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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 12:08 PM
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This is going to be a pic heavy TR - there were a lot of us, the views were incredible, and the weather was perfect. My contribution:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/sets/72157624025134978/
On Saturday, MarkT2008 lead a dozen of us way up the Squamish River Valley to Ring Mountain. This required a long drive up the Squamish Main and then driving as far as we could up S-500.
Google Earth birdseye (blue = Squamish Main and S-500, red = snowshoe):
Here is what the entire length of S-500 looks like (we were able to drive to about just before the furthest left switchback before hitting snow, so we hiked the rest):
As for the hike...
Elevation Profile:
Google Earth birdseye:
Google Earth 3d:
  
The first 10km or so of the Squamish Main have been graded over the last week. The potholes are gone, but the surface is a tad loose. It's in very good condition - pretty much any 2wd LC car can make it to the High Falls Creek trailhead without issue.
After that, the Squamish Main is still in decent enough shape to the Elaho turnoff. A few potholes, and rather dusty. After the Elaho turnoff, the road quality actually improves, with two exception. There is one part where the side slope above has released a few large-ish rocks, so you have to dodge around them. In another spot, the downslope side of the road has washed out and the upslope side has a moderately deep rut/mud puddle. None of us had any problem getting through, but it might make some 2wd drivers think twice.
We reached S-500 and started up. Two small waterbars (my first waterbars!) were easily traversed. Then we came to a creek and washout. Two of us decided to park here (I wasn't about to do it after only 2 weeks with my XTerra!), but Mark and the other Xterra decided to give it a go and made it across. 4wd HC or a lot of confidence are needed if you want to save yourself a couple of hundred meters of elevation gain and a few km.
Video of Mark crossing the washout:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590736997/
Video of (not my) XTerra crossing the washout:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590738049/
S-500 beyond this isn't too too bad. The waterbars were not that deep. There were two stretches of jungle that we had to drive through though, and your undercarrage might get a few scrapes. I believe we only passed one junction, and we stayed left.
Hit constant snow at slightly over 800m and parked. 10 minutes of hiking on relatively solid snow and it was finally worthwhile to put the snowshoes on. To follow the correct route up, stay right at the two junctions on the road.
After a few switchbacks, we finally had enough elevation to get some nice views of the Squamish River Valley below and Ring Mountain before us:
   
 
Video Panorama - On the S-500 climb:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590738615/
At the end of the road we turned right and climbed sharply through the cut block. At the top of that we entered the trees and continued uphill along a ridge up the little valley. Watching the GPS and checking the maps, we eventually angled ourselves down to the creek, found a good snowbridge to cross (the creek wasn't all that open, so that was easy), and climbed up the other side.
Video - Frank is Acrobatic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4591358808/
We found ourselves on a bench at the bottom of some steep slopes coming off of Ring. The many slide paths looked like they had been set off by cornice falls:
Not wanting to climb that and then try to find our way through gaps in the rock wall, we continued further up the valley through the trees until we came to a more open gentler slope with an obvious break in the cliffs above.
Google Earth 3d of what I just described:
The views were opening up across the valley. It was amazing:
(Note the snowmobile high marking - the peace and quiet was interrupted all day by the sounds
of snowmobiles all around us (buth thankfull not on Ring itself).
So, this brought us to the bottom of a ~30 degree slope. A relentless 300m of elevation gain without any break. The snow conditions were great though, and it was easily done in snowshoes without ice axes. One foot infront of the other.
  
Video Panorama - Catching my Breath on the Climb of Death:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590739765/
Video Panorama - Nice views on the Climb of Death:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590740299/
The top of this slope didn't bring any relief - we had to keep climbing to get on top of the summit ridge - basically the crater rim of the Ring. In Google Earth 3d:
Video 360 Panorama - On the Ring Mountain Summit Ridge:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4591360696/
Climbing the summit ridge:
Approaching the false summit:
Arriving at the false summit:
 
Taking a break at the false summit:
 
Mark takes pictures:
Across the valley:
   
Video 360 Panorama - On the Ring Mountain false summit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4591361478/
There is a nice summit plateau on top of Ring. Our climb got us to a false summit, with an obvious higher point off towards Callaghan. After we rested from the climb, we trickled over towards it.
Awwww, on the summit plateau:
Summit:
Crowding the summit:
Ring Mountain summit cairn:
Frank located a rock on the summit and was therefore happy:
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum:
Video 360 Panorama - Summit of Ring Mountain:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590743015/
The views up top were incredible - among the top I've had on a hike.
Callaghan Mountain:
 
