Giving Cypress Peak a Shot

Killaine & I went out on "BC Day" (August long weekend - Monday) to try and climb up Cypress Peak.  Cypress Peak, not associated with Cypress Bowl, is a rocky peak on the Squamish/Cheakamus divide.

 

The logging road in was in really, really good shape!  We were able to easily drive all the way to the trailhead.

 

Killaine in the bush

In spite of this picture, the bush, and time in the trees was completely minimal - maybe 15 minutes in trees 'til you break out into the open - then open hiking the entire rest of the way

Killaine past the first snow field

The route up was quite straightforward - boulder hopping along the side of the stream to the first snow field, then up a bit of steeper rubble to the glacier morraine area.

 

Cypress Peak above the glacier

The route continues under the toe of the glacier (not actually on the glacier).  Still lots of snow around.

The peak from the ridge 

Finally, some broad snow slopes eventually put you on the upper ridge - the route to the summit is straight ahead!

Bergschrund  below the peak

Killaine contemplates her self-arrest skills against the short gully traverse / bravely decides not to cross the gully.

However, there were still some steep-ish snow areas to cross.  Killaine didn't have alot of confidence in her self-arrest skills, so we decided it would be better to stop where we were.  Probably a good thing, 'cause there were some spots of tricky scrambling up ahead.

 

Mike, who we met at the start, on the summit (look closely).

"Consolation Peak"

Instead, we walked the opposite direction along the ridge, and summited a small bump along it - easy scrambling up it, and nice views all around.

Looking north to Cayley / Fee / Vulcans thumb area (if I've got the names right)

The area up there is very cool - many interconnected ridges that you could spend a good couple of days exploring.  We'll be back to this area shortly to scramble up Brandywine peak (somewhere in the above picture as well).

Climbing back through the trees to the logging road

So, although we didn't get the summit of Cypress, it was still a great hike in a very cool location ... and minimal time in trees!