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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1089 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 2:08 PM
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Waiting for the skies to clear seemed to be working for me, the drive up the Coq was sunny, and not far past the old Toll Booth I arrived at the Juliet exit. The directions for reaching the trailhead are really good as printed from the CT wiki, though I think the sign leaving the highway said exit 238. The access road is in good condition with only 3 waterbars, and a washout, otherwise it could have been done in 2-wheel. There was one other truck at the cramped trailhead parking spot.
Just 5 mins up the trail I met the two hikers from the truck, they had come all the way from North Van, which made me feel pretty lazy for just getting underway. These two were quite concerned about me finding the correct route, and even offered to tear out the pages from their 103 hikes book. Promising to not get lost, we parted ways, and I had the trail to myself. As it turned out, route finding on the trail was fun, and very obvious. There were some fancy new trail markers, and the deadfall has been freshly cut, counting growth rings I determined some of the trees to be over 400 years old.
  
The trail to the lake is scenic, with the old forest giving way to open meadows, then increasing abundance of alpine plants, and boulders. After 1.5 hours the pretty little basin holding Drum Lake was reached.
 
The summit rises in intimidating fashion above the lake, but all thats easily avoided by climbing the pass to ridgeline . The hike to the summit was a nice ramble from there.
       
The complete route is visible in this pic, from the road to the ridge above the lake.
On the way back I glissaded straight down to the right, and walked around the shoreline taking quite a few photos on the way. It may be a small shallow body of water, but charming nevertheless. On the outlet side I had a good look for potential camp sites, and there are a few nice spots. There was one discrete fire pit amongst the trees, my impression was that they wanted a fire, but made sure not to spoil the scenery.
       
Altogether, the hike only took 6 hours, and the drive about 1 hour past Hope. The only question in my mind was Why havent I tried this hike before? |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
1175 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 2:35 PM
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quote:
The only question in my mind was Why havent I tried this hike before?
Good question, but now that you've done it, I'm guessing you'll be there again. Nice photos! |
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 bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4649 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 2:39 PM
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Oooohhhhh I've been wanting to get into this area for a while now. You just bumped it up. Thanks for the T/R  . |
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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 - 06/29/2009 : 4:22 PM
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| I have been gaping at that area from the south for a while, it looks very nice indeed. Maybe less busy than Illal Meadows, too? |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1089 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 4:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
I have been gaping at that area from the south for a while, it looks very nice indeed. Maybe less busy than Illal Meadows, too?
With my one trip to July I'm hardly an expert, but the trail was faint, and no obvious fire pit. Illal's one of my next trips, so it's about to get busier... |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 5:02 PM
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| Nice report Elkaholic. That is a very nice place indeed. Your pictures and TR sure make it mighty inviting. Sweet. |
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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
13057 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 7:40 PM
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| Love that lake, nice report! |
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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
13466 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 8:17 PM
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That lake and mountain are an awesome combination, nice shots they are. Pretty area, this is on my list for 2010.
K |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2009 : 08:05 AM
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| Nice Pictures Tim. Summers the time to go. The sleds take over in winter. |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4000 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2009 : 09:35 AM
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Now it's in 103 I think it'll get more popular. It is a beautiful area and the views are pretty good.
Karl, you're going to try this in 2010? By that you must have the rest of this year sheduled already? |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
761 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2009 : 3:50 PM
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| Nice trip report...haven't been here so looks like a nice area to visit...thanks for posting. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2009 : 9:54 PM
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| We were thinking about this location a couple of weeks ago. It is a bit of a gem |
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1355 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 12:06 AM
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Nice trip, Tim
This is the area I would like to explore more.
Thanks for the report.  |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 12:13 AM
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| Excellento! |
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Journey to July Mountain
