 
Oddly enough, most TRs from this route are of the foggy, rainy and cloudy variety, it's a vortex for weather |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6871 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 10:27 PM
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Very informative T/R
Good stuff |
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1355 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 11:53 PM
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Every time I read a report on Mount Elsay the weather was foggy and soggy.
Nice trip report.
Thanks for sharing. |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5470 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 12:15 AM
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| Thanks for the TR; I've never been up there but I've heard it described by just about everyone as "a nasty hike." |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
2471 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 12:45 AM
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| cool flora and fauna shots |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1127 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 10:29 AM
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| Nice report. The purple flower, #12, is Spirea. A good book for this kind of thing is by Pojar and Mackinnon. I looked it up and the particular one you've shot here is Subalpine Spirea (Spiraea densiflora). |
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Smurf Village, BC
Canada
1533 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 5:01 PM
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Thanks for the comments everyone. Yep, Mt Elsay is a tough one. I'd really like to try it on a sunny day...
Shrubhugger, thanks for the ID, and for the resource. |
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13090 Posts |
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Smurf Village, BC
Canada
1533 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 6:47 PM
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Mick, thanks for the link - that's a sweet report. Fantastic photography by the masters!   |
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Terrace, BC
957 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 01:14 AM
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THat was a great trip and link.
Weird thing, every once in a while I have a dream of the hike similar that I did many years ago. The rock is very unique as well as the marching topography.
Obviously I miss that part of the world. |
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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
13598 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 9:13 PM
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Looks like a great place to visit, never done this hike before. Got to do it sometime.
K |
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Mount Elsay
