Cathedral Mountain

 

We had been watching the weather closely as the weekend approached. Our goal was to bag Cathedral Mountain (5,698 feet). However, we needed a good weather day to accomplish this outing. The weather reports were consistent with rain approaching late afternoon evening. Saturday was the ideal weather day but we had a family party to attend and Wendy could only join us on Sunday. A decision was made to go for it on Sunday with a very early start! Wendy sent a text Saturday night - she was still on Vancouver Island so she was out. That left the 3 of us for the journey.

 

4:20 AM (early start!) we parked the truck at the End of the Line in Lynn Headwaters. Helen and Sam (dog) waved Neil, Dave and I off. We had a 10km bike ride into the start of the Paton trail. The climb up the Paton trail was quite magical in the dark with our headlamps on. The air temperature was really warm and humid - at 5:00 AM it felt like Hawaii!  As we found out later in the day, conditions that make one susceptible to dehydration and cramping!

Daylight was now with us at the top of the Paton trail. The sunrise was a beautiful red sky - red sky in the morning baggers take warning!  We were fortunate that Dave had been to Cathedral three times before.  His Cathedral trail knowledge was indispensable so Thanks Dave!  

Heading up the rock of Coliseum Mountain.

Between Coliseum and Burwell Mountain we found a Helium Birthday Balloon - they really do get to high places.

The rock is magnificent and such a nice terrain to travel over.

Coming down the back of Burwell, that's where we are heading.

The back of Burwell Mtn, we traversed down these massive rock ledges.

 

After a lot of bush whacking on the col, the trail heads up a few false summits.

An amazing view from the top of Cathedral Mtn. Looking west across to the Grouse range and beyond to the Pacific Ocean.  At this moment the thunder in the skies started to roar. We made a very hasty retreat down.

Amazing moss carpet!

After making our way down through the boulders and the vegetation we stopped to reflect where we  had just been. The skies were still full of thunder, it was very warm and humid. We were running short of fluid so had to stop at a mountain tarn to refill our water. We treated the water with chlorine tablets but unfortunately we forgot the UV light. Dave and Neil kindly gave me any city water they had left and they filled up from the tarn - I'm overly cautious having once had Giardia!

The clouds were rolling in down below.

Back to Burwell...we felt like we had made it. However, we had at least 3 hours down.

 

 

The clouds were rolling in down below, we were descending and about to meet the weather below. We met the rain and mist half way down the trail. It was so misty that we put our head lamps on. It was a warm rain so we didn't feel cold.

Once off the trail we recovered our bikes that we had stashed in the woods 13 hours previously. We were keen to get on the bikes and get riding the 10km back to the truck. Dave had locked our bikes together with his bike lock....but he could not get the key to unlock the bikes. Nothing like a bit of adversity to face at the end of a long day! Without being able to unlock the bikes we would be running the 10 km back to the truck. Darkness was setting in and the rain was becoming quite heavy. We all had a turn at trying the bike lock with no success. Just as I was saying we had to make a decision and leave the bikes and make our way out by foot, the key unlocked the bike lock...we all did a happy dance and jumped on the bikes to head back to the truck. By this time, it was pitch black and raining hard. Biking was tough going as the rain drove straight into our eyes. We stuck together and at one point stopped to regroup when the Seymour Park warden came up behind us with his big truck and flashing lights which we thought we were being pulled over. Normally there are no vehicles on this road.

 However, we made it and only 15 mins behind the ETA!  Helen was there to meet us where she had dropped us off 15.5 hours earlier. It was a quick load up of the bikes and into the vehicles to warm up.  A great journey but a long day trip! Almost 16 hours - start early, take head lamps. This was also the final peak for Neil in the Bagger Challenge. Congratulations Neil on completing all 59 peaks in the Challenge!! Only one more for Dave and myself which we hope to bag soon - weather permitting of course.

One Year Later - the Sparkler Shines Bright!

 

Today I was browsing on Club Tread's thread and noticed a post by Guntis about Capilano Mountain. See the report here: .http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=57466  It caught my attention as it was atop this mountain that I enjoyed my 50th birthday party almost exactly one year ago with my bagging buddies. One of the photos made me catch my breathe - it was this one! In the photo above is one of the sparklers we had at my birthday party! I found it very moving that it was still at the top of the mountain and had survived the winter at 5,560 feet. Now we always try to pack out what we take in so please don't think we littered but I guess we inadvertently left this one behind....must have been the good wine:) 

 

Here I am with the sparkler lit, one year ago!

