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5 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 2:42 PM
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Hello,
Me and my dad are planning to hike the Berg Lake trail in late August and spend a few nights there. We've already got our campsites reserved.
One of the hikes we are planning to do is Snowbird Pass. Me and my dad have never done any scrambling and this will be our first time hiking in the Rockies. We are unlikely to be able to get any formal training this year, and the closest thing to scrambling in our area would be climbing over large steep beach rocks, if that counts. Other than that, we are pretty much limited to reading about scrambling online and in books. We have done a few off-trail hikes though, and I also did some roped climbing in a gym when I was young. So with that in mind, here are my questions:
Would the class 2 scramble to Titkana Peak be out of our league? What is the exposure like? How long does it take to get there from the pass?
I've heard that during summer, afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Rockies. How early should we plan to be back at Berg Lake campground by? |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
140 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 11:17 AM
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I was at Berg Lake in 2008 I believe. Incredible area, you will have a lot of fun. Snowbird Pass is nothing more than some switchbacking up talus if I recall, so if you are fit enough to hike up to Berg you are fit enough to day hike to Snowbird. Class II is non-technical terrain so don't over-worry yourself. I forget how long it took us when we went and when we left in the morning, but I believe we were back in the early afternoon.
I wouldn't fret too much over getting all the details exact - that kind of stuff can often ruin a trip when expectations aren't met. The best trips are dreams becoming reality, not itineraries being met ;)
Hope you guys have a fun trip. Toboggan Falls and the caves nearby are also an excellent daytrip from Berg and shouldn't be missed.
/JW |
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5 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 9:04 PM
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| Thanks, I hope so too. I wasn't worried so much about the trail to the pass, but rather the off-trail scrambling route to Titkana peak, a mountain north of Snowbird pass. But if class 2 scrambling is reasonably safe even for hikers who have never done a scramble, then I guess I won't worry. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 01:58 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew1
Thanks, I hope so too. I wasn't worried so much about the trail to the pass, but rather the off-trail scrambling route to Titkana peak, a mountain north of Snowbird pass. But if class 2 scrambling is reasonably safe even for hikers who have never done a scramble, then I guess I won't worry.
I am the opposite, I APPLAUD YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY for "worrying"! WAY better to be overprepared, and overly cautious than underprepared, and assuming you can handle it. Good on ya! Wish more people had your attitude.
Scrambling is something to be taken seriously, but like Jeff says, I think you'll be fine. Exposure will be negligible....you can stay on trail, or go off and taste rockies scree. No route-finding, you can't get lost. It's a good choice for your first time!
Class 2, like any "class" can vary, this is easy class 2. On a steep, loose, class 2, you may be hands-on at times, and while you should never be in danger of any kind of "fall", a bad tumble is possible. Even then, I don't mean bouncing down a mountain, but rather awkward tumbling for several feet. Not likely to be life threatening (not counting a bad bump to the head or other vulnerable spot), but not fun on sharp rock. When it gets very steep, even on scree, beginners can FEEL exposed....35 degrees, can SEEM "vertical" to some people, when you're not used to it! So you're doing the right thing, start easy, and move up the difficulty slowly! :-)
If you're capable of going over rocks, and off-trail hiking, you'll be more than fine,probably much tamer than you're preparing for...and that's good! though if you're like me, and you're also coming up from sea-level, you may find yourself wheezing a bit ;-)
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the mountain parks, Alberta
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 10:00 AM
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| Class 2 is basically hiking over rough ground for the most part. People with poor balance might occasionally need to touch the ground with their hand here and there. |
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5 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 1:26 PM
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Originally posted by DCIPHER
though if you're like me, and you're also coming up from sea-level, you may find yourself wheezing a bit ;-)
I am coming from sea level, so I'll keep that in mind. Now that you mention it, I went on a trip last year and found myself short of breath at altitudes as low as 6,500ft. It might have been psychological though. After sleeping in a motel, I felt just fine the next morning, despite the motel being at around 7,000ft. Since Titkana peak is above 9,000ft, I'll make sure to descend if I start feeling really sick. I'm also planning to do the Hargreaves/Toboggan/Mumm Basin loop, which I think goes up to around 7,000ft, so hopefully I can do it the day before and it can help me acclimatize. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 4:11 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew1
quote:
Originally posted by DCIPHER
though if you're like me, and you're also coming up from sea-level, you may find yourself wheezing a bit ;-)
I am coming from sea level, so I'll keep that in mind. Now that you mention it, I went on a trip last year and found myself short of breath at altitudes as low as 6,500ft. It might have been psychological though. After sleeping in a motel, I felt just fine the next morning, despite the motel being at around 7,000ft. Since Titkana peak is above 9,000ft, I'll make sure to descend if I start feeling really sick. I'm also planning to do the Hargreaves/Toboggan/Mumm Basin loop, which I think goes up to around 7,000ft, so hopefully I can do it the day before and it can help me acclimatize.
