CYPRESS PEAK (not Cypress Bowl), April 9, 2012
On a beautiful Monday, Trevor and I went for a 30km, 1800m elevation walk. Starting from 500m at the plowed end of the access road from Powder Mountain Catskiing we hit snow at 510m (gloriously only having to hike 100m distance in ski boots). We then skinned for 9km on a logging road (yup – should’ve borrowed a snow chariot for this one), then up the NE bowls and glacier to Cypress Peak.
Views were magnificent today and light was tremendous. Temps climbed during the day to the point that we were shirtless-heroing on the approach to the peak at 2100m. Wet snow slides were just starting to come down on E and S aspects. Snow was decent on the NE glacier up high but getting pretty isothermic down lower as we got to the end of the road approach at the 1400m elevation.
Predictably the exit is very easy as the road is mostly downhill. Start at trailhead at 7.30am with end at 5.30pm with at least a couple of hours lazing around looking at the view.
Start at 500m elevation
3km mark at the logging road approach
6km mark – still a ways to go but now Cypress Pk looks closer – photo by Trevor Hawkins
First very warm day of spring starts the wet slide cycles on the E face of Tricouni
Might as well refill water
Toe of the NE approach to Cypress – Lesser Cypress Pk visible. Shoulda taken a snow donkey here– photo by Trevor Hawkins
Shirtless hero time
Large pano is here
Interesting line on NE face of Lesser Cypress Pk
On the summit ridge and heading to summit or plummet- photo by Trevor Hawkins
Looking N to E from summit ridge – Large pano is here
Bootpack avoids massive cornices
More bootpacking up final face
View looking towards the Badass Range aka Tantalus Range from Cypress Pk
Closer view of N face of Tricouni which probably deserves a bit more attention but maybe when the alpine temps aren’t 10 degrees
View looking S to N from Cypress Pk. Large pano is here
Closeup of the FUBAR glacier aka Rumbling Glacier
Louie and I skied off the col in half sun/shade last year and joined the N face of Tricouni halfway down, Note seracs in middle of face that must be avoided
Time for Trevor to photo slut
More Schlampe
Another misc view of Brew with Whistler/Blackcomb as backdrop
Posing on the face
Skiing the summit face – – photo by Trevor Hawkins
Trevor
Lee – – photo by Trevor Hawkins
Feeling small moment on the NE glacier
Another feeling small moment– photo by Trevor Hawkins
Trev on the summit ridge starting his 600m run
Hohum – more sunny glacier skipping
Fini