Subject: | [MCR] Purcells, Dogtooth Range |
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Date: | Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:41:46 -0600 |
Purcell
Mountains / Dogtooth Range Traverse 19
-22 September 2015 Route
is near Golden, BC. NTS
Map 82N06 Blaeberry Our
route began at Quartz Lake Trail and traversed the range through Cirque, Lang,
& Gorman headwaters to the Holt Creek Drainage. Access was via Quartz Lake Forest
Service Road which begins off TransCanada, 40km west of Golden BC. Watch for the
trailhead at the 5km mark on the road, small parking area at
bridge. Quartz is an active logging road at the moment, so radio
callouts are strongly recommended during road travel. A high clearance vehicle was
used but 4- wheel-drive was not necessary at the time. Our exit was via
helicopter in the alpine zone in Holt Creek Drainage. An alternate exit was
planned via Gorman Lake Trail down to Gorman Lake Forest Service
Road. Over
the course of the trip the temperatures ranged from -4 to +15. During
the first 2 days of our trip the Purcells received a considerable amount of
rain that was ongoing for a 36 hour period, with a total of 30mm of
precipitation. The freezing level was around the 2200m mark, making
travel on frozen north slopes difficult. Southern slopes, were
warmer and became muddy mid-day. We were surprised to
see several rockfall occurrences, large and small, within all
drainages on all aspects. As well, there was evidence of a snow
avalanche on a north east facing slope, where snow had been previously
loaded. Examples of frost heaving were evident in high meadows as well as
frozen ground, making for slower travel. All these factors contributed to
difficult and hazardous travel conditions throughout the entire Dogtooth
Range. Trip
Advice The
Dogtooth Range Traverse is a beautiful trip with plenty of alpine camping
opportunities. The route passes by
many pristine lakes, tarns waterfalls and high alpine passes. This
is an advanced trip for experienced hikers due to long stretches of difficult
terrain, challenging route finding and exposure to weather. Solid footwear, a
hiking pole, and quality raingear is highly recommended. The
Dogtooth Range in September offers a broad spectrum of weather requiring
careful preparation in order to stay comfortable and safe. Predominant September weather patterns
are rain and snow, hence travellers should be prepared with equipment and
clothing in anticipation of winter and wet conditions. Low valley fog
creates limited visibility making navigation that much more difficult. This
trip can be done in either direction with multiple variations through different
drainages and cols. A traverse
finishing at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is another great option. (Take note
the gondola is closed during the week if you wish to use this
service). Highlights
included wildlife sightings such as marmots and various tracks. There were great
views of Quartz and Gorman Lakes from above. Happy
Trails, CMSG
Hiking Guide Exam Candidates _______________________________________________ These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field. See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information. See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from this list. |
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