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vancouver
203 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 1:25 PM
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So KarvitK and I met a park royal at 7am Monday July 2.
We were planning to scramble rainbow moutain, the weather sunday night was excellent, the forecast for monday was dismal, however we were hoping the forecast to be wrong.
Be it rainy and cloudy monday morning we decided to hike in to elfin lakes.
the snow started about 2 or 3 km up the trail (1200 m). I did not bring my hiking poles, big mistake. The winter route to elfin lakes traverses some snow slopes, Bring your HIKING POLES
Red Heather shelter
Karl
trees from the shelter
trees from the shelter
bird came by to visit at elfin cabin
bird came by to visit at elfin cabin
view from elfin cabin
view from elfin cabin |
Edited by - harry99 on 07/03/2012 1:43 PM
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1030 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 1:35 PM
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| Thanks for the conditions update. Hey, at least you got out right. Nicely done. |
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vancouver
203 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 1:36 PM
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Karvitk Has route distance time and elevation data
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Edited by - harry99 on 07/03/2012 1:42 PM |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
725 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 4:29 PM
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| Good TR, Harry, really appreciated the conditions update as I was supposed to hike to Elfin Lakes this Saturday. Going to do something else without snow instead. |
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Poco, BC
Canada
405 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:34 PM
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| I see snow, but no mention of snow shoes... are they needed or is the trail hard packed enough for foot wear? |
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Van, BC
Canada
2843 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:37 PM
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How much snow at the Elfin cabin? I.e. could you get in through the downstairs door, or do you still have to enter upstairs?
-Ryan
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vancouver
203 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:38 PM
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| downstairs door is accessible |
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vancouver
203 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:52 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by gdichasaz
I see snow, but no mention of snow shoes... are they needed or is the trail hard packed enough for foot wear?
We ran into three people walking out to the trailhead on our way in, they all had snowshoes, we however managed with out them, the snow is not deep |
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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
13599 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 8:09 PM
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Harry.
Good to see you the TR up with your attached photos. This destination was our Plan B, and Elfin Lakes seemed like the logical choice other than doing a local northshore hike.
The raingear got a good workout, and we set a good pace doing the 23 km round trip return in 7 hours including 3 good rest stops at Red Heather and Elfin Lake shelters.
Snow was hard with a soft upper layer, just enough to keep reasonable traction without traction devices. At a few spots on Paul's Ridge, hard snow with a slick cover on sidehills proved a little tricky where the skii poles kept us from sliding. With any nighttime clearing expect this snow to be come icy and would recommend Microspikes during any morning start.
With the rain, it was hard to get some photos without the camera getting excessively wet.
My photos...
Trailhead.
In Read Heather Cabin:
Lunch @ Elfin:  
Elfin Cabin & Surroundings:(to the north)
  
Other Building, Elfin Lake, and area to west, north:
   
Waterfall - down the road from Red Heather, on the Way back.
 
The frequent and moderate made it hard to get reasonable photos and keep the camera protected. Only at the falls did the rain let up some...on our return.
We set a good pace. 1 hr 5 minutes to Red Heather, 1 hr 45 minutes to Elfin from Red Heather.. and less than that on our return. On our return at Red Heather we enjoyed the warmth of a wood stove fire someone had left.
I will post the GPS track when ready.
K
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Edited by - KARVITK on 07/03/2012 10:37 PM |
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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
13599 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 9:01 PM
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Google Images - GPS Track
#3 is close up of the lakes themselves.
  
Topog Map showing trailhead (red dot) and Elfin Lakes (red dot).
Trailhead was checked at around 970 meters elevation; highest point on Paul Ridge about 1630 meters and together with the elevation loss and regaining to the lakes, we netted about 925 meters elevation gain.
K |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
782 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 9:14 PM
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| Nice trip. I haven't been there in many years but I remember hiking in the rain and fog like you guys. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 10:28 PM
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Looks like some of my New Years trips to Elfin, usually packing 5 days of food.
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846 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 11:24 PM
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Just curious... Who won? |
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13091 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 04:20 AM
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Good workout for the quads lugging that chess set up there |
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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
13599 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 12:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mick range
Good workout for the quads lugging that chess set up there
Yes it is a fine and heavy set; but no winners in this case .. .
K |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
486 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 12:52 PM
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| BC is so wintery in July though... The Rockies is much better now. I don't understand why a lake with elevation 1400m near Vancouver area is still frozen in July... |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 12:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by StevenSong
. I don't understand why a lake with elevation 1400m near Vancouver area is still frozen in July...
I recommend a physical geography course. One with an emphasis on climate. |
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vancouver
203 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 1:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
quote:
Originally posted by StevenSong
. I don't understand why a lake with elevation 1400m near Vancouver area is still frozen in July...
I recommend a physical geography course. One with an emphasis on climate.
haha, there was a very cool effect up there with water around the edges, snow in the middle
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Edited by - harry99 on 07/05/2012 1:22 PM |
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New Westminster, British Columbia
Canada
14 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2012 : 5:06 PM
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| I see my Jenga set is still up there :D I hope you guys signed a brick! |
Edited by - Polish_D on 07/06/2012 5:08 PM |
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32 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2012 : 07:40 AM
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Looks like a good trip, thanks for the update.
Does anyone think this would be dry by Sunday with all the sun we have been getting? Or will there still be alot of snow? |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1656 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2012 : 07:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wayfaring stranger
Looks like a good trip, thanks for the update.
Does anyone think this would be dry by Sunday with all the sun we have been getting? Or will there still be alot of snow?
I'd bet on snow.
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Elfin Lakes (in the rain)
