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1355 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 1:36 PM
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After climbing Eaton Peak last year, ( http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27708&SearchTerms=eaton,peak ) we wanted to do Mount Grant as well.
Here is a brief discription of Mount Grant from http://www.bivouac.com/
Located 1 km north of Eaton Lake, (9 km W of Sunshine Valley). (4 km N of Eaton Peak). (15 km NW of Silvertip Mountain).
High granitic summit on the divide between Eaton (Crescent) Lake and Wray Creek. Easy from the south, with a steep granitic face on the north. The peak has a large, steep and complex northeast face.
Name Notes: The name "Mount Grant" is for Captain John M. Grant of the Royal Engineers, who rebuilt a portion of the old Dewdney Trail. It was named by Fred Beckey, in his 1981 Cascade Alpine Guide Vol III, 2nd edition. At one time some sources in BC used to refer to it as "Eaton Peak North", a misleading name since it is actually higher than Eaton Peak itself! Bivouac accepts the Becky name as the standing name. Note the name is "Mount Grant" not "Grant Peak", following the standard of using "Mount" when a peak is named after a person.
The peak has also been referred to on club trip schedules as "Crescent Peak", after "Cresent Lake" which is an old name for Eaton Lake
Here are the trip stats.
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Summit - 2180m
Round trip time - 8 hours 40 minutes
Assent time - 4 hours 35 minutes
Elevation gain - 1762 m
route - free of snow
gear used - hiking poles, helmet
We left Vancouver at 5:00 AM and set for the trail at 7:05 AM. The Eaton Lake trail was in good shape. There were some deadfall, but nothing major. The biggest chalenge for the whole trip was the Eaton Creek crossings. We had to cross the creek four times during our trip. The second crossing was in a bad shape. The bridge was broken and the best way to cross the creek was over a large pile of jammed logs on the right. The same was true for the last fourth crossing, just before Eaton Lake. Again, it was much easier to cross the creek over a huge pile of logs than trough a bridge.
The route to Mount Grant crosses from the south to the north side of the creek on a log bridge, just before Eaton Lake. The trick was that from there we had to go in the slightly oposite direction from Mount Grant to gain the ridge. Othewise it's very difficult to gain the ridge, because of bluffs. The routefinding could be a big problem, because of bush and bluffs. Luckily, we picked up a very good flagging, which lead us right to the summit. The route follows the broad south ridge up to the large gully. The gully was steep, but easy to climb. It's about 15 minutes of easy climbing to the summit from the top of the gully. Overall, Mount Grant is a nice and easy climb without any exposure, a good cardio exercise. Above the lake the routefinding could be a problem, but the new good flagging helped a lot.
Happy Canada Day, everyone .
Here are some pictures from the trip
Early morning. We reached the Eaton Lake campsite in 1 hour 45 minutes, where we had a nice breakfast.
 
Crossing Eaton Creek over a log bridge. It was difficult to maintain the balance on a log bridge. On the way back we crossed through a large log jam. It was much easier.
 
A small marsh at the bottom of the south ridge. Bugs were horrendous over there.
Above the pond the route was very steep. We had to go through the boulder slopes and bush. The routefinding could be a problem there.
Then we reached a large steep gully. We took the left gully on the first picture below.
  
Above the gully, once on the ridge we turned to the right. 15 minutes later we were at the summit. I looked at my watch. It was 11:40 AM
Views from the summit
1. Mount Outram (zoom)
2. Eaton Peak (zoom)
3.-4. Cheam Range (zoom)
5. Mount Judge Howay (zoom)
6. Mount Robbie Reid (zoom)
7. Eaton Peak again
      
8. A lower subsummit of Mount Grant
9. View down to Eaton Lake from a subsummit
10. The Mount Grant summit
11. North face of Mount Grant
   
12. Pavel at the summit
13. Nikolai
 
We spent almost an hour at the summit and then we went down
1. The idea of terrain near the summit - broad with some rocks and heather.
2. Pavel at the top of the gully
3. The top of the gully, where it joins the summit ridge crest.
  