 Dave, Liza, myself, Craig and Wendy enjoying the party! Neil took the photo.

 

 My great bagging buddies packed in all the party favours (including the sparklers - thanks Wendy!), a very nice red wine, homemade chocolate brownies with caramel sauce, chips and salsa - everything to make it a smashing party!

They even dressed me in crown jewels and Dame Edna glasses!

As with all good summer birthday parties - we went for a swim. Even with the party hats on!



Long may you remain at the top of Capilano dear sparkler - our shining light looking down on us all. I hope to celebrate with you again - perhaps for my 60th!

 



 

http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=57466

A Weekend at Whistler

 

Last weekend Neil and I went to Whistler for a few days. I always enjoy Whistler in the summer, it's great in all seasons but I do appreciate the high hiking trails that are accessible during the summer months.The views are spectacular in all directions. We hiked/ran the High Note Trail (7,000 feet), biked on the bike paths and enjoyed a run on the Valley Trail. We managed a quick shop in the village where I picked up a yoga mat for a weekly class I have signed up for starting next week through into December. This will be the first yoga class I have done so fingers crossed that I like it! As the days become shorter I always start planning my activity for the fall. So far Neil and I are signed up for TRX which we have enjoyed for the past year, I'm also signed up for a Yoga class at the local community center and we will run the nights we can. I plan to run to and from the yoga class which is at the local community center. I even have a pack that will hold my yoga mat! Weekend activities are easier for us to make happen - it's the week days that we need to better schedule into our lives.  

 

 

The Summit of Whistler Mountain

 The High Note Trail

Cheakamus Lake

Another view of Cheakamus Lake 

 

Enjoying the bike trails!

 

While we were at Whistler, Ironman Canada was taking place. This is the first time the event has been in Whistler. The swim was in Alta Lake, the bike went to Pemberton and back to Whistler and the run was a few loops on the Valley trail net work. We saw some of the competitors finishing. What a different sport from trail running/ultra running! Those folks are very serious and this is such a contrast from ultra running/trail running. We were reflecting on events we have participated in where you don't see another human being for hours and have no formal aid stations for 100 miles. That's where family and friends are the deal maker for the event. Speaking of events, Neil and I have signed up for our first event in 2014 - a road marathon in Tromso, Norway called the Midnight Sun Marathon. Neil is presenting at a conference in Stavanger around the same time so we thought what a great opportunity to run an event 350km north of the Artic Circle! Tromso's Midnight Sun Marathon takes place in 24 hours of daylight, that will be very different!  They advertise it as the most spectacular and scenic in the world taking runners by fjords, mountains and colourful houses along the way. Runners from around the globe come to run this event so it should be fun! It starts at 7 pm and most runners are in by midnight. I guess I better get out on the road - I am almost 100% on trails these days.

Happy Labour Day Weekend Canada!



 

Busy with Bagging!

We've been busy the last few weekends bagging. The weather has been fantastic with the exception of one foggy day we endured in the Seymour area.

 One sunny Friday Dave, Neil and I headed out to do Wettin, Hat and Fat Ass mountains

The Tunnel Bluff trail starts right on the Sea to Sky Highway just a few km's past Lions Bay. It was a really good trail until the col between Wettin and Hat.

We managed to find the top of Wettin in good time. That's Neil at the cairn on Wettin (5,075 feet)

After wandering around trying to find the trail to Hat Mountain we found ourselves on the Old Hat Trail. I would strongly discourage anyone from taking this trail. The 3 of us found ourselves in some scary situations with shear drop offs and very thin ledges. Thankfully everything was dry...once we were on the trail we could not turn back and the only way out was to keep going. I had flashbacks that night!

Beautiful scenery once we could enjoy it.

The top of Hat Mountain (5,432 feet) has a radio transmitter station with a geocache hidden on the summit cairn close by.

On top of Fat Ass, (5, 280 feet) you can see the green transmitter on Hat in the distance.

On the Howe Sound Crest trail working our way towards the Brunswick trail to head back down.

Done for the day - it was a long one 9 hours. Helen picked us up and greeted us with ice cold lemonade ;-) just what weary, dehydrated baggers needed. She drove us to our car which was parked at the trail head past Lions Bay.

