| Author |
Topic |
|
Surrey, BC
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 6:54 PM
|
May 17, 2012
After about 3-4 trips up these roads this past winter, trying to find a way up there in snow, we patiently waited for good conditions and gave the chosen route a try today.
We parked at the bottom, but for those with 4x4, you will be able to drive to the 860m level of Bridal FSR. Patchy snow from there, continuous snow at 930m (picture taken on way down).
We take a sharp left turn at the end of Bridal FSR, elevation 1120m. Doesn't look like an old road right now, but it is. No snowshoes or traction devices so far. Faint tracks from someone, perhaps a week or more old.
Up this road to the 1220m level and it takes a sharp right turn. Crampons went on, and ice-axe came out here. The snow was so hard, we decided the snowshoes were not getting a free ride this time, and we left them there.
To roads end at about 1300m, look for the old growth tree in the picture below that has had it's top half broken off at some time. Just above that there is a steep, but short path up to the ridge (center of this picture).
We are on the west ridge. : ) Archibald top right, Cheam on the left.
The majority of the clouds were down in the valley, right where we wanted them to stay. : )
Hackles up and barking...something is up!? No, just a lonesome boulder on the snow. : )
This is the end of the mellow part of the ridge, and where the faint tracks seem to end. Steep and a bit knarly from here.
Final climb to the summit, Katie leading the way. : )
Summit pictures. Not a treeless summit, but move around and you can find a view in every direction. : )
     
Lunch time fun. : )
I had put up some flags on the way up, as we were not leaving much for tracks to follow down, but wouldn't you know it, we still went off track leaving the summit. Took the wrong gully down. We knew we should be seeing the valley to the right, but we just saw treed slopes, and where we were supposed to be. Had to go back up a bit to cross another gully and we made it back to our faint tracks. : )
 
The lonesome boulder Katie was barking at on the way up. : )
Ridge pose. : )
Just a random hole in the snow. Anyone know how this is formed? There is no running water around it.
Looking back at Archibald, in the clouds. We left just in time. : )
Use caution through this stretch of the ridge...many 'tiger traps' to navigate.
   
Posing for some valley views. : )
  
This is that steep, but short path up to the ridge from the road. I was planting the ice-axe full length into the snow before each step, and I decide to try plunging the heel of the crampons into the snow, which by now had about 5 cm of wet, soft snow on top. One of the plunges didn't grab and I lost footing. I was fully extended, with one arm hanging on to the ice-axe. Thankfully the ice-axe did it's job and didn't budge, and what a jolt on the shoulder and pectoral muscle. Got myself up after Katie stopped laughing and licking my face. Went down backwards after that. Not sure I would have slide far though, with the wet snow. Wondered how many people down in the valley saw that. : )
The stats:
Ascent time: 4:15
Car to car time: 8:10
Cummulative elevation gain: 1807m
Edit to add some pictures. : ) |
Edited by - John and Katie on 05/18/2012 5:41 PM
|
|
Hope, BC
Canada
7131 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 7:00 PM
|
Nice report and pics, I love this area in the summer, awesome views all year round of the Valley, great shots. I like the views towards Harrison Lake.
Hot/warm air escaping? |
|
|
Surrey, BC
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 7:03 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
Nice report and pics, I love this area in the summer, awesome views all year round of the Valley, great shots. I like the views towards Harrison Lake.
Hot/warm air escaping?
That is what I was thinking. I saw a similar hole on Thurston's ridge this past winter. |
|
|
|
Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 8:17 PM
|
Katie's ridge pose is Very Regal! Perhaps, even a calendar shot? Ya know, we have so so many talented pictures, that we could almost have one of those tear away desk 365 day calendars.
I would buy one!!  Beautiful views! Never ending vistas where those snow covered peaks seem to be endless, in each direction. Wonder what Katie sees when she looks out from the summit. Lofty huntress!! hehe way cool. I am jealous. you have an amazing hiking partner. When I was fortunate enough to hike with a dog on the Appalachian Trail, a trail dog, (not mine) I was amazed at what the dog "saw" that I was missing. A whole different world out there close to the ground. Always a fun read. Keep em coming.
thanks!! |
|
|
|
Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3841 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 8:33 PM
|
Darn good trip you two.
Dam you found one of my caves. I knew I should have closed the door.
Thought the nice mild weather would air the place out. : ) |
|
|
|
Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13598 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 8:48 PM
|
Great report, and timely too. Shows the conditions on what to expect on Saturday.
So it appears we have very hard icy slopes with a narrow veneer of mush on it ?
K |
|
|
Vancouver, BC
Canada
44 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 9:02 PM
|
| Nice TR John, as usual. Great shots of Katie "posing" on the ridge. |
|
|
Surrey, BC
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 09:13 AM
|
Thanks for the kind replies everyone! : )
quote:
Originally posted by KARVITK
Great report, and timely too. Shows the conditions on what to expect on Saturday.
So it appears we have very hard icy slopes with a narrow veneer of mush on it ?
K
We had a 7 am start. I'd say the snow was frozen at about 1200m, and that was probably around 9:30. We left the summit around 11:30, and once on the ridge again, the snow was getting a mushy top layer. |
|
|
 | Mr. B
Intermediate Member
|
Popkum, B.C.
Canada
641 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 09:43 AM
|
| Good job scouting that out for us, John. Hope we get some descent weather on Saturday. |
|
|
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
885 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 10:19 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by John and Katie
Just a random hole in the snow. Anyone know how this is formed? There is no running water around it.
I think sometimes these are formed when rocks sit on top of the snow and because they are darker they attract the sun and melt down the snow around them...was there a rock at the bottom of the hole? |
|
|
Hope, BC
Canada
7131 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 11:03 AM
|
| Or how about yellow stains around the outer edge? |
|
|
|
Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13598 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 12:20 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
Or how about yellow stains around the outer edge?
Are you thinking Bear ..... |
|
|
|
Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 1:24 PM
|
I think the route you took is near the same as the route I took some years back. This is one trip where the old roads on my map made no sense higher up. Your approach shots do look familiar though I might have gained the west ridge a little further up.
Good place for different aspects of the usual peaks.
|
|
|
Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1092 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 2:43 PM
|
| Good to see you get this one done, Archibald West ridge looked really nice last night, though I couldn't see your tracks from way down here. |
|
|
Surrey, BC
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 3:38 PM
|
Thanks again guys, and you're welcome, Mr. B. : )
quote:
Originally posted by kellylegros
quote:
Originally posted by John and Katie
Just a random hole in the snow. Anyone know how this is formed? There is no running water around it.
I think sometimes these are formed when rocks sit on top of the snow and because they are darker they attract the sun and melt down the snow around them...was there a rock at the bottom of the hole?
Nothing at the bottom. My first impression was warmer air coming out of the ground, so I'm sticking with that. : )
quote:
Originally posted by simonc
I think the route you took is near the same as the route I took some years back. This is one trip where the old roads on my map made no sense higher up. Your approach shots do look familiar though I might have gained the west ridge a little further up.
Good place for different aspects of the usual peaks.
Read your report Simon, and it does sound like we took the same route. Here is a map 'theshadow' posted in another thread awhile back.
Where the green meets purple you will see a road heading off east and then switchbacking west to just below the ridge. That is the route we took to the ridge.
 |
Edited by - John and Katie on 05/18/2012 5:08 PM |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Mt. Archibald, via the west ridge : )
