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Vancouver, BC
Canada
44 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 10:46 AM
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Headed up the Coquihalla on Saturday for my first trip up the Needle Peak trail.
Got on the trail around 9am. (My start was slightly delayed because I flew past the turn off to Zopkios and had to take the next u-turn route).
Having never been here before I wasn't too sure where the trail was supposed to cut up into the trees, so I started following the first set of ski tracks that I came across. It was nice to have a broken trail to follow through the steep section in the trees.
I overtook a pair of skiers as I came out onto the ridge, and was breaking trail from then on. Snow on the ridge was nice and made for excellent snowshoeing. Higher up on the ridge it was a mix of hard windblown sections mixed in with a few drifts but still very easy to travel over.
Made it up to the bluffs at the base of the upper ridge in about 2 hours. I made a few tentative attempts to scramble up this section, but there were lots of icy spots on the rocks, I was traveling alone, and wasn't too sure of the best route, so I decided to err on the side of caution and abandoned my initial goal of reaching the peak.
Views from the saddle were incredible - great visibility in all directions. Could see the tip of Baker way off in the distance. Met a few skiers up there, but otherwise it was quite empty.
Definitely a great day in the mountains... I will be back in the summer to snag the peak!
My only regret is that I forgot to bring sunscreen and now my face looks like a tomato.
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
885 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 5:15 PM
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Nice photos Mark.
Great place for a day like that.
Good luck next time.
Cheers,
Kelly |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 6:40 PM
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| Good try mj. I think that is where we turned around about the same time last year. Too bad you didn't head for Flatiron instead...beautiful views from there too. : ) |
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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
13598 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 7:31 PM
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Ultra - beautiful. Love the blue skies and streamers of cloud rising above the snowy crests of those mountains. You got about as good as a day gets for photography and views.
You will love it next time when you go up in the summer. Great trail on the other side up Yak too.
K |
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Needle Peak...almost
