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 Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 12:35 PM
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Stats:
Distance- ~ 18K return
Elevation gain- 4200' (1280M)
This past Sunday, Stryder and I decided to do some more wandering in the Harvey Pass area. One of Stryder's more likable qualities as a hiking partner is his ability to fixate on an area and keep going back over and over and over until he feels like he knows it. Sometimes it drives me nuts  and sometimes it's just what the doctor ordered. This Sunday, it was the latter.
We headed off to Lions Bay and arrived at the TH at a little before 10 AM. Of course it was all full so we had to park a little below the TH. We headed up the Binkert Lion's Trail to where it branches off to Harvey Pass.
The right hand fork goes to the Lionswhich we DIDN'T go to like everyone else that day.
Here's Scrambler with his opinion of THAT hike
Instead, we continued on the logging road that goes to Harvey Pass
 Scrambler pointing the way
To our pleasant surprise, some nice folks had been through quite recently and cut back all the alder and other shrubbery from the road so the going was quite pleasant. They are also improving the trail considerably as there was quite a lot of new "woodwork"
 A nice bridge just above the turnoff rock. Makes a nice snack stop (hint, hint)
One of the reasons we chose this trail was because for almost the entire way, you're in the open and once you start getting some elevation, the views of the North Aspects of the Lions and Thomas and James and David and Unnecessary are non-stop.
 some fall coloration in the huckleberries
 and a typical shot of the views we had most of the day.
As you gain elevation, and you do gain elevation!, you come to point where there is a choice to go straight or take a shortcut.
 Just above my pointing fingers is the little shortcut sign.
This takes you up along the slope of the South base of Mt. Harvey and crisscrosses one of the many Harvey Creek feeders in the area. At some point along here, you need to take a left hand turn. It is marked by several flagging tapes (sorry, forgot to take a pic). If you go straight you start heading directly for David Pk.
 Scrambler heading the wrong way!!
Eventually, you come up on a dry stream bed and from here on the views are non-stop
 A view of the Southern Flank of Harvey with all the dead trees and the clearcut area.
  Some more views of the Lions. As you get higher, East Lion comes into view. The clouds were quite dramatic all day!!
At the end of this dry streambed/logging road is where we stopped for lunch at about 1:30 and here is where you encounter a sign for the intersection with the Howe Sound Crest Trail.
 the sign is on the stump just to the right of my head
Actually we backtracked a few metres as this spot was a bit "damp" and I did my dog thing where I circle for a suitable sitting spot and plop my butt down. Sorry, no pics or movies on that 
After lunch, we decided to set our turnaround time at 3:00 to be back to the car by 6:30 ish to get back to the "coov" for dinner. This was as far as Stryder had ever been on this trail so he was excited and it was all new turf for me so I was pretty stoked. I wanted to get to at least the Pass which we could see for most of the day and then explore if there were any trails up David. So we headed up the trail by the stump at about 2:15 and the trail heads back to the West, away from the Pass!! but we came across this sign
 Now we're on the HSCT officially!!
The trail gains a bit more elevation and then traverses over to the saddle so we headed over to the saddle which has grand views on both sides and is an obvious camp site as there were several fire circles there.
 Here I am in the saddle.
  and here are some views west and east from the saddle.
As we crossed the saddle we encountered a sign that indicated a trail up David Peak or a trail around it, your choice. It was getting just past 2:30 but we thought we'd explore the trail up David. It's a taped route with a few tricky scrambling spots where all hands and feet are needed and one spot with a fixed line to help you over a steep spot without too many handholds. At this point we knew we were committed to getting to the top so Styder ditched his pack and I ditched my pole and by 2 minutes after 3 we were on the summit
  proof is in the pudding
Unfortunately, the views were somewhat obscured because of clouds but on a clear day this place would be totally AWESOME. It's a 360 viewpoint with mountains and islands and just grand. I highly recommend this as a day hike. As opposed to the lions, you get to the top of a peak with much less work and there's no exposure for those of you who are uncomfortable with summitting West Lion (where in one spot if you fall, you die). The trail works its way over the summit and then back down to the HSCT and from the top you can also see Hanging Lake (yes, BG, another Hanging Lake ) and where the HSCT trail comes in from Thomas and James.
  Hanging lake and the trail down to it from the peaks above
We waited a few minutes to see if the clouds would clear enough for some real stunning photos but no luck so we headed back down and were at the car by 6:05, including a 20 minute snack break on the way down just passed the Lion's trail intersection.
