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 Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 12:49 PM
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The weather forecast said a mix of sun and cloud. It was all cloud as I drove up past Pemberton then up Duffey Lake Road to the Steep Creek FSR (between Van Horlick and Blowdown Valleys). The road has mild water bars and is brushed out. I parked at the Spur 4 junction as there was snow on the road a little further up. Spur 4 is the road I took April of last year when I ascended Blowdown Peak.
It's not too far up the main road to walk and by the time I get to a landing I have put on the snowshoes as conditions were really soft. At the landing the now deactivated road cuts back left and the Darkside Lake trail goes straight. I follow this for a while then cut left and back up to the old road, cross that and a cutblock to get to open forest.
With cloud obscuring everything in front of me I got my bearings a little off. The plan was to gain the broad bowl then ridge between Steep NE1 and Steep Peak. Instead, I followed what looked good and eventually came out of the forest to get a view of something.
 I don't think this is Steep Peak.
Straight up I go on soft snow to gain this peak. Checking the elevation on my gps I confirm my suspicions that I was on NE1 (2253m). No problem, I can't see much but I'll just get a bearing on my compass and take the correct ridge down and over to Steep.
Once down at the low point of the ridge I can see the bowl I should have come up. I spot a couple of areas where I can descend to the bowl if I come out this way. Looking up the northeast ridge of Steep Peak the terrain looks a bit ominous as it disappears into the cloud cover.
Part way up as the terrain steepens I get to a rock band and remove the snowshoes. Leaving them there I scope out a route and scramble upwards. A shelf looked okay but was tricky due to being slick and slightly downsloped. After that it was some easy going class 3 rock to get back to snow with the ridge narrowing. Visibility was really limited here and couldn't see how good things were left and right of me.
I could here lots of avalanches rumbling down slopes near me and around the steep cirque surrounding Darkside Lake. I could also here voices at times which was the skiers who'd also parked where I had (they got a Jetta Wagon up the road).
Pulling out the ice axe I kick deep steps in the soft snow and keep going upwards. Things felt a little exposed even though I couldn't see much. A cross a rocky outcrop, some more snow and then crest the summit plateau and wander over to the summit. Nothing to see up here but it was a balmy 15 C with no wind.
 Steep Peak (2318m) summit shot.
After spending nearly half an hour up here with no improvement with the cloud situation I was thinking of turning around and heading back. Darkside Peak and Windfall Peak could wait until a better day. Pulling out my topo map I could see that Darkside wasn't that far off and something seemed to be drawing me to it.
Packing up my gear and decided to continue on a bit down the mellow south ridge towards a knoll. As I did that the cloud ceiling lifted a bit and the rumble of snow had me gazing down into the steep bowl on the east side of Darkside Peak as the noise echoed across to me.
 Couple of snow slides over that way.
 Couple of ptarmigans in this area too.
Nearing the knoll conditions did improve marginally and I could get a view of the ridge system leading to Darkside. Most of the snow cover was off the ridge with the exception of cornices on most of the northern side. That was good as I was postholing mightily with no snowshoes. The ridge had some ups and downs along with a few small steep sections. Recent goat tracks were good to follow and that's what I did on route to the peak.
 The summit is in view.
Without much fuss I ascend to the peak and some sunshine greets me as I arrive. Still lots of cloud around but it's breaking up and I spend over an hour up there as the views opened up more and more.
 NNE view along the ridge continuing to Darkside N2 (dome at right). This would make for a good loop trip. Duffey Lake visible on each side of the picture. Rohr and Marriett rear left.
It took a while but nearly every peak shed it's layer of cloud and I spent most of my time up there taking pictures. Yells from across the cirque had me spot the skiers having a good time skiing down western slopes of Steep Peak.
   
1. A zoom on eastern side of Matier. Good sized track going up/down The Anniversary Glacier.
2. Southern view towards Gideon Peak.
3. 2309m summit shot. Windfall and Silent Hub NW3 behind. Gott Peak rear left.
4. Broader ESE view with Caspar at left with Howard, Matier, Slalok and Joffre further back.
 One of the knolls between Steep and Darkside goes southeast towards Windfall. Other CTers have taken it to that peak. The bowl below it contains a lake and looks like a nice place to visit.
With time getting on I pack up again and head back. On the way up the views weren't there so it was good to see what I had been missing.
 Steep Peak from the ridge.
 And a look back at Darkside.
 Looking along the mellow ridge just below Steep. Steep NE1 is the next peak along with Blowdown Peak behind it. Channel Peak is rear right.
 The ridge leading to Windfall from near the knoll. Silent Hub now visible back left of Silent Hub NW3.
I trudge back up to Steep Peak and relax for a bit enjoying the views denied earlier in the day.
 Looking down the steepish northeast ridge of Steep.
 Darkside Peak with Darkside Lake lower right. Caspar and Joffre Group at rear.
Pulling out my ice axe I face in and back down the first section off the peak. With the clouds gone and this area in shade the snow had firmed up a little bit. I could also now see there is some exposure on this route (reportedly easier when the snow has gone).
 The route near the summit - kinda steep.
At the rock band I didn't bother with the slick ledge and jumped down onto a snow patch that featured me sinking up to my waist with every step. Doing a partial sit and drag I crossed that to collect my snowshoes, put them on and continue downwards to find a spot to drop off the ridge down into the bowl.
 The northeast ridge and my route. Beyond the rock band I was mostly left skyline to the top.
