Ref: Bob
Spirko's Road not taken
Note: Due to an off-season road closure of highway 940, we followed the
north-west ridge to the summit plateau. |
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Highway 940 is
closed
until April 30th. |
| Snowshoe
trip: RT
5.0; 3.0 up. Fab really wanted to go
somewhere grassy and sunny with the dogs, south k-country came to mind.
Aware of the highway closure, we went the long way. Soon after leaving
Longview behind, on highway 532, we encountered snow. As we continued,
the snow deepened. Of course, we left the truck at home thinking we were
going in a drier area! Proceeding up the steady climb to 2025 m. was
unsettling. Fab was concentrating on keeping the car going, aiming for
bare wind-swept patches interrupting snowdrifts. Finally, we made it down
to highway 940 junction only to realize it was open south for a few
kilometers. We looked at the map and saw we could probably save the day
with an easy ascent of the north-west ridge of Livingstone. The forest
did not offer much resistance. Travelling was good initially, higher
up, the snow crust was variable. The forested ridge before treeline was
short but brutal. The snow was deep and unconsolidated. Firmer ground
beyond treeline was welcome but accompanied by fierce wind. Fab took
off with the hounds to get it done as quickly as possible, I tried to
follow! We almost arrived at the south summit before noticing the huge
cairn on the lower summit. After some pictures, we retreated to
the trees. The dogs did well and were very quiet the rest of the day...
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The dogs are all
geared up and ready to go. |
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We will gain the
north-west ridge of Livingstone. |
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After crossing Mean
Creek, we start the ascent. |
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A bit deeper here,
the crust is variable. |
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A nice picture of
Daisy at treeline. |
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A quick gather. |
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At the ridge, the
hounds have lots of snacks. |
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The rest of the
ridge. |
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The snow conditions
on the treed ridge were the hardest. |
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Finally,
wind-swept terrain. Unfortunately windy. |
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We
continue towards the summit. |
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Fab
is ahead to keep the dogs moving. |
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Almost
at the south (highest) summit. |
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Close
up of the cornice. |
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At
the top for a couple of pictures. |
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Mount
Coffin, usually combined with this ascent. |
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Looking
east at the Foothills. |
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The
official summit very close by. |
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Looking
back at the south summit. |
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Another
very brief snack time and off we go. |
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Heading
back down to shelter. |
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Our
access cutblock down below. |
| Back
to home page |
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