2017-06-17 Gap peak and Mt Fable
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On Saturday, Conor and I met up with Mike and Gerry to hike from Gap peak along the ridge to Mt Fable. I was considering this hike as our next objective and I noticed that someone had posted on instagram that they were going to hike Mt Fable. I reached out and asked if they were going to do the traverse and if we could go with them. They were agreeable so we decided to meet at the Legion in Exshaw. Just like that, new friends. The traverse route starts at Grotto pond and ends up in Exshaw so it's helpful to have two cars so you can avoid 5km of highway walking at the end of an already long day. I'd hiked Mt Fable last year with Leon Kang, we didn't know about the traverse and were just going to climb up Fable.. when descending we kept running into folks that were coming from Gap peak and they all said the traverse was easy and fun, so we decided to try it out, we got off track a few times, cliff-ed out and ended up side hilling below Gap peak on rubble, which wasn't the best fun. I'm mentioning this because if you're thinking of doing the traverse I'd recommend going from Gap to Fable like we did on this trip. Leaving from Grotto pond we were headed towards the quarry where the trail starts but came across some paths that led up a creek. Those paths were irresistible and we started following the creek. I was checking my GPS and it looked like the trail would end but it was also parallel to the trail on my map. We could see in the trees that the terrain was getting a little bit cliffy so we cut a hard left and started bushwhacking.. and so it began. yada yada yada.. 13 hours and 20 kms later we were in Exshaw piling into my car for the short drive back to grotto pond.
We parked at the Grotto pond parking lot.. walked towards the quarry but just before that we saw a trail heading up a creek.. stupidly we followed it. after a while I checked my GPS/Map and it showed we were too far to climbers right.. we took a hard left into the forest and started bushwhacking.. (I'm smiling.. this happens often.. lol) In the forest there was a cliff band we had to ascend. The rocks were loose and I dropped one on my leg but it didn't break the skin. We were ok. eventually we found the trail
In the forest,. on a partial trail.. we were making our way over to the trail as defined by the gps map I had.. Just gaining elevation, we could see out to the highway.
We got on track and eventually found the scree slope that lead to the cliff bans on Gap peak. from here, I knew where to go :)
Conor posing near the first cliff band on Gap peak.. We'll head into the frame and find a slope that will lead to the second cliff band.
To get to gap peak, you walk along the cliffband and hike up a steep slope to the top.
Just below the second cliffband.
After the first cliffband, you circle around the second cliffband and find a scree slope to the upper ridge.. This is looking back towards the highway.
Looking towards the highway as we get above the second cliffband on Gap peak.
Making our way up rubbly rocks.. We were headed to the pillars on the ridge that leads to the top of Gap peak.
Conor and Mike look up at the pillars and try to guess where Gap peak summit is.
On the way to the summit ridge of Gap peak, on climbers left, are some pillars along the ridge.. There is a rock window. Grotto mountain on the left.
There is a gap between the pillars and we hiked right through them.
inbetween the pillars
Mike and Gerry reaching the upper ridge on Gap peak and the views to the east open up.
Mike on the south end of the Gap peak ridge.. The summit is north of here and a bit higher.
On the upper ridge, looking north. Gap peak summit is the high point to the right of Conor in the shade.
Conor on the summit of Gap peak.. our second summit is over his left shoulder.. that big tall lump, Mt Fable. Way in the back there.. We'll traverse along the ridge on the left side to get there.. then after we summit it, we'll drop down the brown scree into the creek/valley below Mt Fable and after that, it'll be a loooong walk back to Exshaw.
Just off the summit of Gap peak, there is a narrow gully that leads to a pretty narrow ridge that curves around to some less narrow ridges.. Just above Conor, there is a black dot.. that's Gerry, We'll meet up with Gerry on the narrow ridge thats just above him.
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Our first exposure to some exposed ridges.. Conor swallows hard as he makes his first steps down this narrow enscarpment. We're following Mike and Gerry.