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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 07:58 AM
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I left early Tues, toward Statlu Creek to climb Mt Jasper. The weather and forcast was iffy but a nice sunrise with coffee in hand was a grand entrance to this day. When I got to the Chehalis mainline-Statlu Creek intersect I noticed a company truck heading up Statlu. So I headed for Skwellipel Creek and Stonerabbit Peak which was my 2nd option.
 Stonerabbit!
The Skwellipel Creek Road was blocked at about 4.5k by a large rock slide, and some impassible ditches beyond that anyway.
This peak has been well documented and for good reason. As I suspected the south face was not in shape with snow and large ice cubes ready to rumble. I would head for the W Ridge route and hope the snow was in shape. I was able to get some good info on other peaks in the area and plot afew routes and routes. There is some rugged terrain, Breier looks difficult to get to but the peaks at the head of Skwellipel look really good.
 Ice cubes!
 Mt Breier on right
 Peaks at the head of Skwellipel Creek
 Robie Reid
 Clark Group
 Judge Howay with UFO!
 Ribbon of colour
On the way up I noticed much bear fodder and alot of crap on the road! Bears are neat to see, but because of their power and "bear" nature one is never totally at ease. That is one of the most appealing aspects of travelling around in wilderness. When this guy showed up around a corner on the road on the way down, my heart rate went up just a bit. I watched him for a moment and then I banged my iceaxe on a rock. He did the prudent thing and after a "bear" moment of indecision he wheeled and ambled back down the road.
   
The weather threatened a number of times during the day and I was close to turning back a number of times. I'd go abit further, wonder if I could make it without having to much unpleasantness. Once I decided to turn back as a rain shroud lowered onto the higher peaks, then it seemed to break abit and I'd go on. Finally I was high enough that I had to go for it and I'm glad I persisted!
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Edited by - EAK on 05/26/2010 07:59 AM
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2660 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 08:10 AM
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Cool!  |
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 | cjb
Junior Member
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
376 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 09:14 AM
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| That is a long and burly trip. Good going! Not to mention the jaw-dropping sight of those Slesse Glacier-sized blocks on the south face slabs. |
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 Best grilled cheese maker ever
Whitehorse, YUKON
Canada
2147 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 09:37 AM
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quote:
Judge Howay with UFO!
Nice one!! |
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Delta, B.C.
Canada
457 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 10:09 AM
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| EAK a mouse! |
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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 - 05/26/2010 : 10:30 AM
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| This is an awesome trip any time of year. How did the chutes going up to Bardean look? |
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| Eryne
Intermediate Member
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
570 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 11:33 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by EAK
Stonerabbit!
LOL! |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
3996 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 12:26 PM
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Ed, you're back to the back to the bigger peaks again. Right on . |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 2:51 PM
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| Persistence paid off! Good going Ed, I'm happy for you. I'm going to call you "Walks With Bears" soon. |
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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
4647 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 5:41 PM
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Nice one Ed!  |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1004 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 9:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by EAK
On the way up I noticed much bear fodder and alot of crap on the road! Bears are neat to see, but because of their power and "bear" nature one is never totally at ease. That is one of the most appealing aspects of travelling around in wilderness. When this guy showed up around a corner on the road on the way down, my heart rate went up just a bit. I watched him for a moment and then I banged my iceaxe on a rock. He did the prudent thing and after a "bear" moment of indecision he wheeled and ambled back down the road.
So true...both Katie and I are never really at ease on our hikes (perhaps one is feeding off the other). Sure helps in forgetting about life back in the city though. : )
We came across a large black bear a few weeks ago as we turned on to Paleface Creek FSR. I was just getting my feet settled on the pedals when I hear this deep growl come out of Katie...something I had never heard out of her on a hike before. I looked up the road and thought it was just a big stump on the side, but then he/she moved right on to the road and stopped in it's tracks...as did we. I always tell myself to take a picture next time we come across wildlife, but my first thought always is to keep control of Katie and I totally forget about the camera. Anyway, it's a short stare-down and then this fella has the 'balls' to take a step towards us...my heart started beating like it has never beat before and I jumped off the bike and started yelling and waving my arms. I honestly thought we were in for fight with that step. Bear then had a moment of indecision and then slowly rambled off into the trees. With that, Katie had a 'hound moment' and had to go investigate the spot on the road that he had just left. Damn, was I yelling at her to get back...damn, she didn't listen. She sheepishly came back to me soon after and we continued on up....all of our senses on high. |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 10:28 PM
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cjb, Simon, I'm glad you mentioned a long and burly trip....I struggled quite a bit on this trip, there is usually pain involved, but it's still worth it. Back to the "bigger Peaks" is always a day to day prospect.
Dru, The avalanch swath/shute up the south side of Bardean looked mostly clear of snow. I actually found the rockbed/gully up to Stonerabbit more difficult then the Bardean Chute. Easier but bushier terrain could have been found to the left.
John and Katie, Nice story...that first heart pounding adrenalin rush is, well, exiting!
dblair, its a rabbit not a mouse.
 Anyone know who left their ski pole at the cairn? |
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Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 09:11 AM
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A great trip, EAK. I like the shot of Breier-very enticing.
Hmmm.....Bardean..... |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
489 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 7:08 PM
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| Good going, Ed. Looks like your knees are doing better than my back! I'm still deciding which I like best: the "Stonerabbit" photo or the "UFO" photo. In the end, I think I will go for "Stonerabbit". |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 7:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by alhike
Good going, Ed. Looks like your knees are doing better than my back! I'm still deciding which I like best: the "Stonerabbit" photo or the "UFO" photo. In the end, I think I will go for "Stonerabbit".
Oh dear Al, what happened to your back? Have you ever tried Tai Chi or Deep Water Aquafit? These disciplines have served me well. I like the stone rabbit too, wonder who composed such beautiful rock art? |
Edited by - Flowing-Brook on 05/27/2010 7:38 PM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
291 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 8:59 PM
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quote:
Anyone know who left their ski pole at the cairn?
it was there since last summer! |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6773 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 9:12 PM
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| Nice one Ed, I would rate this in the top ten for the area,but never done it. Love to see more pics of ascend/descent. Take extra care soloing this stuff eh? |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
948 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 9:49 PM
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That face looks crazy with the ice cubes on it.
Good trip! |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2010 : 10:25 PM
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AT said "Nice one Ed, I would rate this in the top ten for the area,but never done it. Love to see more pics of ascend/descent. Take extra care soloing this stuff eh?"
I always try to take extra care when I'm on a solo trip....Thanks!
 Traverse across the steepish snow on route between West Ridge and south route(On way back). Note the trees being pushed downhill !
 View of upper South face.
 Not a great pic but it shows the small amount of snow left in the route from the road to the open south face. Steeper rock in afew places can be bypassed through bushier terrain on the left. The West ridge was easy snow/scramble(no pics) |
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831 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2010 : 6:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by EAK
Note the trees being pushed downhill!
The power of nature... Scary stuff!!
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| Paulo
Intermediate Member
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
768 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2011 : 12:29 PM
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| Does anyone know currently how far up the FSR road(s) one can drive for the approach to Stonerabbit Peak? Would like to climb it near the end of the month. Thanks in advance :-) |
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Stonerabbit Peak May 25 2010
