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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2012 : 10:21 PM
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My objective for the day was Bald Mountain, a 5500' Peak one can access from Canyon creek off the Mt Baker Hgwy. It's a peak that is readily seen from Vedder Mtn when looking towards Mt Baker. I had bogged down on a previous attempt in early snow, 20 years ago.
This time the Rangers informed me that Canyon Creek has been washed out for 2 years, and a fix is not imminent due to shortage of funds! I'd have to find some other objective for the day.
We discussed other red tape issues regarding permits etc, then I decided to drive up to Twin Lakes as there wasn't anything else to do in the area this day.
At the Lakes I set off in cloud toward Mt Larrabee. It was snowing and misted in, so I decided a climb of the lower Plieade would provide some challenge today. This was basically an excercise hike as I've climbed the Pleiades several times.
From Twin Lakes you take the High Pass trail to the switch backs heading up to the base of the SE ridge of Larrabee. At the highest pass a level exposed traverse is mad into the basin of the East Face\Glacier of Larrabee which you cross on residual scree and rock at the base of the snow. Head through the East Basin of Larrabee on a level trajectory towards a scree gulley which leads obviously up and rightwards to a col between the 2 western peaks of Pleaides. This gulley/slope is loose and steep but pretty basic scrambling. From the ridge(col between the 2 summits of the West Pleaide) overlooking Slesse creek, some exposed srambling and easy climbing lead to the top. The snow added some difficulty today. No views and the first taste of winter... kind of fun!
  
 High Pass below
 Showing the scree gulley going from left and up to right ending at the low point betwen the West Peaks of Pleaides.
  
  Looking back at basin below East face of Larrabee
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
725 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2012 : 10:46 PM
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| Oh no, snow already, and we've only had six weeks of summer! It does make for pretty pictures though. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2666 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2012 : 10:53 PM
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| Good recoup of the day! I'm not ready for snow either, but I like your pictures. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1133 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 9:25 PM
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| Where's the headband? |
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371 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 9:57 PM
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 This is an attractive area! |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
959 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 10:28 PM
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I tried to do the Pleaides 2 years ago, the person I was with had a rock kick loose right in the col where you where and almost tumbled to their death down the North side of the scree gully. Luckily they landed in the moat, because if they made it onto the snow it woulda been game over. We decided to call it a day after that. I've always wanted to go back.
Same shot, no snow.
That's cool you've done them a few times.
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2012 : 07:59 AM
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| Camel, needed more than a headband. Spectrum to bad you didn't make it. Its a nice day from Twin Lakes over West Pleiades to the Eastern Peaks and back. 12 hour return trip, great for a fall trip. |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1092 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2012 : 08:59 AM
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| Haven't seen many of these Pleiades reports, only read about them in Fairley's book. Snow on the Monkeyflowers looks pretty, let's hope it was just a reminder, and we get at least another month of summer. |
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West Pleaide
