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Ladner
Canada
628 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 5:45 PM
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I had always wanted to climb Cloudraker since seeing it 15-20 years ago while hiking in the Lizzie Lake area. Unfortunately it was a long ways off then and even longer now if you want to go in from that direction because of the road being out. However after scanning the area in google earth I noticed some fresh clearcuts on the south side of the mountain in the Rogers Creek drainage that may provide easier access. I had read that the Rogers Creek FSR had been gated and locked in the past but wasn't mentioned in a TR from 2009
http://bcmc.ca/members/ViewReport.asp?rq=ViewTrip&RepId=51
Since it was a Friday and I was going alone I decided to give it a try anyway, if it was locked my plan B was to do something off the Duffey,
 The logging road I used is in the new clearcut directly below Cloudraker. The party in the other tr used the logging road to the east which climbs even higher.
The gate turned out to be open and there was a notice of mineral exploration in the area. Further up the road I passed a landing with boxes of core samples laid out everywhere and then a camp with a trailer and four large tents and a bunch of quads but didn't see anyone. I found the branch road that I had seen in GE and it was in good shape but very steep. I think I drove most of the way up in 4 low and in 1st gear. I was only expecting to get to 7 or 800m before hitting snow but surprisingly was able to get to 1150m and within a few hundreds meters of the end of the road.
After a short 100m hike through the clearcut I was in the old growth, and within 10 mins there was enough snow to put on the skis and start skinning up. The snow in the forest was pretty hard but softened up considerably as I skied above treeline at around 1700m. Although I was in a complete whiteout the route finding was straight forward, all I had to do was go up until I hit the southeast ridge. At 2150 m I ran into a small step where I ditched the skis and scrambled over, it doesn't look like much in the picture but there was a class 3 move with some exposure. Perhaps it's a lot easier when it's not covered in snow. The clouds started to break at this point and I just kicked steps the rest of the way up to the summit at 2385m. Fortunately the weather was clearing and I was afforded with views of higher distant peaks but not much in the immediate area.
 Rock step
   
 Slalok Mountain, Mount Matier & Mount Howard
 Nivalis Mountain & Mt Sir Richard
 Mount Weart
 Mt James Turner & Wedge Mountain
 Snow Pillow Peak
 Greymantle Mountain
 Unnamed peaks at the head of Rogers Creek
 1200m elev gain, 4.25 hrs up, 1.5 hrs down
Most of the remaining clouds lifted as I descended, once back on skis I had a quick ski run back to treeline losing 600m in the spring wet cement. The snow in the forest was still very hard and I chose to just carry the skis and walk down. In retrospect I think snowshoes are probably better suited for this trip.
It wasn't that late in the day yet so I decided to drive a few km down the road and check out the Skookemchuck hot springs before heading back home.
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357 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 6:05 PM
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Nicely done! Sometimes I love the cloudy days, makes for very interesting photos. Wow,looks like you really cut down your descent time with the ski's.
Those hotsprings look interesting and don't look to be that busy, can only see 1 guy there. Would you recommend? |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1116 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 6:35 PM
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| Nice.Now there is one you seldom hear about. |
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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 - 06/10/2011 : 9:40 PM
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thanks for posting on CT again Gerry  |
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West Vancouver, B.C.
Canada
288 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 9:51 PM
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| Nice trip and report Gerry. This area is 4WD access only I assume? |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
262 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 10:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Springbow
Nicely done! Sometimes I love the cloudy days, makes for very interesting photos. Wow,looks like you really cut down your descent time with the ski's.
Those hotsprings look interesting and don't look to be that busy, can only see 1 guy there. Would you recommend?
They're nice for a soak; I've never seen more than a couple people using them. If the gate keeper is around you'll have to pay $5 for access.
If you drive aways further, there are non-commercial springs. |
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Ladner
Canada
628 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 10:26 PM
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Springbow, there are two other tubs that are actually nicer than those in the picture but they had people in them so I didn't bother to point my camera at them. There is a caretaker there and they charge 7.50 per visitor, so if you happen to be in the area after a hike it would be worth it to stop in but I wouldn't go out of my way for them. They also have a nice campground there by the river.
Craig, the road was quite good and not water barred but was very steep, and would probably be pretty hard on most cars.
Your welcome Boris. I'll try to post more of the obscure peaks that I climb in the future as well. |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
631 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 10:30 PM
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| The gate is supposed to be closed. Not sure why it wasn't. |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5041 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2011 : 11:02 PM
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| Nice one Gerry. I've wondered about Cloudraker |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1111 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 04:10 AM
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| Looks like a good one. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2660 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 08:34 AM
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Good to see you getting out more sir  |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1126 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 2:32 PM
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| Nice one Gerry. Thanks for the report. |
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Terminator shade wearing, summit questing, double Grinding, Gordo voting self annointed 'dumb ass' and Aconcagua Bagga who dreams of Robson, Teton, The Judge, and.....and....
Port Moody, B.C
Canada
2210 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 4:16 PM
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Very cool trip and well planed trip Gerry.  |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 6:24 PM
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| nice trip. |
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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 - 06/11/2011 : 8:28 PM
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Different aspect. Moe at right I think.
Good Trip.
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Richmond, BC
Canada
959 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2011 : 9:13 PM
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Nice, thanks for the report.
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Above the clouds on Cloudraker Jun 3 2011
