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over the hills and far away
Canada
708 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 12:57 PM
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Hope Mountain (6050 feet) is that big bulky one south-east of Hope. Made it up yesterday with Aaron (airdorno) on one of the nicer days we've had lately. The last TR I could find was Elkaholic's from two years ago. The descriptions in the wikki are pretty good.
The road (IMO) is 4x4, though Aaron didn't think it was too bad. There are lots of water-bars and pot-holes, though nothing crazy steep. You have to by-pass a bolder:
 but it's no big deal... 
Then drive through a creek:  
Follow the driving instructions. At about 8km keep straight, up a well-marked, alder-encrouched road:   It is just a short ways up this to a landing, with the trail well-marked leading down a small slope to the west (left-side of landing).
Right now the trail is fairly overgrown and muddy in parts, and it can feel like a bit of a bush-whack. The trail bed is pretty obvious, though. After dipping down, the trail starts up and leads you to a junction:  Wells left, Hope right. The trail steepens a bit, leading you up to a ridge which you must crossover to gain an old road in the next valley.
 -- Wells Peak and Aaron on the east side of the ridge.
 -- View of Hope Mtn from the ridge-crest. There is a broken bench there and makes for a good rest spot.
From the ridge the trail takes you down to the old road which you walk along easily until you see a sign:  The trail then goes up the slope, side-hilling and switchbacking a couple times before entering the forest and heading directly toward Hope Mtn. You pass through a rockslide, lose a bit of elevation, pass a couple tarns, and go over a few easy rocks/ledges. Right near the top there are scrambling challenges for those who want them; otherwise it's just a walk-up.
   
There is lots of radio/microwave stuff up there, but it isn't really messy with clutter and junk. 
Views are pretty good.
    
So the road's a bit rough, and the trail's a bit bushy, but generally easy to follow and well flagged/signed. We needed to boogy a bit because Aaron needed to be back home in the afternoon. We were less than 5 hrs round trip, and did not try for Wells. I wish I took as nice of pics as some people on CT. Pardon the black blotch on some of my photos. |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 1:08 PM
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| Hey, nothing wrong with your pictures. Thanks for the TR. |
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 | Mr. B
Intermediate Member
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Popkum, B.C.
Canada
626 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 1:11 PM
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Thanks for the TR, I've been wanting to get up there for years, but always seem to run out of Summer! Hopefully this is the year. |
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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
13445 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 5:34 PM
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Nicely done. Have heard of this mountain and been wanting to get up there sometime.
Great views. Trip this year ? 2011 or last.
Thanks for posting.
K |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 5:51 PM
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Good one! Maybe we'll get up there this year . |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
96 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 6:01 PM
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| Nice work! Thanks for the trail update. How long is the rougher part of the road? My somewhat low-slung 2WD car definitely won't make it, but I'm wondering how tough a bike ride would be to the actual hiking trail part. |
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| nickl
Intermediate Member
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surrey, bc
588 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 7:56 PM
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| Here is our TR from last year, FYI. |
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| nickl
Intermediate Member
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surrey, bc
588 Posts |
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Newton, bc
Canada
282 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 8:20 PM
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| Looks fairly doable seeing that you might only run into a dog. Still packing some bear spray might be a safe bet. Either the dogs or the bears can get testy. |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1087 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 11:00 PM
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| Doing the round trip in 5 hours is pretty fast, good to see the trail is still in decent shape. The creek crossing looks a bit worse, I never have liked those, even when it's not my truck. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7095 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 11:11 PM
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I look up at this mountain daily and hope to get up there someday. I drove up to the trailhead one day last year and it marked the hell out of my paint, it was so overgrown, glad it was my beater truck.
I heard a rumor there was a proposal to put a restraunt up there and a gondola going up (like hells gate), however town council shot it down, just like they do every other good idea.
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over the hills and far away
Canada
708 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 11:54 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
I heard a rumor there was a proposal to put a restraunt up there and a gondola going up (like hells gate), however town council shot it down, just like they do every other good idea.
I don't know how you would consider that a good idea, but whatever...
nickl- nice tr. It didn't show up when I searched. Nice to see it without the snow.
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Hope, BC
Canada
7095 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2011 : 05:26 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Candy Sack
I don't know how you would consider that a good idea, but whatever...
And what would be bad about 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
13036 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2011 : 08:15 AM
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| Well, for starters, it would wreck the wilderness experience. Have you ever been to Grouse Mtn? |
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Chilliwack
1269 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2011 : 09:49 AM
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| What a view of Hope and beyond! Awesome. :) |
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over the hills and far away
Canada
708 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2011 : 10:21 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by mick range
Well, for starters, it would wreck the wilderness experience. Have you ever been to Grouse Mtn?
Well I sort of feel that the insane amount of logging up there does that too... but also I doubt Hope has the population or the touristy interest to support such a plan.
Redbeard- the rough going starts within the first 2km, as I recall. Aaron is into mtn biking, and may have thoughts. But I wouldn't ever bother riding a bike up there, personally- I think it would suck.
Troutbreath- dog's what? We saw no dogs, but lots of bear sign. |
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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
13036 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2011 : 1:16 PM
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| True that |
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Newton, bc
Canada
282 Posts |
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Vancouver
Canada
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2011 : 10:17 AM
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Great report, I particularly appreciate the 4X4 comments and snow level details. Candy, I sent you an email but thought I'd post here in case anyone else has an opinion to offer.
I plan to tackle this hike soon in my effort to peak bag 103 hikes (5th edition), but am getting hung up by snow levels n my last 20+, and the need for a 4x4. I'm not in great shape this season so trying to minimize the long extra road walks.
Does anyone else have an opinion about the need for a 4X4 (versus say a Rav4 with ok clearance)? And if you feel it is needed, how far form the trailhead will the first major obstacle put you? 2 extra km? 5 extra km? Inquiring minds want to know! :)
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505 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2011 : 10:21 AM
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Town council doesn't want people snooping around in the woods around Hope, someone might find they're pot crops .quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
I look up at this mountain daily and hope to get up there someday. I drove up to the trailhead one day last year and it marked the hell out of my paint, it was so overgrown, glad it was my beater truck.
I heard a rumor there was a proposal to put a restraunt up there and a gondola going up (like hells gate), however town council shot it down, just like they do every other good idea.
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Edited by - paulyman on 08/03/2011 10:24 AM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2011 : 2:14 PM
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| Thanks a lot for your report. It's definitely an advantage to have a truck :) I kept this hike in mind for a couple of years, but was reluctant because there were rumours the road was in bad shape. Seems like it’s manageable, but the creek still makes me nervous. How far is it from the trail head? I keep starring at your photo and wonder if you could do it in the SUV. Is the rock on the bank just in front of your car large or you could drive over it? Or can you fit between it and the other rounded rock on the bank on the left of the picture? Thanks. |
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Hope Mountain- July 18/10
