| Author |
Topic |
|
Langley
242 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2012 : 7:48 PM
|
Took a trip up to Rainbow Lake on Saturday. Didn't really know the conditions beforehand but I assumed most of the snow would be gone (and it was).
Bugs were bad, I got pinged by bloodsuckers immediately. Made it to the lake in decent time (2.5 hours) - the bugs deserve a lot of credit since I couldn't stop for more than 15 seconds without getting bit. Couldn't spare the platelets. :P
The trail is snow free almost the entire way and muddy, but not boot-swallowing bad. The lake is still partly frozen, and (the best part) bug-free. Snow is continuous past the lake.
     
It looks like there was the remains of a carcass on the snow to the west of the lake (center of pic 1), lots of animal tracks leading to & from it. I'm not an expert but they look canine to me, about the length of my index finger tip to tip, so I guess it would be wolves or coyotes.
  
I headed towards the Hanging Lake ridge with the notion of summiting Gin Peak but didn't make it all the way. It looked less steep on a map - I hadn't brought any spikes or crampons for the snow. Sidestepping up upwards got tiring fast. The west side of the Peak is bluffed and steep, it looks like one would have to circle all the way to the south to find a suitable route to the top.
  
I made it about 2/3 of the way up and decided to stop. Then I looked to my left and...sonofabitch is that a trail?
It sure was. With some cairns to boot. I was surprised, I didn't find a single reference to a trail when reading up on Gin Peak. All the trip reports I could find were for ski touring. Most of the trail was buried under the snow, but I assume it goes to the summit - it ran roughly north-south along the ridge to the west of the peak, I can't imagine where else it would lead. If anyone has any info on this trail I'd appreciate it.
I'd estimate my turnaround point was 2.5km from the lake outflow with about 200m additional elevation gain. Views to the north and west were great & worth the effort.
 
Finally, I had a treat driving down Alta Lake Road - a black bear was grazing in the ditch. It wasn't spooked when I drove by, hit the brakes & threw the car in reverse, but point a camera and it bolts. Go figure. :P
So instead of a nice profile shot I got a partly obscured bear-ass & foot that won't be winning any wildlife photo contests anytime soon. Enjoy. :D
 |
|
 canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6793 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2012 : 10:20 PM
|
we stayed at madeley lake and headed for hanging/rainbow via the the supplied trail, we wont repeat it for several reasons, mostly trippy boring lumpy long slog..
hope the other side is better?? |
|
|
Langley
242 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2012 : 11:06 PM
|
Trippy & lumpy would also describe the access from the east, yes. I had it pegged as a slog the first time I did it, but this time seemed much nicer despite the bugs and mud.
I answered my own question about the mystery trail, apparently it leads to Sproatt Ridge (red dotted line).
 |
|
|
|
Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13477 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2012 : 11:26 PM
|
Like the map you attached. Nice shots of the lake as well, we got to enjoy the lake briefly also today.
K |
Edited by - KARVITK on 07/29/2012 11:36 PM |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Bear-assed at Rainbow Lake, and Gin Peak (almost)
