One more shot from the Saturday hike. This is looking up to Gothics from Armstrong. Gothics, from almost any other angle, looks like a big, wide, rounded summit (check out the photo in my August 8th - 06 post). From here though it looks like a narrow arrete with a pointy summit. It was an interesting view of a mountain I'd been around a few times. It was also an interesting scramble down the ridge to get to where I'm standing now. Lots of precipitous slabs to clamber down - fun.
The temperature on Saturday was surprisingly cool. It chilled down to 6C when I woke up and was only 10 or 12C (at most) when I was on the ridge line. There was also some strong winds blowing from the NW so each time I stepped into the open (after sweating up a storm climbing a ridge) I was greeted with icy blasts and had to scramble to get a jacket on before I quickly chilled off. It reduced my summit time somewhat... but not too much. On the plus side all of the bugs seem to have perished (but were probably hiding) from the cold so I had a bug free day. Not the mid summer weather I had expected but in the end it was still a pleasure to be out there.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Saturdays hike was a “solstice hike” of sorts. There is a tradition amongst hikers to go out and hike the longest trail possible on the summer solstice - because it’s the longest day of the year. Many of the “ultra hikers” report 14-hour hikes with many thousands of vertical feet – truly remarkable challenges. I am just NOT up to that kind of distance and time as yet so I tried something a little more manageable… but still one of my tougher hikes to date - a traverse of the lower Great Range.
As I slept Friday night I was periodically awakened by falling rain … this was bad news, as I feared the rainy clouds might not move off before morning. Indeed when I awoke, the Great Range was still shrouded in clouds. I debated my options as I drove to the trailhead and finally decided that I’d take a chance that the clouds would burn off as per the forecast. My target was to be the lower half of the Great Range – 7 peaks (5 of which “count”) and 16 miles of trail. I would cross Sawteeth, Gothics, Armstrong, Upper and Lower Wolf Jaw as well as Pyramid and Hedgehog mountains. There was probably 5000ft of vertical to cover. It had me a little intimidated at the start but there were bail out routes along the way…. routes that were not needed in the end. It was truly a spectacular hike. Hard to be sure but I was rewarded with some stellar views along the way.
The photo is from Pyramid peak – a sub summit of Gothics that sits in the heart of the High Peaks. This is by far the most amazing view I have ever had on a mountain and one I’ll have to return to in the future.
Sawteeth 23 of 46
Gothics 24 of 46
Armstrong 25 of 46
Upper Wolfjaw 26 of 46
Lower Wolfjaw 27 of 46
As I slept Friday night I was periodically awakened by falling rain … this was bad news, as I feared the rainy clouds might not move off before morning. Indeed when I awoke, the Great Range was still shrouded in clouds. I debated my options as I drove to the trailhead and finally decided that I’d take a chance that the clouds would burn off as per the forecast. My target was to be the lower half of the Great Range – 7 peaks (5 of which “count”) and 16 miles of trail. I would cross Sawteeth, Gothics, Armstrong, Upper and Lower Wolf Jaw as well as Pyramid and Hedgehog mountains. There was probably 5000ft of vertical to cover. It had me a little intimidated at the start but there were bail out routes along the way…. routes that were not needed in the end. It was truly a spectacular hike. Hard to be sure but I was rewarded with some stellar views along the way.
The photo is from Pyramid peak – a sub summit of Gothics that sits in the heart of the High Peaks. This is by far the most amazing view I have ever had on a mountain and one I’ll have to return to in the future.
Sawteeth 23 of 46
Gothics 24 of 46
Armstrong 25 of 46
Upper Wolfjaw 26 of 46
Lower Wolfjaw 27 of 46
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Mt. Pitchoff
Took off from work at noon on Friday. It was a little later then I had hoped so I didn't get down to the Dacks in time for a 4000fter hike. In the end that was okay as there was still some rainy weather pushing through and a big hike would have resulted in no views from the high peaks. I opted instead for Mt. Pitchoff which is a nice little ridgeline walk (after a steep climb to the ridge). I climbed up with intermittent rain falling. Under the tree cover I was able to keep mostly dry. Even spent a few minutes ducked under a big fir tree keeping dry while a heavy shower passed. Finally I spotted a dry patch and went up onto the ridge to enjoy a mostly dry walk to the summit and a nice sunset on the way back. Back at the car I headed to camp to prepare my gear for the next days trek.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Evening ride
Did a little riding this weekend. I had originally thought I might head back to the Adirondacks to add another climb…. but when the alarm went at 4:30am I just didn’t have it in me to climb out of bed so I (quickly) decided that (after a little more sleep) I’d go for a ride instead. It was a little warm this weekend. The heat of summer has begun but it wasn’t too bad from a humidity standpoint so not too oppressive. Bugs were out in force. I stopped for a short break last week on an evening ride and was immediately mauled by mosquitoes and deerflies. As long as I was moving it was okay but there were no breaks after that. The photo is from an evening ride last week. We got hit with a short heavy rainfall but it passed by quickly. After I got to the car there was a lot of mist coming off the hot pavement and it made for a nice shot.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Kicked off the climbing season with a walk up Mt. Seymour on Saturday. The hike is not the longest (nor too short), and the climb isn't the hardest (tho' not easy) – perfect to start things off without killing myself first time out. Mike and I went down relatively early and started the long flat approach hike in the cool morning air. Things looked overcast as we drove down but they were forecast to clear out so we booted up and headed along the trail.
The Sewards (4 mtns. in the range including Seymour) are an interesting group of mountains. Apart from long distance views (20+km) you can’t really see them as you approach. The roads have too many trees along the side or twist just the wrong way to provide a nice view. As you drive into the trailhead the tree canopy is too thick. The approach walk is relatively long and flat(5 miles) and is entirely in dense forest. It’s not until you climb the herd path to the summit and get pretty close to the top that you finally see the mountains you have been labouring to get up. It’s a nice surprise to see such rugged mountains as you poke your head out of the trees at the top.
As we summited we discovered it had indeed cleared up and we enjoyed a nice sunny lunch on a good viewing ledge. For the most part it was bug free but by the time we headed down the blackflies had woken up and were a little annoying but not too bad. The long walk out had us both a little leg sore by the time we got to the car but all in all a good first hike of the season. Bodes well for things to come.
Seymour 22 of 46
The Sewards (4 mtns. in the range including Seymour) are an interesting group of mountains. Apart from long distance views (20+km) you can’t really see them as you approach. The roads have too many trees along the side or twist just the wrong way to provide a nice view. As you drive into the trailhead the tree canopy is too thick. The approach walk is relatively long and flat(5 miles) and is entirely in dense forest. It’s not until you climb the herd path to the summit and get pretty close to the top that you finally see the mountains you have been labouring to get up. It’s a nice surprise to see such rugged mountains as you poke your head out of the trees at the top.
As we summited we discovered it had indeed cleared up and we enjoyed a nice sunny lunch on a good viewing ledge. For the most part it was bug free but by the time we headed down the blackflies had woken up and were a little annoying but not too bad. The long walk out had us both a little leg sore by the time we got to the car but all in all a good first hike of the season. Bodes well for things to come.
Seymour 22 of 46
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