Bushwhacking is a strenuous form of activity which I don’t necessarily relish but it can get me to places where the views are magnificent. This one particular experience stands out from all the bushwhacks I have done in the past. It still lingers clearly in my mind today.
It was a cloudy morning on June 30, 1986 with signs of clearing sky so I headed down the Coquihalla Highway and paid my $8 toll fare then proceeded to drive to the Zopkios Ridge Lookout and parking area. I had initially planned on a bushwhack up to the ridge of Yak Peak but the bush appeared very dense and the slopes extremely steep. On the opposite side of the highway, a mountain ridge led up towards Needle Peak and this seemed more practical. I walked a short distance up a dirt road then headed into the forest which appeared less dense and problematic. But not long into my outing, the slope had steepened and became very slippery from yesterday’s rain. Thick bush and alder trees were a real challenge. Alders have advantages and disadvantages; their scraggy branches sprawl out haphazardly creating a maze to navigate through but their branches provide supportive handholds.
When I traveled through dense vegetation, I would be mindful of bears and therefore carried an air horn to release a blast now and then. At times, I would just yell out loud to prevent from surprising bears.
This was one of the most rugged bushwhack I undertook. The thick bush was one thing but the spiny thorns of the Devil’s Club and Wild Rose was another. I had to be careful which branch I grabbed onto for support.
There were several moments when I thought I couldn’t make anymore forward progress because the slope was practically vertical in places. I had to improvise by grabbing onto branches and using them as climbing ropes to haul myself up. I ended up with cuts and scratches and a few slaps in the face from spring loaded branches. To add insult to injury, I got drenched from the rain laden bushes. Higher up, the trees and bushes had thinned and became interspersed with granite slabs. The rock surface weren’t terribly steep but their wet surface overlain with find particles of sand acted as slippery ball bearings. I did not even attempt scrambling up the rock instead I headed back down and traversed around it and up through bush and trees again.
I encountered the devious mosquitoes as always. They preferred the safety of bushes rather than the open areas of granite where the wind swept them away. But as long as I kept moving they had difficulty landing on me.
At some point up the mountain, I broke out of the messy tangle of the forest and checked my location. Despite my efforts, the elusive ridgetop leading up to the alpine around Markhor and the Needle appeared some distance away. I calculated I had gone up to the 5,000 foot level in 2 hours. The views were open enough to enjoy the prominent face of Yak Peak and the thin line of the Coquihalla Highway.
After a lunch break, I managed to get up higher by ascending on smooth slabs of rock overlain with slippery moss. I had felt quite tense because one slip would have caused serious injury. Not wanting to risk any foolish attempts of gaining higher altitude, I headed back down. On the way, I saw old bear droppings in the thick bush. Obviously, bears are more at home here.
I found the descent just as tough as heading up because I couldn’t see where I was placing my feet. I relied heavily on branches as supports to lower myself down on the steep vertical stretches. I remember several instances where my body was dangling in mid air hoping that the branches would not break. I had made it down in about an hour and despite the constant snagging of branches on my jacket and pants, they survived without a tear.
Today, there is a nice but steep trail which leads up to the alpine around the peaks which I had struggled to obtain.Times have changed.
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