Archive:Sphinx Camp 2010

Back in the day, the VOC used to swarm up to Sphinx Bay for their annual Spring Ski Camp - this generally happened during exams, but it was a large event, often involving food drops by aeroplane to extend the party. We even built the Burton Hut up there. More recently it seems that we havn't quite been sure whether or not Garibaldi Lake is frozen during exams - so let's do it during Reading Break. The VOC is often hanging out around Sphinx Bay anyway, this should just help people get together.

Hopefully this page is used for a lot of organizing, but it may help to read the message board thread as well.

A fair amount of the organization, and a slideshow about ski mountaineering in Sphinx Bay the Wednesday before the break, will be done by Veenstra.

But won't the Olympics ruin everything?

No. There will be a checkpoint for Northbound Sea-to-Sky traffic at Alice Lake from 6am-6pm, but other than that we're fine. You have 2 options:

• Travel up there outside these times - like leaving Vancouver at 4am, or driving up the night before planning to pass the checkpoint after 6pm.
• Ski in over the Garibaldi Neve from Diamond Head - that trailhead does not involve crossing the checkpoint.

What should I do there?

We picked Sphinx Bay for a reason - it has some of the best ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing opportunities around.

Peak Bagging

There are a lot of really sweet peaks around. Counter-clockwise along the top of the massive glaciated bowl topped with granite and volcanic cliffs and peaks we have:

Guard Mountain 2177m

A stiff scramble in summer, it will seem much harder in winter trust me.

The Deception Pinnacles 2233m

Usually a short scramble / climb (depending on the pinnacle) on one side, and ski-able on the other due to wind packed snow. Some are a stiff scramble / climb on all sides. The deception part is figuring out which is the tallest (HINT: the one closest to Guard).

The Sphinx 2402m

The Sphinx dominates the terrain in the area, and gives it it's name. The steep rock face is the head of the beast, and the glaciers its paws.

The route up from Sphinx pass (the pass between the Sphinx and Deception) is a nice moderate line (just one hard ~30m step). The route from the other side is an alpine classic rock route.

The Bookworms 2331m

20m pinnacles poking up out of the cirque overlooking Sphinx Bay.

Depending who you believe these were either named in honour of old VOCers who couldn't make it away from their studies to enjoy the skiing in the area, or those same old VOCers - turned to stone for the same reason and left looking over that skiing they just couldn't make time for.

4th class, apparently, although Veenstra has been known to try and aid up them in a blizzard only to be convinced by his party that the turnaround time had passed.

Carr 2590m

The face pointing towards Sphinx Bay and the Bookworms is quite exciting, but skiing/scrambling up from the backside is easier.

Phillis' Engine 2530m

This rock tower resembles a train engine, and at 5.8 you'd have to be pretty hard to climb it in the winter. There is a pass beside it which gives access to the backside of the cirque and is a good approach for Carr, Castle Towers East and beyond.

Castle Towers 2676m

A triple-summit - The Westernmost is a moderate scramble from the west, the True (centre) summit is apparently 1m taller than Garibaldi and can be climbed (in winter) via the couloir between it and the Westernmost and a short low 5th step, the Easternmost is a ski-ascent from the East.

Yo-yo skiing

No, that's not a peak, but it is an option if peak bagging isn't your thing. To get you started the best ski-up is directly up the Sphinx Glacier - nice 25 degree or so slope all the way with little avi hazard, then take a run either back down it or cross over near Deception and take a ~2300 foot north facing run back down to the bottom of the valley. There are other options, of course, but that's enough to get anybody started.

Snow caves and lounging in the sun

Yes, you can do that too.

Signup

Much like Mountaineering Camp or New Years at Phelix, we're hoping that people will basically take care of themselves - organizing themselves into smaller groups doing trips in and around the camp. Indicate here when you'll be arriving and leaving to help coordinate use. Also, if you'd like to lead a trip as part of the camp throw that in here under a sub-section and indicate what you'd like to do and when.

Hopefully we'll reach critical mass at some point, get lots of people up there, and have ourselves a great time.

• 18th, Thursday

1. ?

• 19th, Friday

1. Veenstra (skiing, probably over the Neve unless car swap appears, willing to take some with us)
2. Line (skiing, probably over the Neve unless car swap appears, willing to take some with us)
3. Nick M (skiing, likes the idea of the Neve and would appreciate a ride)
4. Jill Kennedy (would love to ski but needs a ride if possible)
5. Adrian A

• 20th, Saturday

1. Veenstra (Instructing for Intro to Ski Mountaineering)
2. Line (Instructing for Intro to Ski Mountaineering)
3. Nick M (Interested in Ski Mountaineering but hasn't done anything beyond scrambles)
4. Jill Kennedy (Interested in ski mountaineering...has some ski touring experience and AST-1)
5. Adrian A

• 21st, Sunday

1. Veenstra (skiing out, back over the Neve unless somebody appears who wants to car-swap)
2. Line (skiing out, back over the Neve unless somebody appears who wants to car-swap)
3. Nick M (skiing out, willing to cross the Neve again)
4. Jill Kennedy (Same dealio)
5. Adrian A

• 22nd, Monday

1. ?

• ...

Veenstras' Intro to Ski Mountaineering

Line and Christian want to Ski in Friday, bag a peak Saturday, and ski out over the Neve Sunday - and we want to take you with us. Neve crossing logistics will depend on the car-swap. You'll need to have all the skiing gear, and also:

• Harness
• Big locking 'biner
• Ice axe
• Helmet
• 2 prussiks, 2 more lockers and a long sling/webbing if you know what to do with them, or want to learn.

Interesting in Peak Bagging Saturday

If we get more instructors we can support more people, but I don't want to try and manage a group larger than 8 total. Keep in mind that you must already be up at the hut - we're not going to wait around camp for 7 hours while you drive up from Vancouver and ski in.

1. Veenstra
2. Line
3. Nick M (only done scrambles before, is this ok?)
4. Jill Kennedy (has never ski mountainered before and really wants to learn!)
5. 
   
6. 
   
7. 
   
8. 
   

Maybe some more people will step forward in a quasi-leadership role? Email Veenstra if you think you need to be convinced of your own ability to do so.

Interested in Neve Crossing N-S Sunday

Neve crossing will depend on car-swapping logistics. If you're just interested in the Neve, feel free to ski in to the hut Saturday while we're peak bagging.

1. Veenstra
2. Line
3. Jill Kennedy...interested....
4. Nick M
5. ...