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Burnaby, BC
Canada
16 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2011 : 2:52 PM
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I had been spending a lot of time exploring the Tunnel Bluffs area and wanted to finally give a good push to the top of Hat Mountain.
My hiking partner and I met on June 30 at 830am in North Van and drove out to the Lions Bay viewpoint parking lot and again were the only vehicle parked there. The weather was raining and overcast, but showed potential to clear up in the higher elevations. We were really hoping to have a view along the hike up, as staring into a cloud isn't much fun.
We both did our best Frogger impressions crossing Hwy 99 and made it safely to the Tunnel Bluffs trailhead tucked beside Hwy 99. The first hour of the Tunnel Bluffs trail doesn't offer much warm up before you get a real insane calf-busting work out. WeedWhacker has done such an incredible job marking and clearing the Tunnel Bluffs trail. Thanks Weedwhacker.
After passing 3 smaller bluffs, we made it into a flat alpine section and then quickly onto the logging trail. Then after a quick 15 minutes we made it to the Hat Mt/Brunswick Mt trail fork.
We followed the markers for Hat Mt. and skipped the Tunnel Bluffs view point as it was raining quite hard and there was nothing to see except grey clouds. Following the logging road was super easy, which starts flat and eventually inclines steadily up the trail.
There were a number of Grouse enjoying the rain with their chicks, and did their best to loure us away from them. There were also patches of bear shit on the trail, but no bear sightings.
It took approximately 45 mins to get to the end of the logging road and then into the forest we went with a noticeable steep climb. The snow started around the end of the logging road. We both followed the well marked trail through a steep scree field and then back into the alpine. There's a lot of snow at the beginning of the second scree slope, but the snow was hard and not very slippery with minimal post-holing. Neither I nor my partner brought up snowshoes or yaktraks, so we had talked about pressing on or not. We both agreed to press on a little further, as we both believed we were close to the top.
After the second scree slope, we entered a flat snow covered alpine area where the fog was so thick, we couldn't see 10 feet in front of us. Had a little trouble spotting the yellow trail markers, but managed. At the end of the alpine was a very steep snow covered section that would require a side travel across the snow and we both decided to call the hike there. We didn't want to risk our health for a little glory. We both understood how dangerous a slip could be. So we turned around, sucked up our pride and followed the markers back down the sharp decent. The rocks in the scree slopes were quite slippery from the rain and there was mud everywhere, but we both made it back to the logging road with minor muddy backsides.
We followed the logging road down towards the fork and decided to stop and have some lunch and a cold beer at Magnolia Creek (5 minute detour on the Brunswick trail). Of course the weather cleared up after our lunch and when we were back in the trees.
I can`t tell you how much my knees hate the steep decent of the Tunnel Bluffs trail towards Hwy 99.
Overall, a successful day, minus the peak... but it was a good 6 hours up and down.
Sorry I didn`t take more photo`s, just a little too much rain for the day.
Hat Mountain 1, Trippy Bambino 0...
Thanks for reading,
TB
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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
13591 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2011 : 5:38 PM
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Good for you getting out despite the rain.
K |
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289 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 1:13 PM
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| Good call on bailing. The steep, hardpack snow ahead would have been damn tough to climb without spikes/crampons. Hat from Tunnel Bluffs is the fun approach - keep it in mind for next time. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
876 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 4:21 PM
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You picked a good place to turn around. The cliffs beyond that point drop a long way down into Logger Creek. They are safe enough in summer, but at this time of the year crampons and ice axe are essential.
I made it up to the Hat north ridge two weeks ago in intermittent fog. It didn't look much different from mid-winter.
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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
13591 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 5:48 PM
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Amazing how all is delayed by so much.
K |
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Hat Mountain Attempt
