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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1030 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 2:18 PM
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With the bad weather quickly rolling in for the long weekend I quickly rejigged my schedule to get the Friday off. We had some possible destinations for a bag night in mind, but ended up settling on Little Diamond Head.
When we hiked to the Gargoyles and Opal Cone with Rob (gearhed) back in September he mentioned sleeping up on Little Diamond Head previously. After reading his TR and seeing his pictures the plan to do likewise was set. We just needed to wait for the right weather window.
On the 20th we got it.
   
1. Snow is gone all the way to the car park but starts right at the TH. Snowshoes aren't really required to get to the Red Heather hut but you will be postholing when you get onto the winter route
2. Obligatory shot of our current home, Squamish, and the Chief from the viewpoint on the trail to Red Heather
3. I was actually glad for the first section in the trees, it meant we where out of the sun until we got to Paul's Ridge
4. On Pauls Ridge, looking out towards Pyramid and Spire
   
1. With/without snow shot of Red Heather Hut
2. With/without snow shot of Red Heather Outhouse
3. The Whiskey Jacks where out in force
4. The view inside Red Heather
   
1. I don't know if it was a blessing or a curse having our destination nearly always in view
2. Looking back on the Tantalus Range
3. Spring with Pyramid and Spire behind her
4. The Skypilot group
   
1. Over the hump on Pauls Ridge
2. Getting closer to the Elfin shelter
3. At the shelter, where we took off our snowshoes for a bit to have lunch and melt some snow for water
4. With/without snow shot of Elfin Hut. It was pretty much empty and the propane was off/empty. It was actually colder in the Hut than outside (which was around 25'c by my thermometer). We met jd22 at the hut who was day tripping to the lakes
   
1. From the Elfin Hut onwards we where pretty much trail breaking in slushy, late afternoon snow towards the Gargoyles saddle .
2. We bee lined towards the saddle, which passed below some slide paths off Columnar Peak
3. Topping out on the saddle we get our first look at the route up to little diamond head.
4. We had to travel up higher towards the Gargoyles due to the saddle being corniced.
   
1. Shortly after passing the low point between the saddle and Little Diamond Head we had a break for 15 minutes at a tree Island which was the last area of shade on our route. It felt good to get out of the blistering sun for a bit
2. En route to Little Diamond Head, the Gargoyles behind us
3. The back of the Gargoyles
4. Views of the Howe Sound behind us
   
1. On the summit of Little Diamond Head
2. The ridge to Atwell from the summit
3. DIY shot
4. Atwell
   
1. Looking out towards Opal Cone and the Neve
2. We dropped about 20m's down off the summit to make camp. The summit itself was corniced and did not have enough room to set up our tent.
3. We needed to dig a tent pad out to get a level base as we where on a slope
4. Our bed for the night
   
1. Our view for dinner
2. Sundog over the Tantalus range
3. Booties on, feet up
4. Spring boiling the water in a sheltered pit I dug to sit down in
   
1. Watching the sun set
2. Enjoying some hot chocolate
3. The evening was perfect. It was clear and warm with relatively no wind
4. That evening could of stretched on forever and I would of been happy
   
1. Night lights of Squamish
2. The lights of Squamish with the lights of Vancouver reflecting off the clouds in the distance
3. We hit the sack just as the stars started to come out. We would of stayed up longer but where both bagged from the long hike with ~40lb packs that day
4. Through the night the tent was peppered with light snow but there was little to no wind. We awoke and got the water boiling in the vestibule
 
1. The whole area was inside a cloud for our departure. We where actually thankful now for the soft snow on the ascent, it meant we had clear, deep tracks to follow back down. Where it not for them I would of had to rely on my GPS tracks as we had close to zero visibility.
2. We stopped on the way back at the Elfin hut. The hoards were rolling in for the weekend. We met 3 guys who were planning to do the Neve traverse. 3 young women arrived for the night while we where having our lunch and the guys decided to cancel their plans due to the weather... interesting  We passed quite a few people on the trail out so I imagine the hut was full to capacity that night.
All in all, possibly our best night in the mountains to date. The photos really do not do the panoramic views we had any justice. If there's another weather window I'd recommend anyone to camp up there, sure there is already a tent pad made for you now  |
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surrey
Canada
650 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 3:01 PM
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| Nice trip Friday sure was nice. |
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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
13090 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 3:18 PM
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| Great idea, I'd rather be tenting than staying in that hut with the crowds anyday |
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1773 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 4:14 PM
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| I was keeping an eye from afar on you guys going up the saddle. Did you get any snow releases while heading up? |
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Van, BC
Canada
2841 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 4:38 PM
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Perfect weather! I've been planning a LDH trip myself, but have been waiting for the snow to go away (looks like I'll be waiting quite some time).
-Ryan
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1030 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 4:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jd22
I was keeping an eye from afar on you guys going up the saddle. Did you get any snow releases while heading up?
No releases at all. I was a bit worried about the clouds overnight insulating the heat from that day but when we got up the conditions where more or less the same as the day before. It was pretty clammy and warm in the morning when we were hiking out though. |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1030 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 6:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mick range
Great idea, I'd rather be tenting than staying in that hut with the crowds anyday
The Elfin Lakes Shelter should really be rebranded now as "Quest Uni's Off-Campus Digs". At least it would give people an idea of what to expect on any given weekend. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5378 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 6:38 PM
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| Beauty camp spot! I agree, much nicer than Paul Ridge. |
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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
4663 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 9:20 PM
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Woohoo - you got your camp booties!!! Much nicer eh guys 
Great trip!  |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1030 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 9:28 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Spunky
Woohoo - you got your camp booties!!! Much nicer eh guys
Great trip!
We also got down jackets  After shivering the night away in our hiking boots and fleece jackets next to you and AT in your booties and down we learnt our lesson. Best purchase I've ever made for camping. I still cannot believe how well they work. |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
908 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2011 : 11:19 PM
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| looks like a great idea for a trip for sure! Love the photos! |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2011 : 09:58 AM
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| Some great shots - good call on taking Friday off. |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
667 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2011 : 12:30 PM
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| Nice.. I was looking out my windows all weekend cursing my sore knee. Great shots.! |
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North Vancouver
Canada
754 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2011 : 9:30 PM
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| You sure picked a good weather window for a great trip. |
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Vancouver, bc
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2011 : 12:54 PM
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| Glad you had a real camera to capture the experience. There were days when I couldn't make the Gargoyles because the snowpack was a giant slurpee... but always a big effort with a big pack. Kudos.. wish I was there. |
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Little Diamond Head: May 20, 21 '11
