Downton and Marble Range - September 15

Was this the last long weekend of summer or first long weekend of winter?

We convinced friends to join us to explore the Downton area some more but were stopped from getting onto the high and lofty ridges by snow. Still we did one hike/scramble into the ‘Valley of many lakes’ but I found the amount of boulder-hopping rather annoying.

In search of snow-free summits we drove on to Lillooet and north on West Pavillion Rd where we spent the night with Fraser River views on a bench above the canyon.

The next morning we took Big Bar Ferry, had a nice chat with the ferry man and went on to bag Mt Bowman in Marble Range Provincial Park.

Interesting to see on West Pavilion FSR over hundred deer grazing in the irrigated fields above the Fraser just beyond ‘no hunting’ signs – apparently these deer are educated and can read!


 

  

  

  

  

 

 

Linus & Cornwall - Sept 22/23

After seemingly endless weeks of sunshine the weather didn’t cooperate with our plans for a heli&fly trip in the Tantalus Range near Squamish.

On to plan B which was exploring the Downton area on the Duffy Lake Road. We had done one trip up to Statimcet quite a few years ago. Great area with 4WD access to 1700 meters. There was a recent trip report on Clubtread of some fabulous ridge scrambling (Soprano-Contralto-Schroeder-Linus-Statimcet) and we decided to check it out.

Again, Downton didn't disappoint. We made our way up to the col between Schroeder and Linus and ridge-scrambled over huge blocks to the top of Linus. Along the way was some mild exposure and a fun knife-edge ridge, which seemed a bit too pointy for a-cheval (in mountaineering terms to cross a ridge straddling it like a horse). Fantastic views of small alpine lakes behind every ridge, and of Lost Creek Valley, Birkenhead, Cayoosh, Joffre and Matier.

Relaxed scrambling on Linus ridge

Part of me wanted to stay for more exploring the next day, but we had made plans to meet with friends near Ashcroft. So off we drove through Lillooet, Pavilion and Marble Canyon with its freshwater corals or stromatolites (must check them out sometime). Then we turned onto graveled Hat Creek Road, a nice short-cut along a valley with scenic ranches. After a few turns the road was getting smaller, bumpier and looking somewhat unused. But just after we turned on our GPS for confirmation, we met up with our friends on the spur road up to Cornwall viewpoint. Together we watched the beautiful sunset from the old fire look-out (elevation 2036 meter) over a couple of beer and Andrei's special chocolate-brandy mix.

On top of the world at Cornwall

Next morning we relaxed in the sun with sage-brush and coffee smells, did some peak-spotting (Jesmond near the Fraser Canyon and Pyramid at the Nahatlach, both places we had visited before) and watched a bear browsing on the slope across from our launching spot. Despite a few cycles starting to come in, the flight down to Ashcroft Manor was a sled ride. But a long, scenic and very enjoyable sled-ride (1600 meters elevation difference).