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 Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4001 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 12:59 PM
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Hemionus is a mountain I tried to visit October 2010 but active logging on North Creek Main squashed those plans. This time I went on a Sunday and had no issues. Hemionus (took me a while to get the pronunciation correct) is located west of the Mount Sampson area. Not a lot of information on it but Too Many Canyons and Mick Range visited the area a couple of years back - posting some nice pictures and that got me interested.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33401 Mick's TR.
I drive up to Pemberton and on towards the Upper Lillooet FSR. Once on that I follow it for nearly 20km and turn right up North Creek Main just past the bridge over North Creek. Active Logging signage right at the start and the road is in good shape as I follow it upwards ignoring many old and new spurs. My hand drawn map and the Backroads Mapbook got me up to km 5.5 where a new spur branched right. After getting my elevation (880m) sorted my route was the middle road. Alders were blocking access so I sawed those out of the way and continued upwards on a 4x4 deactivated road. Lot's of alder crowding in and I stopped a couple more times to saw some more.
Getting on to the newer cutblocks further up I drive to about km 8.7 and park (1275m el.) Some downed trees at the next switchback block further driving but I've got less than a km to roads end. Nice views southward towards Overseer and westward towards Meager as I walk up the road for 10 minutes to the highest cutblock.
 1400m elevation and a view through the cutblock to the forest.
As the snow had just recently melted and the cutblock wasn't that old it was a dead easy walk through it to the forest above. The snowline started once in the trees and made for quick travel upwards to gain the southeast ridge of Hemionus.
On good snow I continue up the ridge with the tree cover starting to thin and some nice views opening up in all directions. As this is a new area for me my peak IDing was being well challenged.
 Looking up the North Creek Valley. Pebble area at left, Chadwick centre and Philistine at right.
 And a view southwards towards The Overseer Group (centre right) with the Lillooet River below.
By now I've left the trees behind and it's a great walk on the snow along the scenic ridge. There are a couple of steepish sections which present no difficulties (that comes later on).
 Capricorn and Meager to the west. The lighter coloured rock on the left flank of Meager could be part of what collapsed last year into Capricorn Creek which drains down to low left corner of shot. This then blocked up Meager Creek down stream.
I ascend a knoll (edge seen right side of picture above) to take a rest break, look at the views and the route ahead. I have another knoll to go up/around before the peak is in sight.
 A look back at the upper logging roads where I came from with The Lillooet River Valley below and Mount Morrison prominent above.
 Overseer and Spidery to the SSW.
Dropping down a little I then go up and skirt the south side of the next knoll to get my first view of the Hemionus. The continuation of the ridge looks good to start but I'd read about some gendarmes further along that force you off the ridge crest.
 Me and the ridge leading towards the peak (taken on the way back). The point of the ridge crest just right of me is where the hike became a scramble.
I'd made really good time so far and was in high spirits with the nice views, good conditions and exploring a new area. My spirits sagged a little when the direct route on the ridge crest ended with large blocky rocks, gaps and steep drop offs on each side. The southwest side looked okay but I'd have to drop down a fair ways. Not wanting to do that I took a look down the steep northeast side.
 Where I got stopped.
Mostly snow covered with some rock sticking out. If I could get down that and then traverse over I should then be able to ascend a steep snow slope to regain the ridge near the summit. To leave the ridge I would have to jump 6 feet off a rock on to snow. That was fine but now I was committed.
The snow was soft enough to kick in good steps and some was sluffing off too. I didn't bother with crampons but used the iceaxe as I slowly backed down facing in and checking each step and hold. One concern was breaking though the snow into rock gaps underneath but that didn't happen. The descent was a bit of a zig and zag as I avoided rocky areas. Cornices above me were another concern as quite a few had already collapsed and strewn the bowl below me with debris.
 What I just descended.
After getting below the cliffing/rocks I then quickly traversed across the slope and ascended up a steep slope (centre right area of picture below) to regain the ridge.
 The traverse and ascent.
 And a look back from where I came with route drawn in.
I walked up a tongue of snow and then got on to some rock and stayed mostly with that with some minor scrambling here and there. Then it was another snow slope that I followed up to the summit. Dropping down the other side slightly to some rocks I relaxed for a while and took more pictures and tried to figure out what mountain was what.
   
1. Summit (2285m) shot. Sugas Mountain centre left. Ethelweard area in the distance.
2. Western view: Spindrift centre right, Spindrift SW2 centre left (note mislabeled as Blockhead in Backroads Mapbook). Plinth in the distance between the two.
3. I'm not sure about this one. I think it could be The Ryan Peak area centre left with The Sneakout Peak area rear right.
4. Eastern view: Sampson the high peak in sunshine at left. Delilah in shade left of it. Some of The Locomotive Group centre area.
More cloud than blue sky now unfortunately but a good day to be out anyway. I go back over the summit and take some more pictures from a rock outcrop. Time is good and I spend over an hour on the summit area.
    