Yeah, it's nothing to worry about. From my personal experience, and from what I've heard/read, its a big elevation change, and it does make a difference! Nothing life-threatening though....though maybe if you were to start going up a bit higher still, there could be problems...there was a TR report on here a little while back where there may have been a serious case of altitude sickness, in the Rockies. On a day scramble though, at 9000 feet, I doubt anything serious could happen.
I have never felt "sick"......but I have noticed being a bit shorter of breath than normal when scrambling; and as a result of exertion, and altitude change, I've noticed a bit of a headache heading to the summit,(and so has another guy, who's very fit, I've gone withe a few times). It probably is even more noticeable to me, because my cardiovascular capacity is my weakness, and so I have nothing to "spare"! I'm already slow, and pushing hard...a strong cardiovascualar guy might do the same thing and find it so easy that he wouldn't notice a a slight hit to his performance anyways!
Once I spent a couple of months in Calgary, and did several scrambles....on returning to sea-level, I noticed that on timed 400 meter runs, my times had shot up to phenomenal levels...better than ever before....maybe 5 to 10% faster... was that due to altitude? (again note: I'm not a "runner", I'm slow as molasses anyways...just do it for my personal exercise) Maybe not entirely, but I suspect it was a factor. (those same runs seemed torturous to me when I first arrived even in Calgary, and I was a few percent slower!)
Anyways, no big deal at all, so I wouldn't worry about "acclimatizing" much...just do what's best for your schedule....and if you have to go a bit slower than you might normally, what does it matter? :-)
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5 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:15 PM
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| Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm looking forward to having a great time. I first heard about Berg Lake a few years back and have been excited to camp there ever since. |
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Salmon Arm, BC
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 1:22 PM
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| I'm also thinking of Berg Lake in mid August. Before I reserve, can anybody pass on their thoughts on which campground is the best--Marmot vs Berg vs Rearguard vs Robson Pass--scenery, bugs, etc. I'd like to book soon as the sites are filling up fast. Thanks! |
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London
16 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 2:39 PM
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Can anyone help with Andrew's other question about thunderstorms? I was wondering about that too as people seem to do really long Rockies dayhikes of 12 hours in August, and camp high, but if lightning comes early afternoon then you've no chance of getting back down off a mountain even if you aren't standing on a summit.
Andrew, I can help a bit on altitude. Yes, you'll be a bit short of breath, but if you've camped the first night next to Berg Lake you will have adjusted to a degree, and then when you go up Snowbird - while you may be short of breath again - you won't be sleeping that high, you'll be coming back down, which is always what to do. And even if you did have a mild headache it should then go. The secret is drinking lots - more than you would otherwise - and perhaps keep eating too, and not gain altitute too fast by hiking higher rapidly.
pmjwright: Were you planning on hiking Berg Lake alone, as if you were myself and another guy are going Aug 25-27 and although permits have all gone for the 25th at Berg Lake, we may have a spare one or two places as he has already paid for friends and tentpads but I think one or two dropped out. I'm trying to get hold of him for someone else too. Or alternatively, last night there were still permits for Marmot and the campsite after Berg Lake for the 25th, which means you could hike up, day hike and hike back with us, but our tents would just be about 20 minutes apart. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 3:03 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by kaniukr
Can anyone help with Andrew's other question about thunderstorms? I was wondering about that too as people seem to do really long Rockies dayhikes of 12 hours in August, and camp high, but if lightning comes early afternoon then you've no chance of getting back down off a mountain even if you aren't standing on a summit.
