Introduction: BC Coast Range

We booked tickets to Seattle for an August trip to British Columbia around the beginning of the year. Originally, our plan was to do a sea kayaking adventure, but our recent packraft investment made us change our plans.

Dani looks out over the Squamish River on the Ashlu Bridge the morning after the rain.

Our former neighbors, Joe and Erika, not only let us borrow their awesome camper van, but provided airport pickup and drop off as well. We arrived @ SeaTac on Saturday morning and got breakfast in Edmonds - where we dropped Joe to ferry back to Port Angeles. Below is our road trip route:

Pictured below is the Squamish River valley - and one of the rivers that we would run in our packrafts. Our plan was to continue up the Squamish River to its confluence with the Elaho River - where we would turn NW and continue into the Coast Range on an old logging road. The upper stretches of the Elaho - Simms Creek and the Clendennig looked to be incredible packraft options. 

However, at the confluence we ran into a fire crew that let us know the entire area was on fire - and had been for some time. We audibled and chose to stick around the lower Squamish.

The Squamish River Valley is nestled between some incredible ranges. Almost all of the peaks are glaciated, and there are several large ice fields - such as the Pemberton Icefield that drain the basin. All the ice means that the river moves the most water in the summer when glacial melt is high.

It also means that the mountains are covered in cascading waterfalls in almost every direction.

Put in location - we were able to get a ride with one of the fire fighters after hiking the forest service road. I left my helmet in his car and had to speed hike the extra miles up to the fire camp to get it back before we could raft.

Camp

After exploring the Squamish - we headed up the Ashlu river. Pictured above and below the Ashlu has Class V+ sections that are popular with kayakers. We hoped that the upper basin would have a lower gradient and some better water for the packrafts.

Our trip up the Ashlu was short lived. The road became too narrow to travel by car long before we were able to reach the upper valley - so we set up camp in a nice remote spot and called it a day.

While up the Ashlu canyon we opted for a hike Tuesday morning to salvage the lack of runnable river. We started up the Sigurd Lake trail for about ~1500' to a small waterfall. The trail took us through some incredible old growth forest with some of the largest trees we've seen.

After the hike we spent about 3 hours floating down the Cheakamus River just outside of the town of Squamish. This urban trip was really great. We saw a lot of jumping salmon- and ran a good Class III rapid at our takeout by Fergie's Cafe.

We took the rafts out into the Howe Sound on our final morning for a nice relaxing paddle and saw a harbor seal. The plan was to then take the Sea to Sky Gondola up for a hike high in the mountains - but the $40/person prices and heavy smoke turned us towards Lighthouse Park - a historical park in an old growth forest just across the river from downtown Vancouver.

Long drive back to Seattle - should have stayed longer. Thanks again to Joe and Erika for letting us borrow the camper van and providing airport transportation. We owe you guys!

next time ..........

Garibaldi Lake > Upper Pitt River > Pitt River Hot Spring > Pinecone Lake > Mamquam FSR

Zion Canyoneering: Birch Hollow and Keyhole

Off to Zion NP with Dani and Brian Conley to explore some new canyons.

Dani on my favorite rap of the trip because of the ridiculously boulder wedged in the canyon.

Brian is Dani's former principal from Northwest Middle - where they learned that they share a passion for exploring So Utah canyons. Brian had explored canyons in Escalante, Zion, and Capitol Reef - but was new to rappelling.... So Dani asked him about coming on a summer trip to try it out.

Dani on 1st Rappel

We spent a good bit of time going over the basics - using the car as an anchor.

Brian mastered the fundamentals quickly, and we shortly it was game time - a 120 foot rap over the pour off pictured above. I still remember my first rappel from about 5 years ago - it was down the Narcolepsy Wall in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Despite being about 60' and not very exposed, Thad had to basically push me over the edge. 

Brian was calm and cool as he simply weighted the rope and walked off the edge.

 Saturday night we enjoyed one of the best desert car camping experiences of recent memory. Exhausted from a day of canyoning and long exit hike - we cooked incredible food - drank fine "wine" - and enjoyed great company.

"Hulk?" 

Brian in Birch Hollows fluted walls.

iPhone Pano

Keyhole was short and sweet - about 2 hours total time car door to car door. What it lacked in length it made up for in quality - the final 4 or 5 rappels are incredible and require some fun swimming.

"Swimming through slanted corridor"

OPUS Hut

For "Pie and Beer" Pi-on-eer Day, Dani and I visited the OPUS Hut near Telluride, CO.

OPUS stands for "Ophir Pass Ultimate Ski"

On Friday we hiked from Ophir to OPUS. We were blown away by the beauty of the mountains and the cozy luxury of the Opus "Chateau". Cool clouds like the ones above continually moved through the mountains.

On Saturday Morning we went for a walk. (Above) Dani a step outside the OPUS front door.

Our hike took us past wildflowers and Ruby Lake.

Ruby Lake

From Ruby Lake it was up and over to Columbine Lake, which was still half frozen.

Columbine Lake

From Columbine Lake we headed over the next pass to Bridal Veil basin.

Lewis Lake

Lewis Mill

Built in 1910, Lewis Mill was a 60 ton capacity ore concentration mill location at 12, 450 feet. On May 6 2009 the mill was placed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.

At its peak the Lewis Mill churned out 12 tons of concentrate each day, and was one element in a mining complex that boasted a mine portal, triple/tram house, bunkhouse, and business office. The five-story structure, originally powered by electricity from the Smuggler-Union Hydroeletric Power Plant/Bridal Veil falls Powerhouse, serves today as an outstanding example of timber frame construction.

We found this stove cover laying in upper Bridal Veil. A quick internet search gives the backstory: Garland stoves were designed and manufactured in the late 1800s through 1955 by the Michigan Stove Company and became famous because of the 15-ton wooden replica stove built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

http://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/garland-stove

Back above Ophir Dani takes a break with the Wilson Complex in the background.

Us on top of the world. Ophir Canyon and the mountains between Ophir/Trout Lake in the background. Brian and I coined - these mountains are called the "Dream Zone". To see these mountains in the winter see our earlier post:

http://utahtransplants.blogspot.com/2015/03/rico-dream-zone-mega-dream-zone-and.html

North Lookout Peak

 While at the top of the world Dani found a throne.

......and back to Opus hut to relax, read, and eat gourmet food.

The OPUS Hut is really a Chateau.

On Sunday our plan was to hike from Ophir Pass to Trout Lake via Clear Lake > Ice Lakes > and Hope Lake. However we made it as far as Clear Lake basin, where we found the exposure and length of the trip too much.

(Above) Dani scrambling out of Paradise Basin - she's had enough scrambling for the weekend.

Clear Lake

The last shot of Clear Lake before we returned to the Ophir Pass to find our car was attacked by a bear in our absence. Never leave any food in your car, or pay the high comprehensive deductible price.

Overall, we had an incredible trip. Props to the Opus hut and the owner, Bob, who made our stay incredibly cozy and relaxing. We will definitely return in the future.

 Thanks to Ophir Family #1 for helping cook the second night's amazing dinner and providing great company. Thanks also to everyone that helped to shuttle us around the mountains - Matt and Becca Percy, Sean, and Ophir Family #2.