Jump to content

[TR] Waddington Range traverse with NOLS - entered via "Twist lake" to exit via knights inlet 6/15/2011


Recommended Posts

Trip: Waddington Range traverse with NOLS - entered via "Twist lake" to exit via knights inlet

 

Date: 6/15/2011

 

Trip Report:

 

To start are epic we drove across the border into BC then drove for 15 hours to the "end of the road" at the Foster Family Ranch near Twist Lake. After spending the night camped out in one of the family's fields we we began to bushwhack are way around the lake and up Twist Creek. The approach was long and made difficult by large amount of dead pine.

 

6040372914_709aeec7cc_z.jpg

 

Are group then crossed over a high pass and down to another alpine lake where we got resupplied via helicopter. We then proceeded to approach

Geddes pass for two days.

6039824053_70bdcfd78b_z.jpg

 

After which we dropped (sliding down scree and nasty slopes) to the bottom of the Bell glacier. Bad weather (a mixture of snow and sleet) pinned us down in are tents for the next 4 day. After a two day push up the Bell weather cleared and we made it down to the franklin glacier without incident.

 

After digging up are cache on Franklin glacier and practicing crevasse rescue for two days we packed up camp and headed over the Shelf glacier onto the Confederation glacier then booked it up to Jubilee pass.

 

6039824943_d8d62c8cec_z.jpg

 

After down-climbing onto the Jubilee glacier we took a rest day are practiced ice climbing technique. When then packed up the next day and climbed the adjacent ridge which was filled with nasty scree and unprotected runouts. It took us 13 hours to get to are objective. Coincidently this day I also turned 18

 

6040047003_ea8d13a19c_z.jpg

 

The next day was spent slogging down the remaining Ridge to a "old logging" road which leads down a lake and a floatplane ride home. the road it turns out was gone in many places replaced by large sums of alders. At the end of the day we could not find a suitable spot to camp so we opted for a open bivy and prayed for no rain.

 

The next day the rain began as we slogged down the remaining slope to are extract point.

 

The next day we waited for fog and rain to clear and are plane to show up. a small window opened and half are group was on there way. However me and several others got stuck for another 36hours before weather cleared enough to fly.

 

after 30 days in "the Wad" we returned to civilization.

 

 

Note: I am a NOOB with photos

 

 

Gear Notes:

If you approach on foot be prepared to destroy very expensive clothing.

 

Goretex is mandatory my rain jacket turned out not to be waterproof spent many days semi-wet.

 

Berghaus yeti gaiters would have made my day

 

the snow was fairly soft and crampons were not needed for much of the trip

 

If entering on the twist lake side bring bear spray the first day we saw 4 bears walking around.

 

Approach Notes:

approaching the Franklin glacier on foot is not advised

 

CorilAir has "Ok" service expect long delays if the weather is anything but bluebird

 

If you approach Jubilee glacier from the knights inlet be warned the "old logging road" is nonexistent in many places. After bushwhacking your way up the road you will hate alder trees for the rest of your life. This can become "Type 2 fun" very fast.

Edited by jon
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 11
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • 2 weeks later...

The knights inlet approach looked like a nightmare to slog up. Going down the "logging road" was epic and there are large sections of the road that have fallen away leaving only alders to make your life more miserable. On the other hand the Waddington range is a very wild place, tons of routes that have yet to be climbed.

If it was not for the 2000 dollar helicopter ride the place would much more crowded.

Edited by Laughingman
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suggest reading The Waddington Guide by Don Serl to fill you in on whats what in that range and to get your knickers in a twist hopping to go back. Every peak there has been climbed. There are a few routes that might not have been on certain faces, otherwise its all been climbed. Now the glaciers could have moved creating impossible barriers like when I was up on Jubilee with its super low snow year, otherwise...

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry guys got my glaciers mixed up ( we crossed at least 10) several routes off the Bell glacier, Geddes and elsewhere looked to have not been climbed.

 

I have gone back and corrected myself

 

I will indeed enlighten myself with Don Serl's Book

Edited by Laughingman
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...