It was a great day with views galore and we had the trail to ourselves, literally. Once we passed the lion's intersection there was noone. What a shame.  This trail is topnotch with views spectacular for most of the way and several other options to explore. You could also use it for a shortcut up to Harvey as there is a spur road that would take you just below the ridge before the peak. A short bushwack and you're on the ridge to the peak.
A great day with great company, Thanks again for getting me up there, Stryder.
A last question. This is a sign on the road up to the Lions turnoff. Does anyone have more info about these routes?
 we're curious
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
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surrey, bc
Canada
1376 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 12:50 PM
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nice! i've been wanting to do the lions, but i may just check this one out instead..are dogs allowed on this trail? i notice where u said u were going the wrong way.. if i was to print out this TR would i be able to get up the same place u's were at by following u're directions?
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yeh baby!! |
Edited by - canuckgurl on 09/22/2004 12:51 PM |
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 yukon hankerin' intrepid dog lovin' fleet footed adventure racing pie packing poet who is ever keen to cave hunt, route find, night hike, and has finally introduced Bishop to Mt. Bishop
PG, BC
Canada
922 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 1:00 PM
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Here are some pics from a loop trip that I did up to the Lions, then over to where you were, and then down the way you came up.
So the only light I can shed on that sign you saw is that the route is pretty up and down from that mountain you were on over to the Lions.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6673
That full HSCT still eludes me, I keep doing only little bits of it - perhaps there is still time before the winter comes? |
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yukon hankerin' intrepid dog lovin' fleet footed adventure racing pie packing poet who is ever keen to cave hunt, route find, night hike, and has finally introduced Bishop to Mt. Bishop
PG, BC
Canada
922 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 1:01 PM
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Duhhh!
I forgot to add that it was a great report. Rock on Scrambler and Stryder! |
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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
11093 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 1:02 PM
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| Nice report,Rich.I can relate to Daryl's desire to frequent an area to get to know it.That's an area I'd like to get at more often too.I had no idea a trail led down to Hanging Lake though-we'll have to talk about that some more |
Edited by - mick range on 09/22/2004 6:11 PM |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 1:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by canuckgurl
nice! i've been wanting to do the lions, but i may just check this one out instead..are dogs allowed on this trail? i notice where u said u were going the wrong way.. if i was to print out this TR would i be able to get up the same place u's were at by following u're directions?
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yeh baby!!
Yes CG, you should be able to get there. The one trick is to not head for David as I indicated on the one pic. If you find yourself heading for the base of David after just having crossed a creek, then turn around, go back a few metres and look for the flagging that goes up the hill to the North. It's the only place with several flagging tapes of different colours hanging there. And since it's a route, not an official trail, with lots of obvious footbed and tapes, dogs are certainly allowed.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add, you max out at 1495 metres and the saddle where most people stop for the lions is at 1525 so the elevation gain is just about the same and with the ups and downs in this one, I give it a total of 4200', just like the lions.
Thanks for the compliments, guys. Yeah, Mick, you should give this one a whirl. I figure it's a 2-3 hour trail for you
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
Edited by - Scrambler on 09/22/2004 1:13 PM |
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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 - 09/22/2004 : 1:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Scrambler
A last question. This is a sign on the road up to the Lions turnoff. Does anyone have more info about these routes?
we're curious
The Harvey SW ridge trail is the standard route that is or was in 103 Hikes
the Harvey N face trail goes up Magnesia Cr to the base of Harvey's north face and provides access to the North Face Ramp and Pup Buttress. See Alpine Select for a map. Not really a hikers trail as it dead ends below the North Face.
Harvey creek road is what you hiked in on, and the Lions/Harvey Pass/HSCT fork is self explanatory. The next fork on that trail gives you the option of left to the HSCT at Harvey Pass or right to the Lions.
IIRC this sign is at the second fork on the trail; first fork is signed for Brunswick. |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 2:05 PM
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thanks Dru. I knew about all the ones except the Harvey North Face trail. That's the one I was really interested in. I should have been more clear about that. So it's just for the climbers, eh? Would anyone else have any use for it? Is it interesting in any way?
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
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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 - 09/22/2004 : 2:32 PM
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It follows the old logging road until that hits a big gully and after that climbs up talus to the base of the N Face of Harvey.
