From
highway 1, drive along Three Valley Lake. Look for the 3Val-Mabel FSR, 958432;
park or continue depending on whether it's a weekday, you have a 2-way
radio, and such. Go
400 meters and turn right then turn left after 360 meters. Stay on the
main road; at 952413, switchback, then at 944430, switchback again.
Continue for 2.4 kilometers and stay right at 941410. Turn right
shortly thereafter, 941411. Follow that road to the landing, 927422.
From there, ascend the cutblock and continue climbing in the forest
keeping a north-westerly bearing until you gain a saddle on the east
ridge, 916436. Follow the ridge to the summit.
|
|
|
|
Logging trucks are hauling; with no 2-way radio, I chose to park lower down.
|
Snowshoe
trip: RT 12.0; 8.0 up.
As I continue to research possible outings west of the Rocky Mountains,
Mount Griffin caught my attention.
Revelstoke grants numerous beautiful peaks but they are typically
accessed by logging roads that are snowbound during the winter months.
After calculating distances for this objective, I figured it would be
feasible to reach the summit in a day and come back down the next. I
wasn't surprised to see the 3Val-Mabel FSR plowed for active hauling
but that made little difference as it was a weekday and I don't have
a 2-way radio. I ventured 2.5 kilometers and decided to park well out
of the way. I hiked an additional 4 kilometers before veering on the
secondary service road; luckily, snowmobilers had packed it down.
Another 4 kilometers took me to the landing where I came across a
skier's
uptrack. I followed it up the cutblock but once it entered the
forest, I decided to forgo the track to execute a direct ascent. At
times I
came upon sled tracks, I used them if they went in the right
direction; otherwise, trail-breaking depth was boot-top. It took me
over
5 hours to gain Mount Griffin's east ridge. I was happy to see sled
tracks along the ridge and gladly followed them right near the summit
block. I was on my own for the last steep bit. As I gained the top, the
western sky was still orange from the sunset. After taking pictures and
erecting my tent, I settled in. My stay on this summit was comfortable;
it was
windy but not too cold. The following day, I easily made my way back
down in half the time. This was a very good winter outing on a nice
summit!
|
|
|
|
Looking towards Three Valley Gap.
|
|
|
|
After approximately 6.5 kilometers on the active road, I veered onto this secondary service road.
|
|
|
|
Looking back as I near the landing of a large cutblock.
|
|
|
|
|
I came across an uptrack!
|
|
|
|
|
|
I followed the uptrack to the top of the cutblock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the forest, I opted to use sled tracks when they went my way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise, the depth of trail breaking was boot-top.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The trees are nicely spaced for snowmobiling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A nice view of Boulder Mountain from Griffin's east ridge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
There's many sled tracks on the broad ridge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The summit comes into view.
|
|
|
|
|
|
There's a small dip before the final ascent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Possibility of nice ski runs down the north side.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The trees are heavily rimmed near the summit.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Summit ahead.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
View along the west ridge.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The northern view beyond Eagle Pass Mountain.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Looking south over my tent.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
South-eastern view includes Blanket and Cranberry Mountains.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Anstey Range to the north-west.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Comfortable in my tent.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Revelstoke's gem, Mount Begbie.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Boulder Mountain and Revelstoke are roughly to the east.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Mabel Lake. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Heading back down.
|
| Back
to home page
|
|
|