1. Spindrift SW2 with Plinth behind.
2. My only view of Blockhead just poking up over Spindrifts left shoulder.
3. Looking ESE: Locomotive, Handcar, Goat (centre) and you can see the spire of Sun God and other Tenquille Lake area peaks far right.
4. Sugarloaf prominent at left, Morrison at near right. The peak way back just right of Morrison might be Currie.
5. I'm guessing that this might be The Sirenia Mountain area to the west. Capricorn's shoulder at right.
 The view from Hemionus's summit area down to it's upper SE Ridge and the bowl north of it.
Not wanting to ascend back to the ridge the way I came down it I had a look at the broad bowl seen in the picture above and decided to travel through that and come out at it's far end on the right side. I scrambled back down the rocks and down the snow slope into the bowl and through that passing by some good sized chunks of snow from the cornice collapses above. Getting out of the bowl was easy enough and I took another quick break once back on the ridge.
 Looking back at the bowl, snow slope and summit area of Hemionus.
Contouring back around the knoll I retrace my steps back along the ridge, down through the forest and into the cutblock. A quick walk back down the road and I'm back at my vehicle. The bugs weren't bad today so I relaxed for a bit and took in the still nice views.
 Capricorn and Meager from the logging road.
I cut away another sagging alder on the way down (don't drive this road if you value your paint job - side, hood, roof and undercarriage) and was soon back down on the main road and heading for home. Not a long hike by any means, but it has decent elevation gain, great views and options for further exploration which I hope to do some day.
 Map of route (newer logging roads - some of them - drawn in).
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Edited by - simonc on 06/30/2011 7:56 PM
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1114 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 1:23 PM
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| Harmonious trip. Appears sunday was a good day for quite a few people. |
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505 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 1:24 PM
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| Looks like another great one in the bag by Simonc :) gonna be another big year isn't it? |
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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
13061 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 1:58 PM
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Wow, I knew this would be a great looking report. The ridge route certainly had some different challenges with the added snow and the notch, so travel through the bowl even with the cornices to watch out for looks not only a good choice but likely the only choice. Here's the seasonal difference
 
Nice to see this one get done, now I've got to give it another go, maybe I'll be third time lucky because last year Doug and I got hosed by road closures after driving up there |
Edited by - mick range on 06/29/2011 2:11 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
13061 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 2:07 PM
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And here's another angle, Simon
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357 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 2:19 PM
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| Another nice trip! Sunday seemed to be a good weather window everywhere |
Edited by - Springbow on 06/29/2011 2:26 PM |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
761 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 7:13 PM
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| Another great trip. You make it sound so easy! |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1609 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 7:41 PM
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Great trip. The colours on that mountain are a little different. I also really like the views of the Lillooet River.
Is this interpretation correct: The road is in fairly good shape to 880m (no excessive paint scratching or deep waterbars.)
Cheers |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13477 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 8:02 PM
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My favourite - that long open valley view...
K |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4001 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 10:25 PM
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Steventy, yes the road is in rough 2wd shape to around the 5.5km mark at 880m. No issues with alders etc. up to there. It also looked like the lower down branch (Br 100) that is used for access to the North Creek Trail and cabin has logging activity on it.
Thanks for the different season (and more sunshine) pictures Mick. |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 10:33 PM
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| Looks like a snowy year in most areas in SW BC. Nice trip, you'd make a fine model for Tilley! |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2661 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 10:35 PM
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Nice hat.
Nice dots (with perspective!).
Beautiful report. Take it easy, eh? |
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832 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2011 : 10:49 PM
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Nice. Didn't know that mountain, sounds like a character from Harry Potter.
Looking at that ridge from this angle, I would have taken the low route in the first place.
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1089 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2011 : 11:17 AM
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| Keep reading my guidebooks over and over, even though I never seriously plan any trips to some of these remote areas. Thanks for bringing to life these mountains that I've never even seen pictures of before. |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
212 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2011 : 2:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by RamblingBull
Nice. Didn't know that mountain, sounds like a character from Harry Potter.
Or, a Chrysler product. |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4001 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2011 : 7:47 PM
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It's an Asian wild ass - Equus hemionus, or mule deer - Odocoileus hemionus - which is found through western North America (7 sub species according to Wikipedia). The Black Tailed Deer is the one found around here.
Incidently, I did see a deer on the logging road on the drive up. |
Edited by - simonc on 06/30/2011 7:47 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
13061 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2011 : 8:06 PM
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| It's funny you should mention the donkey part, because I had to Google Hemionus to find out where it was when TMC suggested going there and of course all the wild ass stuff came up |
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1355 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 3:28 PM
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Thanks for the report, Simon.
Never heard about this mountain. It's always nice to find out something new.
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832 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2011 : 11:36 PM
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Asian wild ass sounds good though...  |
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Hemionus Mountain (North Creek Area). Jun 26 11
