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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2003 : 9:48 PM
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Today I decided to take a run up Lynn Peak and then explore the route to the South Needle.As many Treaders would know,the trail to Lynn Peak is a steep trek,but a steady climb will get you up in an hour give or take 15 minutes.Once you're up,a left turn at the Lynn Peak sign at the top will put you on the Needles Route.It's a steep,overgrown track that follows the ridgeline up and down and eventually lands you at the South Needle.I fell short of the final destination as I had to limit my time so I could pick up the kids at school,but got within 40 mins(?) of the summit.The route lies mostly in the trees,with some spot views of the Seymour Valley,Mts Seymour,Elsay,Coliseum,Burwell,etc.The forest,much of it older spruce and fir,is quite beautiful,squirrels are plentiful,and deadfall is everywhere.If you don't enjoy bushwhacking,don't go.If you like an adventure,it's pretty cool,and the route is well flagged.Don't stray too close to the bluffs ,though,it's a long way down.....Some pics,in order seen on the trail-the last one is of Lynn Peak's true summit Mick
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
THE GREAT OUTSIDE
Canada
5583 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2003 : 9:53 PM
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looks good Mick..It sounds like my kind of trip!
"If you don't get at it, when you get to it, you won't get to it to get at it again!" |
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459 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2003 : 10:02 PM
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| Looks good Mick. Love that old growth forest. |
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 Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7209 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2003 : 10:50 PM
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| Cool report Mick! I've done the Lynn Peak a couple times, but never tried for the Needles. Maybe next time I'll give it a whirl! Cheers! |
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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2003 : 10:57 PM
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I have to go up there again now that I know the route and how much time is needed.One thing I forgot to mention was when I was at that tree where the actual Lynn Peak Summit was,a big yellow chopper flew above the trees and hovered right above me.I thought at first he was looking for me,so I waved.No response,but it would have made for a stellar photo if only I could have changed my diskette in time.Then I remembered when I run the Headwaters Trail I often see these big birds flying above-makes you feel like you're fleeing from the law! Mick |
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 Grouse Grinding, GPS carrying, lawn chair packing, bike riding North Shore tech addict who stares at Crown Mountain from his office window all day
North Vancouver
Canada
1841 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2003 : 10:53 AM
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| Cool stuff Mick! I always wondered what that route was like. How long did you hike for after Lynn Peak? |
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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2003 : 2:03 PM
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| I figure I went for about 3 kms or so along the ridge.I turned back at a tape marking that said "South Needle,about an hour and ten minutes one way,up, down,and up again".The whole trek,from the parking lot to this point,and back took me four hours exactly.To get all the way there with more time to savour it,I think I'll allow about 7 hrs.... Mick |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
955 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2003 : 4:56 PM
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Great pics! I love when the forest looks really crisp like that, I wanna try this Needles route sometime. Bushwacking through the North Shore's great cause there's so many trails to explore!
blah, have a cookie |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
1131 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2003 : 5:40 PM
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Hey Mick great pictures realy like the color in the first one.
"Anything is Possible" |
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double-double seeking, snow-chasing, short-cutting, vertical feet collector
Vancouver, BC
Canada
4325 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2003 : 8:04 PM
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beautiful pictures Mick, I hiked up with friends to the city-wide lookout today. As I was mentioning in another thread, it amazes me that so few people go up to Lynn Peak - perhaps it's the STEEP TRAIL sign on the upper Lynn Trail that intimidates people?
It was my first time up that trail, and I greatly enjoyed it. I was surprised (on the return down, actually) that the trail was rather steep, hardly noticed on the way up.
I was told that there is no view at the peak (aside from ribbons around the tree) so we doubled-back. How far away were we from the real peak, then, from the big viewpoint?
I would love to hike the needles someday. The forest up there is lovely
cheers - C Wall |
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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2003 : 8:48 PM
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| I guess people are kind of scared off by the steep trail description,but I really enjoy the trail.It certainly beats the BCMC,or the Grind for scenery,and usually is not crowded either.When you are at the lookout rock above,the true summit is about 15-20 minutes north away(at a brisk pace) on the Needles Trail.To find it you need to look for a short fork that veers southwest off the main track. I really wanted to keep going to finish the trek,but just fell short of time.The forest is really intriguing-at first I was wishing the trail would afford better views of the Seymour Valley and mountains,but after a while I forgot about that and zenned out on hurdling deadfall and looking for big trees.Lots of fun! Mick |
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Fast Movin, litigatin, adventure seekin, clothin deprived trail buster
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
566 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2003 : 06:36 AM
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Nice shots Mick. The greens in the forest are breathtaking.
Don't let life pass you by. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
3909 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2003 : 7:15 PM
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I was up there just this Saturday morning scouting out the route, been wanting to do the first "Needle" as well (apparently as per one BC Parks ranger I met near the peak doing his morning "power-grind", the trail gets difficult to negotiate after that point and not at all well marked.)
CANT wait to get a digital so I can post my trip reports in a more timely manner! (It's comming tho - give me till Monday afternoon)
exploring life, admiring beauty, seeking peace along life's dusty trail |
Edited by - exscape on 11/10/2003 12:54 PM |
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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2003 : 11:04 PM
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I'm hoping to get a clear day and try to give it a shot again before it snows up there.
If I do I will post up if I can if anyone wants to head up with me-probably on a Thursday or Friday with an early start.I love it up there on the Needles Trail,it's like Sherwood Forest,or something.Sort of an eco-challenge type trek too,except of course for the flagging! Mick |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2748 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2003 : 11:17 AM
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Hey Mick--I started out on that trail for about 20 minutes one time last summer just to see where it went from the normal summit of Lynn and because I had heard that it was in really bad shape with deadfall etc and wanted to see for myself. I also ran out of time and put it on my back burner list as one I definitely wanted to spend some more time on. It wasn't too bad and the marking was just fine but I only went in a little ways. I'd love to make it all the way to the South Needle so let me know when you might try again, Mick. I've got a lot of vacation time I have to use up before New Years so a midweek trip is also a possibility. It's also listed as a good trip in that little white book that has snowshoe trips around here because with snow, you don't have to worry about the deadfall so that might be the way to go to actually scope it out a bit more, after the snow comes.
HikeOn,
Rich
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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2003 : 1:02 PM
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| Come to think of it,Rich,I do have a new pair of snowshoes too.I'll post up for sure and/or contact you when I get set on a day.I think the important thing would be to do it when the forecast is clear,snow or not...Mick |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2748 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2003 : 5:05 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mick range
I'll post up for sure and/or contact you when I get set on a day.I think the important thing would be to do it when the forecast is clear,snow or not...Mick
I agree. I need a bit of advance warning to locate a pair of snowshoes as I don't own any yet.
HikeOn,
Rich
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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
10537 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2003 : 12:31 AM
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Seawall,just bumping this thread so you can check out the actual Lynn Peak summit,which is the last picture I posted. Also,I think the mountain through the trees in the fourth pic is Meslilloet.From that pic spot it is about an hour to the South Needle,and about 90 mins hike from
where we all were at the Lynn Peak lookout.Next year I'll lead a group up there,for sure,because I'm compelled to finish it now. Mick |
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Lynn Peak/Needles Ridge Route
