| Author |
Topic |
|
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1773 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 9:49 PM
|
Quite possibly I committed the worst error of the year this morning; I left without a bug net, for the sole reason that it would take me another 30 seconds.
Anyway, this was a really disappointing hike. Probably the worst one of the year if not ever. I got to the West Canyon trailhead at 9, and had a nice walk at a decent pace to Alder flats. 1:15 to Alder. Two km after Alder Flats, the spawn of satan descended on Golden Ears. I cannot believe how many bugs there were. I have never seen the bugs that bad in my entire life. Just breathing (with mouth) would inhale at least two per breath. I ended up having to breathe in quickly (nose) and blow out even quicker, and then breathe in quickly etc. This gave me a bit of a pocket with no bugs. Even so, I still got about 20 up my nose throughout the trip. Not bad, as I would have had 20 per breath otherwise. I cant emphasize the ridiculousness of the bugs enough. They were mercilessly unforgiving. Even with my sunglasses tight to my face, they were finding ways in and BITING MY EYELIDS! I am covered in tiny fly bites.
A bit about the actual trail; I lost the trail shortly after it branches off the ex-road running after Alder, and so had to bushwack for quite awhile until I stumbled across the same gully Ryan and I went up last time (again, off trail. I got lost at the same spot :P) No snow until the top of the gully. It was an easy scramble up the gully with lots of big, solid rocks. However, I couldnt and didnt stop moving (and moving damn fast) from Alder Flats to the emergency shelter. The bugs were too bad to stop. I made it from Alder to the Emergency shelter within 2:30- which is not a great time, but considering I was bushwacking for upwards of 45 minutes, its alright. There are patches of snow on the ridge, but very easily navigable. Some mud. I was hoping for wind on the ridge, but alas there was only a slight breeze, which the demons laughed at in their high pitched fly voices, whilst flying into my ears et al.
I jumped into the hut and shut the door, and had my first full breath of oxygen in 2 and a half hours. It was an awful feeling. I was on the verge of puking from overexertion and no water. After eating lunch and drinking at least two litres, I decided I could summit. And the bugs disappeared! For 3 minutes. Once I got closer to the summit they were back in full force with their tiny pitchforks. I reached very close to the summit and discovered I probably needed crampons for the last section, which I didnt bring. It also required a bit of concentration, which was hard to come by with so many insects. It was quite depressing, but with the bugs I didnt even really care as much as I should have. Within 100 meters of the summit and I had to turn around and booked it down to below the 7km mark where the bugs dare not go.
Ugh. Throw in a few random injuries (like squishing my hand between my stepping knee and an alpine log, puncture wound and massive bruise! Sweet.) and a disagreeing stomach, it was not a fun day. No summit, no good pictures (too many bugs- It was hard to get a pic without a bug on the lens), and lots of cuts and scrapes from bushwacking.
Well, I guess I can laugh at it now, but that was an unpleasant day.
So the Golden Ears themselves didnt win this round, but the demonflies came into the ring and obstructed justice. I WILL GET YOU, GOLDEN EARS! You just wait til September
I see I didnt speak much about the trail. Its in okay shape, a bit of blowdown here and there, which is problematic with an overly large ice axe attached to your pack. Either my eyes need to be repaired or more markers added, because Ive lost the trail twice in the same place. There are a thousand little offshoots that seem like they could be trails. Very solid snow from the emergency hut on, with a few boulders poking out. Final scramble on the summit appears clear of snow.
P.S.: To the couple going up Panorama Ridge that also left at 9:00, I found your toque on the trail. If you see this, (and want it back) drop me a line. JD22_@hotmail.com
P.P.S. There was a small forest fire near the north end of Pitt Lake. It was very smoky.
Scramble Ryan and I were stopped by last time due to sketchy snow conditions. Very simple today.
Forest fire N. Pitt Lake
A filler picture.
|
|
 Fast hikin, carrot chompin, always grinnin, gear scatterin recipient of the Theta Lake manouver
Burnaby
2047 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 9:57 PM
|
I shouldn't laugh at you and your little mountain buddies, but you tell the tale, very well!  |
|
|
Van, BC
Canada
2841 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 9:57 PM
|
quote:
Scramble Ryan and I were stopped by last time due to sketchy snow conditions. Very simple today.
So that's what it looks like... was much smoother last time.
