| From the south-west
corner of Emerald
Lake parking lot, locate the trailhead to Hamilton Lake. Follow this
popular trail to 303993. The trail traverses towards the lake but the
objective is to follow the south ridge of Emerald. This ridge easily
leads to open terrain and the false summit. From
there the summit ridge is broken, route finding may be required. |
|
 |
|
|
Emerald Peak from
the highway. |
| Snowshoe trip: RT
8.25; 5.5 up. Fortunate indeed!!! I was
hoping the forecasted snow would arrive late or not at all; it held
off. Fab was not convinced he could make it to treeline, suffering from
a pulled muscle. The plan was to get to treeline and see... An
avalanche report on the Emerald Slide Path described the snowpack as
spooky; we planned to avoid most of the hazard. Evelyn
decided to come along despite the warnings this may be a failure! To
put the odds on our side, I set off to break trail to 2100 m.
two days previous. Ev drove in at 7:30; we left the trailhead in good
spirit, putting our heads down for the next couple of hours following
the obvious trail. From where I had turned around two days before, less
than 100 m. remained to
treeline. Breaking trail was hard but not unreasonable; a buried
supportive soft slab prevented going to ground. The scenery soon became
enjoyable, the south ridge came into view. We followed it to the last
trees, where we took a break. Fabrice decided he would
accompany us to the top. We thought the summit would be reached quickly
from here. Although overcast, visibility was good and there was very
little wind. We proceeded to the high point and realized the summit was
the furthest buttress on the broken ridge. Carefully we continued,
eventually taking our snowshoes off. We stayed on the ridge
crest and had to find the least exposed path; climbing short sections.
The summit ridge added excitement and gave a "big mountain" feel. From
the summit, we watched four skiers come down the Slide
Path from high up on the east ridge; very ballsy! We retraced our way
back down the ridge. This trip would be very appropriate as a ski
touring outing, given good snow conditions. |
|
 |
|
The terrain opens up
and the alpine reveals itself. |
|
 |
|
Conditions are
looking good so far... |
|
 |
|
|
Gaining the south
ridge through Larch trees. |
|
|
 |
|
|
These slopes would
be nice to ski! |
|
|
 |
|
|
We hug the ridge to
the false summit. |
|
|
 |
|
|
We chose the ridge
on the right instead of the snow feature ahead. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Summit cairn on the
far buttress. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Yahooooo! We made it! |
|
|
 |
|
|
Fab and Ev. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Looking down the
Emerald Slide Path, east side. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Emerald Lodge on the
left. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Heading back down
the way we came. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Fab gaining the snow
lip. |
|
|
 |
|
|
A little further
along on the snow covered upper ridge. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Downclimbing a steep
section into a sheltered pocket, very neat feeling. |
|
|
 |
|
|
The pocket on the
left and the continuing ridge. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Another snow lip. |
|
|
 |
|
|
We climb up the
buttress to avoid the snow saddle. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Almost back at our
snowshoes. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Looking back towards
the summit. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Back on the
snowshoes. |
|
|
 |
|
|
First time on
snowshoes, Ev yells "I wish I had my skis!!!!" |
| Back to home page |
|
|