1. There was some water in the gully. It wasn't a problem to refill our water bottles.
2. View of the traverse to the gully.
3. We picked an excellent flagging and followed it all the way up to the summit.
4. Above Eaton Lake the route was easy, but steep. View of Eaton Lake and a small marsh from the route above.
   
Here is a rough idea of our route above the marsh. There is a good flagging, which I recommend to follow. Otherwise you can end up at the bluffs
1. Mount Grant from the marsh
2. Our route
 
Then we were back on the Eaton Lake trail again.
1. Waterfall from the first creek crossing
2. 3:45PM. The trip is over. Trail head sign at the parking spot
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Edited by - nortonchum on 07/02/2009 3:47 PM
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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 - 07/02/2009 : 1:53 PM
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| Nice one, Grant is a very pleasant trip. Good route description too. |
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Fast hikin, carrot chompin, always grinnin, gear scatterin recipient of the Theta Lake manouver
Burnaby
2041 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 1:57 PM
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Well done. Keep knocking them off!
Nikolai, did you get a new camera? - the pictures are great, summit shots especially. |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
723 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:03 PM
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Excellent TR! I really like the way you format your reports - it is easy to follow your route to the summit and back down again. You provide just the right amount of beautiful photographs and an informative narrative. Oh, btw, you guys are in great shape! Well done, Nikolai and Pavel |
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1355 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by burnabyhiker
Well done. Keep knocking them off!
Nikolai, did you get a new camera? - the pictures are great, summit shots especially.
Thanks, Chris
In the mountains I usually use SONY DSC-H3 camera http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082102sonyh3.asp
It's a good ratio between size (weight) and picture quality |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:23 PM
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| We always choose the log jam to cross the creek in that section, it is much easier. Way to go team! That's an excellent pace and good stamina too! |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
949 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:40 PM
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| Nice trip and thanks for the report with all the good info, as I"de like to head up that way pretty soon. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7100 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:41 PM
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| Nice report nortonchum, nice photos as well. I enjoy reading reports from my area, that mountain is just down the road from here. Keep up the good work! There is a hike not too far from there I'd like to do someday. |
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Abbotsford
87 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:48 PM
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Great TR,
I appreciate how you report in such a way that it is almost like a trail wiki. It's a service. I'll have to get up there soon...maybe tomorrow.
Quick questions:
Where do you leave the eaton lake trail? Is there flagging right from the trail?
How were the bugs aside from the marsh?
-P- |
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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
13059 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 2:52 PM
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| Nice trip! |
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1355 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 3:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by pianoexcellence
Great TR,
I appreciate how you report in such a way that it is almost like a trail wiki. It's a service. I'll have to get up there soon...maybe tomorrow.
Quick questions:
Where do you leave the eaton lake trail? Is there flagging right from the trail?
How were the bugs aside from the marsh?
-P-
You have to leave the trail shortly before the outflow from Eaton Lake. When you cross the creek look at your left and up. You should pick up the flagging right there. To gain the ridge try to keep a direction slightly to the left. When you are on the ridge turn right toward to Mount Grant. Follow the flagging, especially above the marsh. There are bluffs on the both sides, the flagging provides a nice route through them. It's steep above the marsh, but not technical if you are on the route.
When you are moving, bugs are not a problem. There were bugs at Eaton Lake too.
Crossing the creek just before the outflow. Look for the flagging on your left. Ascend the ridge leanning to the left.
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Edited by - nortonchum on 07/02/2009 9:18 PM |
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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 - 07/02/2009 : 3:06 PM
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| Another great trip you two ! Both your knees are holding up o.k. with such elevation descents in one day? If they are, I'm soooo jealous! |
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Mount Grant Jul-1-2009 Canada Day