Callaghan Valley and Whistler Beyond:
Pemberton Icefield and Little Ring:
North-ish from the Summit:
Upper reaches of Squamish River Valley:
Given the nice looking plateau, three of us decided to complete a "ring" around Ring.
Mark on the far side of the summit plateau:
After our fill of food, drink and pictures we headed back. A group decided to take an alternative descent path - loop around the crater and meet up with us at the top of the 30 degree slope. Alternative descent path:
Of course, slope of death from the way up made for *the best* butt slide slope I have ever seen!
To Butt Slide or Not to Butt Slide?
Video - two excellent butt slides:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590744203/
More butt sliding:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4591362950/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4591364344/
I was (as always) in shorts - not the best outfit for a butt slide. I managed to find an excellent position - squat down on my haunches surfing on top of the back of my left snowshoe, the right snowshoe out front, ice axe for speed control. Worked out perfectly - no snow up my legs. According to my GPS, I hit 16km/h (was going slow and carefully) - 300m elevation drop in less than a minute.
That fun over, it was time for the slog back. In the heat of the day (at least 15C, I'm sure), the snow had turned wet, mushy and isothermal. Mark managed to get himself stuck in an ackward position and required assistance to get out:
Annoying snow notwithstanding, it wasn't too bad to get back to the trucks. The crossing of the washout was slightly more difficult on the way back:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/4590736255/
Really looking forward to seeing everyone else's pics!
-Ryan
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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
13016 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 1:44 PM
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| Great stuff, Ryan, the colour of the sky is awesome! What a perfect day! |
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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
4646 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 4:20 PM
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Nice one   ! That area's amazing eh? |
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1762 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 4:54 PM
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| Buttslide extraordinaire. |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
114 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 7:04 PM
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Great report and photos as always Ryan, I didn't realise that Ring Mt was volcanic!
quote:
This required a long drive up the Squamish Main and then driving as far as we could up S-500
how long was the drive from vancouver to the S-500 junction? |
Edited by - theelasticman on 05/09/2010 7:04 PM |
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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 7:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by theelasticman
how long was the drive from vancouver to the S-500 junction?
1 hour, 15 minutes almost on the nose from the Highway 99 turnoff to S-500. Didn't time it from the Taylor Way church to the '99 turnoff, but it's probably 45-50 minutes depending on traffic.
-Ryan |
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671 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 9:09 PM
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Ryan,
thanks for putting the Tr together, great job, here is my pics
                    
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N.Vancouver, BC
140 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 9:42 PM
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Thank you Ryan for TR & photos.
Special thanks to Mark for organizing & pics.
Some my pics,
Cheers!
     
  
  
  
  
  
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N.Vancouver, BC
140 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 9:47 PM
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Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Canada
75 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 10:38 PM
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Thanks for putting together such a great TR Ryan.
It truly was a perfect day out. Stunning views, superb weather, excellent locale, and terrific trekkers.
Here are a few of my pics :
            
Thanks to all! |
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North Vancouver
Canada
745 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 10:43 PM
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| Very nice you guys. I would like to hit this one before the snow melts. |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
3994 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2010 : 11:10 PM
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Wow, kick ass looking trip and photos everyone. This one is going way up my list now. Ryan, how long did it take you guys?
This and Callaghan as a day trip, hmmm... |
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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 12:18 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by simonc
Wow, kick ass looking trip and photos everyone. This one is going way up my list now. Ryan, how long did it take you guys?
This and Callaghan as a day trip, hmmm...
Barely over 8 hours total. And we lingered for quite a bit of time on the summit. Going quick, it's a 6-6.5 hour one - less if you can drive up even higher on the road.
I eyeballed Callaghan - you'd have to pick your path well off of Ring over to Callaghan otherwise you'd be cliffed out pretty easily.
quote:
Originally posted by NS Explorer
Very nice you guys. I would like to hit this one before the snow melts.
Let's pencil in Little Ring - very similar to this trip, but even further up the valley, so the pic opportunities should be even better.
-Ryan
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Edited by - Ryan.in.yaletown on 05/10/2010 12:43 AM |
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962 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 06:08 AM
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| Glad to hear you had all the snowmobiles because they weren't on Brohm! |
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 Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7647 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 06:44 AM
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| Fantastic TR! Enjoyed the vids too! |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
489 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 07:40 AM
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| I see some familiar faces in that big gang. You all must have had a fun outing. |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
959 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 09:28 AM
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Great trip, thanks everyone. It felt really good to take a full day's break after 2 months .
Simon, Callaghan+Ring in summer from Callaghan valley should be about 8-10 hr fast paced trip. It took us about 9 hrs to Callaghan with Eva and TMC with a leisurely pace and plenty of mushroom picking. Starting from the east allows you to make a loop and return via east ridge crest with some scrambling opportunities (there is a trail/route to Ring lake through the valley).
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Vancouver, BC
58 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 10:54 AM
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Great TR with an amazing amount of detail. I think you convinved me to head up that way this week on skis: day trip on wednesday if anyone is interested.
Quick question: was the turn-of for S-500 obvious and/or signed? Thanks. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
543 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 2:14 PM
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| Ryan, what do you use to get the peak names on Google Earth? I couldn't find anything like that in the built-in layers. |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
344 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 6:06 PM
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| You guys are so lucky!!! I have always dreamt about climbing this very cool looking mountain. Congrats on making it to the summit. This the first TR I read about this mountain. Thanks for sharing and illustrating! |
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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 7:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by JBest
Quick question: was the turn-of for S-500 obvious and/or signed? Thanks.
Obvious in the sense that you could easily see there was a spur road heading off to the right, and it wasn't overgrown or anything at that point. I wasn't signed though (at least I didn't see anything). E-mail me and I can send over the GPS track.
quote:
Originally posted by Mauricio
Ryan, what do you use to get the peak names on Google Earth? I couldn't find anything like that in the built-in layers.
It isn't one of the built-in layers - it was a GE file that someone did up and distributed... I don't have the link handy, but I originally got it when someone linked to the website on here. Hopefully a few searches will be able to find it, or maybe someone has that thread bookmarked.
-Ryan |
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Ring Mountain - 2010-05-08
