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Burnaby, BC
Canada
667 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 02:12 AM
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So, Murdock and I set out to climb the Joffre group. Saturday we headed out feeling good about the weather. Mountain-forcast had sun and clouds all weekend. We had intended to set up our base camp at motel col.
Well, the snow got crazy soft up high and we where sinking to our knees so decided to camp at motel 66. We packed it in early intending to head out around 5am. At 2am wile taking a leak the sky was pure and looked awesome.
5am rolled around and the sunrise was awesome. There where some clouds but nothing to worry about, we thought.
The wind picked up quickly. We headed for the Col between Joffre and Matier and as we got closer the dark clouds got closer. Our plan had been to climb Joffre early and then try for Matier and maybe a bonus at the end of the day.
At the Col we could hardly see the peaks, they where high in the clouds and the wind was strong enough to cause us to loose your balance. We looked at each other and cursed! We hung out in an old snow pit for a wile to see what the weather would do.
It broke a little after about 40 minutes so we decided to head for Matier and at least get one done. It cleared a bit on our way up, warming up and keeping our spirits high. We could see a pair just about at the top of Joffre climbing the colour but then it looked like they turned back. I guess the black clouds and high winds had gotten to them I wold have done the same. They where so close, maybe they where already on their way down. I dont know.
Soon, the snow started and the winds picked up again. Adam as we climbed was busy on facebook and texting making plans for us to stay in Whistler the next night as at this point we knew we where not planing on spending another night in the coming storm. it was not long until we lost almost all visibility. Following our GPS tracks provided by Leigh and some old tracks some one had left we made our way to the top.
At the end of the day we had a summit which was great and a fun and different kind of weekend.
here area few photos and a link to a video I cut together.
     
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4MIns4cOuU&feature=youtu.be |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
841 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 05:21 AM
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Nicely done boys.
We had a milder version of that weather just north of you.
Awesome picures as usual. I'll check out the video as soon as I can.
Kelly |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
558 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 06:45 AM
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Good for you guys, gettin' er done anyways!
Sweet Zep too. |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
101 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 08:55 AM
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Good job guys, like the little solo at the top Adam.
Cool video! |
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Port Douglas, BC
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 09:34 AM
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I wasn't busy working for the A-Team, so MatthewBaldwin emails me and asks me what am I up to, would I like to go to Matier for the weekend? I quickly download a few episodes of Star Trek for my iPhone as when I was up there as a kid, we sat and waited for 20 different groups all pick lines all over the mountain...I figured just incase it was busy again, I wouldn't want to wait for the groups to finish and have to listen to 'Matthew's 101 ways on how to walk on snow without falling through'...so I succeeded in putting 2 episodes of Star Trek on my phone...I was ready.
The highlight of this little excursion has to be Matthews hair, I would have liked to film a shampoo commercial.
     
When I am with Matthew, I feel like I am being used, however, I like to complain that I am heavier than him therefor I fall through the snow and he must go first in order to break trail and reserve my energy incase I need to race back down to the truck, go to Pemberton and get more popcorn while we wait for the circus to finish up on Matier...but to our surprise no one was on Matier...They must have heard that Matthew was coming and decided to clear the way...
    
On Matier, I got a lot of Joy as I watched Matthew make his way up the Northwest, southeast, eastern north south side westerly face of Anniversary Peak...it reminded me of a small rabbit hopping through a garden of strawberries, but then the wind would hit me and bring me back to this dairy queen blizzard reality...Felt like looking for a hole to crawl into and search for a stargate to take me to Lemuria...
  
After finding a safe way to cross the burger shine, Matthew blasted up to the top...Meanwhile, axe in one hand, iPhone in the other, I made arrangements for a night in Whistler... I am not sleeping here when there is a pool and a hot tub just down the road from here, whats the point? get close to nature? forget it, its the May long weekend, its the annual ultimate party weekend.
Matthew was ready to party as well, I could tell he was getting bored of this place....
  
I like the top of Matier, its the only place around that you have enough bars on the phone to actually complete a call.
   
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505 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 11:41 AM
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You look very pretty with your hair blowing in the wind Matt ;-)
Looks like a good examplethat you can never be sure what Mother Nature is going to throw at you.
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Edited by - paulyman on 05/22/2012 11:45 AM |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 12:17 PM
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You just can't catch a break with those views Matt 
quote:
Originally posted by MatthewBaldwin
Mountain-forcast had sun and clouds all weekend.
I've learnt the hard way not to rely on mountain-forecast. It tends to be dangerously inaccurate sometimes. Look at forecasts for neighboring towns and then take the worst forecast as your expectation.
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362 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2012 : 12:36 AM
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Sweet trip, killer photos.
Adam - how could you choose a jacuzzi in Whistler over another night with big red? I'm just saying... |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1114 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2012 : 08:44 AM
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| Way to make the most of a cloudy day. How long did it take you guys to get to motel 66 area? |
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Port Douglas, BC
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2012 : 09:32 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by DoubleE Alpinist
Sweet trip, killer photos.
Adam - how could you choose a jacuzzi in Whistler over another night with big red? I'm just saying...
Haha! Lol! |
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Port Douglas, BC
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2012 : 09:36 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by thecamel
Way to make the most of a cloudy day. How long did it take you guys to get to motel 66 area?
4 hrs...with a 1 hour knee deep battle of mid day soft snow post hole hell |
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Port Douglas, BC
Canada
430 Posts |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 2:47 PM
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| Could you please clarify the winter route, is it true that it starts on the same place on the highway as summer route and then branches off left from the signed summer trail shortly after the log bridge? Are there any signs\flagging tape on the winter route? Thanks. |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
667 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 2:59 PM
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| yep. Drive past Joffre lake parking lot. its about 2.5k or so. In the right hand side you will see a gravel pull out.. Usually a car parked there. The trail is well flagged and there are a pile of tracks to follow. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 3:58 PM
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| Thanks a lot. |
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Mnt Matier, NW side.
