Archive:Mountaineering Camp/2007

VOC Mountaineering Camp 2007

Main article: Mountaineering Camp

FAQ

What is it?

It's an opportunity for VOCers of different abilities to get together and enjoy some scrambling/mountaineering together. Although we will all camp in one spot, different groups will head out to different destinations during the day. The evenings will be filled with good food, good stories, and good times.

This is not an instructional trip (do not confuse it with Glacier school). Although there will likely be experienced members around who may be willing to give you some advice.

When is it?

It will be held on Labour Day long weekend (September 1^st - 3^rd). It is possible that some people will drive/hike up on Friday August 31^st.

Where is it?

The camp will be held at Wedgemount lake. This is located just North of Whistler, on the East side of the Sea to Sky highway. The relevant mapsheet is 92J/02. You can download this mapsheet for free here (29MB).

Who's in charge?

Bram is organizing stuff. See the member's list for contact information. Trip will likely be organised using a combination of the VOC forum, this wiki page, and a possible pre-trip meeting.

Is it for me/you?

This year's camp will hopefully have something for (almost) everyone. The destination is accessible enough for beginners but exotic enough to be interesting to the mountain hard-person.

Drive, approach, routes

Map

Here is a map of the area :

Topo map surrounding Wedgemount Lake

Drive

Follow the highway 99 North to Squamish and Whistler. Past Whistler, take the Wedgemount Lake Road turnoff. See google maps for description untill here. This turnoff is on the right side of the road, after passing Green Lake. The Wedgemount Lake Road can be driven with a normal 2WD (no low-riders tough ;-)). Turn left after crossing the Green River and railroad, then right up a hill where a sign indicates the route to Wedgemount Lake. Just a bit further up, the overgrown Rethel Creek Spur branches off to the right. Road's end is about 2km from Hwy 99 turnoff (parking and outhouse).

Approach

Follow the Wedgemount Lake Trail (1150m elevation gain in ~7km), steep but easy to follow.

Camping spot

We will all camp near the Wedgemount Lake hut (GPS location: 50˚09.8' 122˚49.0').

Routes

Wedge Mountain (2892m)

• West ridge, moderate scramble (*) from Wedgemount lake (can avoid glacier travel if needed)
• North ridge, glacier travel, up to 45dg snow/ice ridge (AD-)
• Various couloirs on NE, N, NW side (might not have enough snow)

Weart Mountain (2822m)

• West ridge: moderate scramble (***) from Wedgemount lake (no glacier)
• North face: glacier travel, steep snow/ice face, possibly mixed (AD+)

Lesser Wedge Mountain (2738m)

• From the west: scramble from Wedge-Lesser Wedge col, glacier travel
• Couloir on North side (might not have enough snow)

The Owls (2720m)

• From the south: apparently easy
• Couloir on North side (might not have enough snow)

Mount James Turner (2703m) far away from Wedgemount lake

• Scramble from the southwest face and upper south ridge, glacier travel
• Scramble from the northwest ridge, glacier travel
• Couloir on North side (might not have enough snow)

Mount Cook (2676m)

• Easy scramble (*) from Cook-Weart col (no glacier).

Mount Moe (2664m)

• South ridge: scramble, glacier travel

Oasis Mountain (2561m) fairly far from Wedgemount lake

• Easy from Eureka-Oasis col, involves glacier travel

Eureka Mountain (2523m) fairly far from Wedgemount lake

• Easy from Eureka-Oasis col, involves glacier travel

Parkhurst Mountain (2494m)

• Moderate scramble (**) from Wedgemount lake (no glacier)

Rethel Mountain (2408m)

• Moderate scramble (**) from Rethel-Parkhurst col (no glacier)

More information

Note that all books are available from the VOC library, please copy and bring them back asap so other people can use them too.

• Alpine Select: Climbs in SW BC & N WA, Kevin McLane, 2001, Elaho publishing corporation.
• Scrambles in SW BC, Matt Gunn, 2005, Cairn publishing. Difficulty (easy, moderate, diffucult, very difficult) and quality (* to ***) ratings are given for scrambles in this area (see above).
• A guide to climbing and hiking in SW BC, Bruce Fairley, 1986, Gordon Soules Book Publishers Ltd.
• Bivouac
• Cascade Climbers

Sign-up

1. Bram v.S.
2. Lara T.
3. Thomas B.
4. Evan M.
5. Matthieu S.
6. Christian C.
7. Scott Webster
8. Anne Webster
9. ...
10. You!

Rides

Please write down your name, approximate area of departure, # of seats, approximate time of departure and return.

• Superman's car, Krypton, 4 seats, leaving early Saturday, returning to Vancouver late Sunday night
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Food and tent groups

The easiest thing is for people in the same car to sort out food and tent groups.