If you are comfortable scrambling class 3-4 slabs you can climb up the north face ramp on Harvey in summer to the upper E ridge and then either summit or descend to Magnesia Meadows. This is the fastest way to Mag Meadows.
In winter and spring the N face ramp is a great easy climb on 45-50 degree snow with a short bit of easy water ice (maybe) and a 60 degree snow section near the top. A half day jaunt under good conditions. It's also been skiied I believe. It only takes 1.5 hrs to base of Harvey N face vs. like 4 hours to Lions in winter.
From the end of the road you could also completely avoid the N face and bushwack up Magnesisa Creek to gain the Harvey-Brunswick col and HSCT north of Magnesia Medows. I don't know anything about the feasibility of this, have just looked down at it from the ramp.
The Pup Buttress is a great 10 pitch 5.10a by the way. The other climbs on Harvey's north face are scary, loose, vegetated and dirty. |
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surrey, bc
Canada
1376 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 3:10 PM
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quote:
Yes CG, you should be able to get there.
thanks for the info - this will be my destination for the weekend, with ure report in hand!
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yeh baby!! |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 3:34 PM
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That's great info, Dru. Thanks.
CG, you should have no problems and if you do, please let us know where I mislead you or wasn't clear enough. Also, the last section up that road/dry creek bed before you reach our lunch spot only gives you views if you stay on the high edge on the Southern side of it. It's a bit scratchy with the young spruce but if you stay a couple of feet below, you don't see as much. I did the ridge on the way up and forwent the views on the way down as we were motoring out. BTW, the views on the way back of Howe Sound are pretty nice, too
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
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surrey, bc
Canada
1376 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 3:52 PM
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quote:
please let us know where I mislead you or wasn't clear enough.
oh oh! hehe.. i'm sure it'll be fine.. what can go wrong?? (famous last words..)
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yeh baby!! |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
THE GREAT OUTSIDE
Canada
5616 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 5:05 PM
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Great trip report there Scrambler. I was aware of another Hanging Lake in existence, and that one looks like a nice destination too...perhaps a bit easier to get to than it's eastern counterpart
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What would scooby do???
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
241 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 5:12 PM
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| Hmm, now I know whos voices I was hearing from the the pass. Great report guys! |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 5:24 PM
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Hey Willy, you shoulda come down and said Hi enjoyed your report, too, by the way.
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1038 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2004 : 6:18 PM
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Interesting area alright - better than trashing your knees on the Lions, IMHO. We were there a couple weeks ago but you had WAY better weather... plus they cleared all that brush for you!!
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"Hope for the best; plan for the worst" |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 09:37 AM
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Yeah, we did luck out on the brush clearing. 3prime, Do you know who's responsible for that? Is it North Shore Hikers or some other anonymous individual? I also clipped a few that they missed or neglected. I always carry my clippers with me now.
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
1134 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 5:39 PM
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Wow really great trip report with all you pictures and expressions. The first one really made me laugh.
Some really nice pictures in the 5th picture the Lions really looks like a lion.
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"Anything is Possible" |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1038 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 7:00 PM
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when we were there, it was just one guy with his dog. I think he was working on that bridge (hadn't gotten to the brushclearing yet). I'm not sure if he was affiliated with North Shore Hikers or not though... just exchanged pleasantries in the pouring rain as we passed him coming down.
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"Hope for the best; plan for the worst" |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
All out of Mexi-Cokes:(
3024 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2004 : 4:34 PM
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| Some guys who on the Bivouac site (Fred Touche was one of them I think) were doing a lot of alder snipping a few years back on the road/route into Harvey Basin. It is a great place to ski during winter. They did up some interesting trip reports. I snowshoed up that area a couple of times, once to the ridge east of Harvey and the next time to the top of Harvey. It was January and I was up there in a T shirt! Beautiful day. The iceaxe came in handy on the (quick) descent back down to the old roads. |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2004 : 5:47 PM
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Yeah, simonc. Stryder and I were both ecstatic at using this as a possible winter snowshoe route as the grade in all sections is very doable and for the most parts, the trail does not go below or directly beside an avalanche slope. At least up to the end of the road. Once you're on the slope to connect with the HSCT, you're in avvy terrain and better know what you're doing and who you're doing it with
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HikeOn,
Rich
Only 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former-Einstein |
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Topic |
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Sep 19- The lions, NOT!!--Harvey Pass and David Pk
