Weather forecast wasn’t looking great, but didn’t look too bad in the Coquihalla area. Coquihalla Mountain is on my radar but I decided to give it a pass today. Freezing level the night before was down to around 1500m and didn’t want to attempt it in while icy or snowy.
The trail up to Illal meadows is in great shape. A Saint has trimmed back the worst of the Alder from the trail. Very cold and windy on the way up to Illal Mountain.
I was completly socked in with clouds but popped out just above them on the summit of Illal.
I descended back into the soup and tagged the provisional peak “Elephant Peak”. I’m not sure I can recommend this add-on. Its barely a bump. It was short and easy. <100M Prominence.
The weather cleared up rapidly. These 2 photos were taken about 45 mins apart in roughly the same spot.
Managed to find the trail and headed up Jim Kelly Peak. Anyone know who this Peak is named after? Mr. No Huddle from the Bills or someone else?
Great views of Coquihalla Mountain from the summit of Jim Kelly and an old wooden cross is soon to slip off the summit into the abyss.
Descended, then the trail wrapped around Jim Kelly before getting to Spoon Peak.
I ascended up forested ridge to the South West. A few class 3 moves near the summit got me on the peak. You could traverse climbers right across scree and talus to make the scrambling a bit easier. This south west approach seems to be the most effiecient. I explored taking the ridge down to the north east but it would take me too far off course and drop too much elevation.
I came across a small cabin marked Coquihalla Camp on Gaia. This place gave off Bad Juju.
Very enjoyable day. Hopefully back next summer to do the Class 4 ridge approach to Coquihalla Mountain.
25km and 1300ish meters elevation gain.
7:58 C2C
Minimal running water. Might have to use lakes/tarns.
Did not appear to be any new snow in the alpine.