You keep your eyes open, and you learn to pay attention to the weather.
For one, August is not usually as bad as July in the Rockies. We get thunderstorms regularly, but they are not an every day kind of thing, and they tend to get later in the day later in the year.
Mostly, our thunderstorms come on really hot bright days. that's why we get a lot in July, while August cools off a bit. When it's really hot, we can get the storm at 2pm. Later in the year, it takes longer to heat up, so while we might still get the heat thunderstorm, it's more likely to come at 4pm or even later, giving you a lot more time on the mountain.
A big thing is keeping a view of the sky. If you can see the weather around you, you can plan based on it, and do your really long hikes when it looks good, and not go for the extra summit if it's looking iffy. It's generally a bad idea to ascend an east-facing slope on a hot sunny day with piles of cumulus in the sky.
We don't have a hard rule like in Colorado. There is no particular time you should be down by. But early is generally a good idea, and watch the weather.
I'm not sure of any special rules that could be given to someone unfamiliar with the area. |
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London
16 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 4:13 PM
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Thanks Rachel. Useful info.
Why east-facing?
I think all bar one lengthy hike - the Castle Mountain you recommended - I should be down by 4pm.
(although the Banff and Jasper gondolas I was going to go up in the late afternoon and hike around at the top, so that I was still up there to photograph sunset. May re-think that and just go daytime. The nice dusk light may even be so late in August that the last gondolas down would have gone, so it might not be possible anyway |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
140 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 10:20 PM
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| Berg camp is the best. First day we were there we hiked into Marmot camp, then transfered to Berg the next day and wondered why we hadn't just walked the extra k and a half or so to the better camp. Rearguard looks like a nice camp and I bet it is the best if you want more privacy. Berg has the most space and is well situated for a basecamp in the area. But hey don't sweat it - all the camps in the area are well maintained and pleasant camping. I have since gone back to look at my pics from this trip because of this thread... definitely a 5 star trip. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 10:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by kaniukr
Thanks Rachel. Useful info.
Why east-facing?
I think all bar one lengthy hike - the Castle Mountain you recommended - I should be down by 4pm.
(although the Banff and Jasper gondolas I was going to go up in the late afternoon and hike around at the top, so that I was still up there to photograph sunset. May re-think that and just go daytime. The nice dusk light may even be so late in August that the last gondolas down would have gone, so it might not be possible anyway
Because most of our weather comes from the west. So when you're hiking up an east-facing slope, on a lot of days, you can't see any weather until it's right on you. When you have no view of the sky showing oncoming weather patterns, it's trickier.
I don't know what the gondolas do, but I wouldn't be worried about them for thunderstorms. As I said, it's not an every day thing, and heck, they have indoor terminals!
No reason not to do Castle. Just be picky about your day. and remember, you don't need to be done early - you just need to be back to Tower Lake, where you're in the forest for the 7km down. |
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Chilliwack
Canada
306 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2012 : 07:42 AM
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When you go up snowbird pass make sure you stop at the toe of the robson glacier...there is an wonderful ice cave there.   
My boys were 9 and 15 and we had a blast....We always bring extras so we had a big group hope you and your dad have a great time......yvonne |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
1293 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2012 : 08:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by yvonne
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Cool  Reminds me to pack the swimwear... |
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5 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2012 : 11:53 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by yvonne
When you go up snowbird pass make sure you stop at the toe of the robson glacier...there is an wonderful ice cave there.
My boys were 9 and 15 and we had a blast....We always bring extras so we had a big group hope you and your dad have a great time......yvonne
I'll be sure to go to the toe of robson glacier, but I might steer clear of the ice caves. I'm worried that they might collapse from parts of them melting. Maybe I'll explore them if I get there early enough in the morning when it's still cold. |
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Berg Lake area questions