Somewhat glad I wasn't with you on this attempt. I had heard the bugs can get pretty bad up there, but I never would have imagined they would be like that!
-Ryan |
|
|
 | Mr. B
Intermediate Member
|
Popkum, B.C.
Canada
641 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 10:00 PM
|
I can really relate to this report, as I had the exact experience about seven years ago!
Thanks for the memories?
Stu |
|
|
|
Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5470 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 10:13 PM
|
| I could feel the bugs biting as I read your report. |
|
|
Montreal, QC
Canada
716 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 07:01 AM
|
So did your face swell up? I got bitten by a black fly right between my eyebrows last week and the area puffed up and gave me a sinus headache for two days. I've had mosquito bites on eyelids and lips in the past that make me look like I've been slugged, too.
The French Canadian word for bugs is bibites, and when you say it it sounds like swearing. Lovely word, nasty bibites. Better luck in the fall. |
|
|
|
Outward Bound author of the Seinfeld Thread, who builds his own snowshoes
Troy, MT
USA
3140 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 08:53 AM
|
| the bugs were bad when we did this last year, but not that bad. we had more snow then, so maybe thats why. |
|
|
|
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
4663 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 08:56 AM
|
| That sucks. I've always read that the bugs are bad up there ... hence why I've never bothered . Good reminder to add the bug net to the pack from now on. |
|
|
163 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 09:04 AM
|
Many thanks for this report. I'm still planning to try in the next couple of days, but maybe just for the shelter.
How were the temperatures going up? |
|
|
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1773 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 10:48 AM
|
Anemone; my face is mostly ok, just a bit itchy. Same with arms and legs (that weren't gaitored or shorted)
Fefrie; temps were very warm, I went through five litres of water and easily could have downed two more, but I didn't want to take the time to filter. Possibly a bad decision. I was sweating like a cold bevy on a hot day. |
|
|
|
Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 1:30 PM
|
Yikes . I was up Seymour yesterday and though there a quite a few bugs around, nothing like that. There have been a few horror stories from this area over the years. |
|
|
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1773 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 9:42 PM
|
| Oh, PS (mainly for Ryan) that creek crossing we had a bit of trouble with this time almost didn't exist. Water was barely flowing... I could just walk across. |
|
|
Vancouver, BC
Canada
1325 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 10:08 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by jd22
Oh, PS (mainly for Ryan) that creek crossing we had a bit of trouble with this time almost didn't exist. Water was barely flowing... I could just walk across.
I was wondering about the crossing with the missing bridge too.. thanks for the update. |
|
|
|
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 - 07/03/2009 : 10:36 PM
|
  Sorry to hear about your bugfest, were you packing Deet, or no?
This morning I was up on Strachan and inhaled my first bugs of the year. Ahhhhh, summer |
|
|
north van, bc
Canada
949 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2009 : 5:22 PM
|
I was up there the past few days.
But I had a bug net! 
we tented at adler flats Thurs night / sat night and next to the shelter Fri night. so really it was a 4 day trip to do a day hike :D
we didn't try any higher then the shelter.
there is flowing water (snow melt) at the shelter. flowing water at the river crossing 500m before alder flats (no problem crossing). and basicly nothing in between. we found a tiny trickle around the 7-7.5km mark that we toped up at (with filters) because we didn't know what the top had.
we had no problems staying on trail.
it was a bloody tough climb with a 40lbs pack!. don't plan on returning anytime soon!
temps were hot. my theromoter read +13 at 2am fri night next to the shelter and over 20 in the day in shade.
the shelter was a bit of a mess  there is 2 garbage bags full of garbage inside.
bridge out crossing, and sunset from the emerg shelter
  |
Edited by - smac on 07/05/2009 10:51 PM |
|
|
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1773 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2009 : 5:42 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by mick range
Sorry to hear about your bugfest, were you packing Deet, or no?
This morning I was up on Strachan and inhaled my first bugs of the year. Ahhhhh, summer
No deet. I would've preferred a bug net either way. |
|
|
North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2009 : 2:39 PM
|
Hey, met you in the cabin up at Golden Ears. This is an amazing website eh?
Tyler and I made it up that day. Crampons would have helped, but we both had good hiking boots and switchbacked up the slope. At the top of the snow slope we got to a ridge where it became all rock/trail to the top.
Glacading back down to the emergency was good fun.
 |
Edited by - Amau on 07/14/2009 2:44 PM |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Very almost Golden Ears