With the sun warmed snow slopes ahead of me I chose my route with care but still set off some heavy and wet slides in a couple of spots. Reaching a flat spot I got one last look at where I'd been before entering the trees.
 Exit Bowl. Steep Peak upper right.
Contouring through the forest I soon reached the cutblock a little lower than where I'd left it earlier, dropped down a bit and got back on the trail. The walk out went quick and I soon back at my vehicle having a beer and enjoying the late afternoon sun.
Content that the weather did indeed turn out the way it was forecast I'm soon back on the road and heading for home with a couple more ideas of places to explore running through my head.
 Map of route.
 Pano from low point on ridge. Knoll centre, Steep left of it, Windfall right of it.
 Pano from Steep. Windfall area left, Darkside right. |
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Vancouver
Canada
291 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 1:23 PM
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| Thanks, great trip great report! |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1133 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 1:27 PM
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| That's a great shot of Matier and company. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
661 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 3:35 PM
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quote:
Steep Peak from the ridge.
This looks like a recent release. This was your exit valley I believe?
quote:
The northeast ridge and my route.
Can't tell exactly where you jumped, but it was quite high right?
I really enjoyed this TR & photos, specially panos at the end. Good call to continue, it cleared up quite nicely for some awesome shots! |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5378 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 3:37 PM
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Drawn into the Darkside. Then sunshine - What a bonus. It's nice that it decided to give you that pay-back after deciding to continue on.
Nice trip. |
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 | LeeL
Advanced Member
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Extreme ski tourin, mountain bikin addict who hikes at least once a year
2509 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 4:44 PM
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| That's awesome. So much snow still. Thanks for that |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5057 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 5:17 PM
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| Good stuff Simon - thanks for the report :) |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 5:27 PM
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Zelijok, that wasn't my exit bowl. This shot is the bowl below the ridge connecting Darkside and Steep. It gets real steep out of picture left dropping down to the lake. I went down the next bowl over between Steep and Steep NE1.
 I circled where I jumped down. Onto the chunk of snow in the middle - just a few feet but up to my waist. |
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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 - 06/12/2012 : 6:25 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by simonc
Zelijok, that wasn't my exit bowl. This shot is the bowl below the ridge connecting Darkside and Steep. It gets real steep out of picture left dropping down to the lake. I went down the next bowl over between Steep and Steep NE1.
I circled where I jumped down. Onto the chunk of snow in the middle - just a few feet but up to my waist.
So the snow is getting quite soft, would have thought it would have consolidated. YOu got some really beautiful shots, nice day out.
K |
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bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4663 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 6:48 PM
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Nice trip Simon - good to see you back at it  .
Love the Duffey!! |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6871 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 7:38 PM
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Nice, been waiting for a Simonc T/R for a bit.
Glad the weather turned around for you  |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5902 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 10:31 PM
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Wow, nice birds! Lucky U |
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Night owl posting,Subie driving, backpacking Dad who is perpetually trying to catch up to his kids on the trail.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
3064 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 12:16 AM
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| My next Scrambles "book" is going to be assembled entirely from bookmarked Simonc trip reports |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 9:14 PM
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Thanks for the comments. On a side note, a few days after being in this area a marmot has been hanging around the back parking lot at the Rec Centre I work at in Vancouver. They've been occasionally known to hitch rides in vehicles.
 
He/she has been hanging out under the shipping container.
I called SPCA who notified the Wild Animal Refuge who should be coming around at some point. |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6871 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2012 : 9:19 PM
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you brought it home, you take it back, hehe
maybe you have a new hiking partner |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
346 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2012 : 04:56 AM
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| Thanks for the TR - an area I have never visited. I believe I will retrace your steps sometime next week. |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1656 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2012 : 06:18 AM
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A great TR.
quote:
Originally posted by simonc
Based on that lump in the belly it looks like you might have some company if they don't relocate it soon! I'm not a biologist - is that just the way their tummies look or is that marmot pregnant?
Here was a similar story from last year:
http://www.nsnews.com/story.html?id=5024791
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Edited by - Steventy on 06/14/2012 06:19 AM |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1030 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2012 : 11:30 AM
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Another excellent report Simon. Still loads of snow up there. At least the windward sides of the ridges have been scoured dry.
That track down the Anniversary glacier looks weird. 
I mean you can see it from this far back, it must be, at least, 10ft wide, or more? It's also a relative straight line, no turns.
A few skidoos perhaps? A fracture in the snowpack? |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1656 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2012 : 11:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by leimrod
Another excellent report Simon. Still loads of snow up there. At least the windward sides of the ridges have been scoured dry.
That track down the Anniversary glacier looks weird.
I mean you can see it from this far back, it must be, at least, 10ft wide, or more? It's also a relative straight line, no turns.
A few skidoos perhaps? A fracture in the snowpack?
Nah, just an ACC Basic Mountaineering Course. We travel in herds. |
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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 - 06/14/2012 : 12:31 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Steventy
A great TR.
quote:
Originally posted by simonc
Based on that lump in the belly it looks like you might have some company if they don't relocate it soon! I'm not a biologist - is that just the way their tummies look or is that marmot pregnant?
Here was a similar story from last year:
http://www.nsnews.com/story.html?id=5024791
This one needs a ride back to the happy mountains.
K |
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371 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2012 : 8:37 PM
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| I love a good simonc TR :) Well written and very descriptive - it's nice that the weather improved so dramatically in the end! |
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Steep & Darkside Peaks (Duffey Lake Area)Jun 10 12