We set off again the next morning. It was a quick re-stock of the baggers pack and we picked Dave up and started at Lynn Headwaters with the goal of bagging Mt. Perrault. Dave showed up wearing a rope around his waist. Either the trail to Hat freaked him out the day before or he knew something about the days adventure that I didn't!

The trail was rough and steep past Norvan Falls.

 

 

 

The trail followed the creek bed which was low and dry most of the way. It was slow going.

This is Mt. Perrault  where we never did quite find the peak. We tried to access the ridge to the right of the summit but the terrain was extremely steep and littered with rock bands.  This, in combination with thick, impenetrable bush made the going so tough we turned back- I was not a happy bagger!

After abandoning the attempt to find the top we took the trail to Lynn Lake. It was a peaceful small lake where the Lynn Lake trail ends. Dave waded in to cool off.

 

The next weekend we headed up Mt. Seymour and met the dreaded Seymour fog. Neil led Wendy and I to Rector (4,165 feet), Curate (4,178 feet) and Vicar (4,115 feet). I was somewhat concerned with the fog, it was hard to see the markers but a blessing perhaps that we could not see the drop offs below us!

Wendy, Neil and myself on one of the peaks.

 

The following morning the skies were once again blue and we picked Dave up and parked the truck outside the gate at Lynn Headwaters. We rode our bikes 12km to the start of the Vicar Lakes trail. This was my first time on the Vicar Lakes trail - what an obstacle course it is! Plenty of ropes to swing from and very steep at times.

Vicar Lakes with Mt. Bishop in the background where we are going.

Climbing up Bishop - it felt really high and steep 4,978 feet. Dave and Neil did a great job of finding the trail over to Deacon and Presbyter (4,907 feet). There were plenty of bugs out - I reacted badly to some black fly bites around my eyes. Thankfully I had Benadryl with me. The Benadryl kept it in check, Sunday/Monday were monster eye days.

 The top of  Deacon (4,934 feet).

On our way out on the Vicar Lakes trail. Plenty of ropes.

Dave and I enjoying the 12km bike ride out. It felt very refreshing after the heat of the day. Another long day - 10 hours. Good fun team DOD! That now takes me to 23 peaks to date. My goal is to "complete" all the peaks in the competition 79 in total. I have 3 more to do to complete the list. Looks doable over the next few months. Happy Bagging! 

It was a Knee Knacker Weekend!

Saturday was the 25th Anniversary running of the Knee Knacker, Canada's knarliest 30 mile/50km trail event. It starts near Horseshoe Bay and finishes in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. It follows the Baden Powell Trail and has 8,000 feet of ascent and 8,000 feet of descent. This year Dave and I decided to buddy up and do it together. Neil was out there ahead of us completing his 8th Knee Knacker, this was my 4th and Dave's 6th Knee Knacker finish. Another ultra to take me closer to my goal of completing 50 Ultra marathons by the close of this year.

Dave and I crossing the finish line in 9.5 hours. It finishes in Deep Cove, a beautiful spot.

Sunday, we added a bit more insanity and headed out to the Hanes Valley to explore a route to Crown North 1, a new Peak added to the Bagger Challenge Event. The route has some very helpful chains to hang on to as you descend the wet slippery rock. Once we were in the vicinity we marked the trail we will attempt to ascend on fresh legs one day soon.

Descending on the boulder field into the Hanes Valley.

Craig and I, taking in the peace and tranquility of the Hanes Valley.  

Ascending the boulder field after exploring the route that will hopefully take us to Crown North 1.

Craig and I appear to be racing up the boulder field - who won? ;-)

We then carried on and bagged Grouse, Little Goat and Dam Mountain.

Craig (he was down from Kamloops for the weekend), Dave, Neil and myself.

 

Congratulations to all who participated in the 25th Anniversary of the  Knee Knacker. Well done Team Dodg (we were once 5 and known as Team Dodgy). Liza moved to Calgary, Craig has moved to Kamloops that leaves Dave, Neil and I to conquer the Bagger Challenge Peaks this year - go team Dod! For the Knee Knacker, Dave and I were team DO. And team DO did it. It was a good 50 km journey Dave - thanks for the company! We did well, sorry you met those dreadful black flies.

Next Ultra Event is Squamish 50 in August. Many days of Peak Bagging to do before then.