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 Night owl posting,Subie driving, backpacking Dad who is perpetually trying to catch up to his kids on the trail.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
3064 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2012 : 11:31 PM
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Friday my daughter and I set out to check out the Seton Ridge Trail with plans for one night out and a return on Saturday. If the timing worked out, there was also the possibility of an 8800' peak to scramble in the bargain.
Although I couldn't find much information on ClubTread, there were a few enticing reports elsewhere: http://www.crossna.com/forum/post87372.html
quote:
"Condition: Well maintained trail, most fall has been cut away. Because it is usually clear of snow by July 1, this area is a good early season objective. There is no water over the entire length of the trail
General Route: Seton Ridge is the treed ridge running east from the Cayoosh Range between Seton Lake and Copper Creek. The Seton Ridge trail starts from the Seton Ridge Road and runs up the ridge between Copper Creek and Seton Lake.
How to Follow: To find the trail go west on the somewhat overgrown road at the pass. After about 100m look closely for an overgrown unmarked trail to your left. The trail heads up the ridge [directly on top of it] for the first 2 km. After reaching the first bump [6100 ft.] it drops about 500ft. to cross a saddle. Watch for an abrupt right turn before the saddle. The trail again joins the ridge until it reaches tree line. From here another 15 mins. of up hill takes you to the top of the second and highest bump at 7000 ft. and a splendid view. However, the horse trail side hills around this high point [watch for it on your left as the trees thin out and the alpine opens up] and joins the ridge again as it drops down. The trail continues on the ridge and again skirts around another bump on the ridge. Finally, as the trail approaches its end it leaves the ridge and angles to the left across a sloping meadow. The trail ends at an outfitters camp [6900ft.] beside a small stream, the first water since crossing Copper Creek on the logging road! From here one can scramble up loose rock to the top of an 8800ft. peak. [50:38.1-122:13.7]
??:
Eastern Cayoosh Range
There is an excellent hiking/horse trail which takes you to a scenic alpine area in the Eastern Cayoosh Range. The trail is in good condition, and generally follows ridge tops which divide the Copper creek drainage with Seton lake. The summits beyond the meadowed area in the foreground are generally steep and rugged, and a number of them rise above 9000 feet (2743 m). I managed to scramble to the top of Peak Cy03, the 8800 foot (2682 m) peak seen in the center of this picture. I did this as a day trip, however, would recommend it as an overnighter, as the access trail is quite long (over 10 kms).
Access: At 75 kilometers along the Duffey Lake road (from Mt. Currie), a logging road branches left, crosses Cayoosh Creek and climbs to 4600 feet (1402 m) cresting the top of Seton Ridge. From this point (N50 39.0 W122 05.17 (WGS 84)), the Seton Ridge trail can be picked up and travels westward along Seton Ridge. Note: this waypoint was estimated from a map and is not an actual reading."
We found the trail easily enough turning off the Duffy at Copper Creek a few kilometers past the Downton Creek turn off. The steeply switch-backed FSR is drivable in 2wd cars to the crest of the ridge where you find the overgrown old road that leads to the TH.
The hike didn't start particularly well as the good weather on the coast deteriorated the farther we went inland and produced a steady drizzle as we made our way along a somewhat brushy, overgrown part of the trail as it initially skirts a cut block. Thankfully we were soon into the trees and clear of the soaking brush. From there, although steep, this is a great trail with an unusual character. Although you are in forest, the trail follows a knife edge ridge line meandering from one side to another and offering some great views through breaks in the trees.
   
Up to the first "bump" on the ridge, the trail is in excellent condition with almost all dead fall cleared away. However, at the bump we encountered the first major dead falls blocking the trail and evidence of fire indicating lightening strikes. A couple of times we lost the trail and had to cast about and backtrack to pick it up again. As we pressed on it was clear that maintenance efforts weren't keeping up with the havoc wreaked by mother nature along a high, exposed ridge line (something that added to our anxiety based on a weather forecast for the region that included possible thunderstorms).
Our initial good progress slowed dramatically as we encountered more and more dead fall to be negotiated either by climbing over, crawling under and bushwacking around. After 3 hours we were just approaching the 2nd bump and were a long way from the only possible camping spot. The state of the trail seemed to be getting worse and it was time to make a decision.
 
The decision was to bail out. The 3 hour hike in to that point took 2 hours to reverse with sunshine teasing us much of the way back.
  
I definitely want to check this out again but will wait for a dry day and probably take a shot at it with a very light day pack to ease the negotiation of all the dead fall.
Our consolation prize on Saturday was a fun scramble on Brandywine (along with about 100 others)
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Edited by - ChuckLW on 09/04/2012 11:43 PM
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
559 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2012 : 11:10 AM
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| Cool first report on a peak I never heard of! More peak to look forward to visiting. Thanks. |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4037 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2012 : 11:58 AM
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I've always wondered about this trail. Thanks for the info.
Nice view.
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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
13598 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2012 : 12:08 PM
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Seton Ridge Trail I got mixed up at first thought. There is a Seton Ridge near Lillooet.
Tough decision to make but the best one to head back under threat of Thunderstorms.
K |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
560 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2012 : 2:12 PM
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| Thanks for the TR - some good info in there. Looks great. |
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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
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Posted - 09/05/2012 : 2:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by KARVITK
Seton Ridge Trail I got mixed up at first thought. There is a Seton Ridge near Lillooet.
Tough decision to make but the best one to head back under threat of Thunderstorms.
K
This is the Seton Ridge trail near Lillooet.
I could be wrong but i think this one was in the first edition of Canyon to Alpine but dropped from the second edition? |
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Seton Ridge Trail
