| Drive up Golden
Donald Upper Road, turn right on Barber Road then left on Oster Road.
Park
at the snowmobile trailhead for Hospital Creek FSR. Bike, quad or sled
the logging
road to a
side branch called Railway (signed in winter), 064922. Follow to the
landing and park, 069937. Ascend the cutblock and forest generally
heading north-west to the saddle and connecting ridge, 065941. Continue
(north-east) along the ridge to a sub peak. The pleasant broad ridge
leads to the summit block. To reach the ridge crest,
buttresses are circumvented climber's left with a little scrambling. The
summit ridge is
narrow and exposed at times. The top is at the far end. |
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At the landing in
less than half an hour from our house. |
| Snowshoe trip:
RT: 7.0; 4.25 up. After a long break due to blistery cold
weather and high avalanche hazard, it was refreshing to get back out.
We
decided on a local outing we had already researched, success was
uncertain... The appeal was that we would leave the house on
snowmobiles and reach the landing quickly. Despite the chance of not
standing atop, we set out for this mystery trip. From the saddle we
predicted travel would be good and it was. Although it was mostly
cloudy, we enjoyed familiar sights. As we got closer, we
wondered if we would be able to proceed to the top; we continued.
Nearing the summit block, it became apparent that we would need to go
around some buttresses and scramble to gain the ridge crest. We traded
snowshoes for crampons. Once on the ridge, Fab expressed it still
wasn't "in the bag". A couple of dips interrupted the narrow, snowy
ridge. He probed the way across to the far end and summit. I followed,
aware that this was not the place for a blunder... We soon stood on the
top. Yahoo, first one of the year. Returning was fast, especially the
last part. From the sleds, within half an hour we were lounging with
the dogs! This local peak is exhilarating and we are very pleased with
the adventure. |
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Top of the cutblock. |
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Typical terrain. |
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At the saddle,
heading north-east towards a sub peak. |
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The objective on the
left. |
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Good travelling
along the ridge. |
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A minor dip from the
sub peak. |
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Sun over the
Columbia Valley. |
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Looking back. |
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It is still a
mystery whether we'll reach the top... |
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Rock buttresses are
circumverted climber's left. |
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Exchanging snowshoes
and poles for crampons and alpine axe. |
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Gaining the summit
ridge. |
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The summit is at the
far end. |
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Fab probes the whole
way along the narrow summit ridge. |
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First of the year,
right in our backyard. |
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Moberly Peak and the
ski hill across the valley. |
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An impressive
unnamed peak to the north-west. |
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Thrilled to be
standing here, exhilarating! |
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Leaving the top. |
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Carefully
backtracking in the exact same footsteps. |
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The summit ridge is
narrow and exposed at times. |
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More of this
intimidating ridge. |
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Sheer west side. |
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Almost back at the
snowshoes below. |
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Coming down from the
summit ridge. |
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The approach ridge
and Hospital Peak in the background. |
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Last look at the
summit block. |
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Hospital Creek and
the town of Golden. |
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Nearing the descent
in the trees. |
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Our sleds are
visible. |
| Back
to home page |
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