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38 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 8:01 PM
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With a marginal weather forcast for the day, we leave early, hopeful that the featureless
talus fields atop Mount Outram will be free of cloud.
Mostly a dog walking solo hiker, I feel fortunate to have both my wife Josie and daughter Tash along for this trip. 
After a quick breakfast in Hope, we hit the trail at 8:30. I am pleased to see the clouds sitting a mere 1000 feet over our heads, with almost 6000 feet of elevation gain, we are sure to get above them!
 
We start taking bets on what elevation we will clear the clouds. My daughter, being a pilot knows a fair bit about meteorology shouts out "5000 feet!" Josie ponders for a moment and meekly suggests "6000 feet" Having the benefit of going last, I proudly add my pick "4999 feet!" Awwwww Dad!
  
At around 4800 feet, just before the welcome 17 mile creek crossing, the clouds are showing signs of topping out. I rattle off the elevation somewhat smugly, but we are not quite in the clear yet!
A short while later, an obvious miscalculation on my part becomes clear. At precisely 4999 feet we break out of the clouds.... only to be greated by another overcast layer of clouds about 1000 feet above us!
I am not pleased! but at least I have won the bet, I console myself. "No way" "Nuh-uh" from the peanut gallery, even Sam dog is giving me a dissaproving look.
Our spirits are lifted when a little futher along, the forest opens up and acres of wildflowers appear on the steep hillsides all around us. A few weeks before they are in their full glory, but stunning! My pictures of course do it no justice.
   
We reached the dreaded talus shrouded in fog. I have been up here a few times before and it is easy to get off the correct route, not a big deal with good visability as the summit is pretty much in view. In the fog, with family in tow, I am concerned about continuing, so we take a break.
Then.... The magic happens, it starts with an ever so slight blue sky above us and within minutes, a beautiful sea of clouds! Looks like Josie wins the bet. 
   
With the clouds clearly starting to burn off, there is no question of continuing. Tash is proving to be the best at picking out the cairns along the way and we have no trouble staying on the trail all the way to the summit ridge.
When you get to the top of the ridge on Outram and get your first peak over to the other side.... Your stomach hits the floor! Very steep! Josie got one look and promptly backed away and sat down. "you guys keep going, I will wait here" Oddly enough her trail name is "close enough" and she tried to live up to it, but with a little coaxing, she was sitting on the summit in short order.
     
Tash and I do the class 3 scramble over to the true summit, a first time for me as Sam keeps me from such places. I am grateful to have Josie holding the leash.
 
On the way back to "Close Enough"  , as you pass the col, I thought back to a trip report from Dru, where he climbed up Outram from the steep side and wondered if I might ever dare to climb it. Further skills are needed first, but someday!
After a few hours on top, we start our descent. The talus is shifty in places, as Tash experienced, when a seemingly benign shift quickly turned into a rather large boulder pushing Tash down the hill! She couldn't get out of the path! So she braces her feet and leans into the boulder like she is pushing a car up a hill and I watch helpless as she is swept along! Mercifully, she kept her feet under her until the slide settled to a stop. Nonplussed by the whole ordeal, she calmly continues on her way down the mountain, quickly picking out the next invisible cairn.
 
Scott |
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Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 8:35 PM
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| Awesome! That hike would probably kill me. |
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 Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6895 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 9:29 PM
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| Great TR and writing A.T.B.N.W.T. |
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Abbotsford, British Columbia
Canada
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 9:59 PM
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You have no idea how thrilled i was to see your report this evening. We were scheduled to go tomorrow however didn't have any concrete answers as to the state of the trail. Now I but we already changed our hike to Flora for tomorrow but now it is back up on my plate for next weekend, pending weather. Did you find lots of alpine flowers. We did Skyline I to Snowcamp yesterday and it was awesome and full of life with all those wonderful alpine flowers. My camera was overwhelmed. lol
Thank again. |
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38 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 08:41 AM
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Thanks Billy and Calixtomoon, that was my first trail report ever. I have been lurking on club tread for a couple years, only recently signing up, with that dumb name, with far to many letters lol
Jo onthego, I wish I was quicker with my trail report, I'm so slow with the computer. The next couple of weeks should be the best for the flowers. We saw lots of new buds developing. Most of the hike is thru the forest on great dirt trails. When you get close to the sub-alpine level, the switchbacks enter and exit the hillsides of flowers, for about 20-30 minutes. Enjoy your hikes during this great weather we are having!
Scott |
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Super botonist, hippie chick who cuddles thistles with glee
Langley, BC
Canada
1541 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 6:07 PM
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Very scary about the boulder.
Love the name :) |
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Chilliwack
1267 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 6:11 PM
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| Great family outing! Keep the reports and pictures coming. |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
3994 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 6:15 PM
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| Always a treat when you break out/above the clouds. |
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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
13440 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 6:24 PM
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Super to see this report, nice shots, and scary thing about the boulder.
Lucky it stopped.
K |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1001 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 7:03 PM
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| Witty username and TR. Looks like a great family outing, and Sam is gorgeous. Looks exactly like my last dog. : ) |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
947 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 7:09 PM
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Way to ham it up in that one shot  |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
754 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2012 : 06:56 AM
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| Nice report. |
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maple ridge, bc
Canada
110 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 06:35 AM
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| Great report, You got really lucky with the clear skies up top. For me and many others the day starts out great and you find yourself boxed with cloud at the summit. |
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38 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 09:46 AM
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Thanks for all the nice comments everyone. It has made me feel welcome to the Club Tread community.
Scott |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1111 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 10:15 AM
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I recognize that title!
Nice report. |
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Kamloops, BC
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2012 : 6:16 PM
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I can't believe I missed this report. Your first one!
You had me laughing through it all. Great pictures Scott.
It looks like a very incredible hike! |
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38 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 11:10 AM
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Thanks guys!
Salt, I have been hiking and scrambling like a Madman, trying to take advantage of the snow free conditions up high.
Josie and I are real fans of your videos, meeting you and watching your stuff helped to inspire me to submit this trip report.
I hope to run into you again up in the mountains, coffee mug in hand ;)
Scott |
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Cloudy with a chance of Outram
