Quantcast

Finally, DePencier Bluffs!

After last weeks white-out and retreat from Seymour, the forecast today looked promising and I planned to bag DePencier Bluffs.  A unsuspecting guest at a friends dinner party last night, Karen, got roped into the action.  Little did she know about the Bagger Challenge, waterbagging and helicopter rides.

Karen arrived for a late start around 9:30 at my house.  I tried not to freak her out as I set her up with a flashlight, emergency blankie and a whistle.  
 


The parking machines up at Seymour did not work and we ended up leaving a note in the cars (we brought two cars, as the helicopter boys and Neil were doing a point to point bag of the Fanning Range and were hoping to arrive late at the parking lot and find our car there), hoping we wouldn't be towed and adding to the note I had already put on the dashboard with hike information of the helicopter boys ;-)  I was very careful not to leave any indication of expected return, just my number. The boys are old enough and prepared to deal with a night in the bush...

Following Ean's hike descriptions, we found the trail head and headed up on a rooty and wet trail towards Mystery Lake.  Not far up, I was startled by yet another black bear in the berry bushes (geez, there are lots of bears in the mountains this fall).  We shouted and hollered, but the bear did not budge or even notice us...until I stepped a bit closer and he reared up on his hind legs.  A sight to behold for sure!  I retreated quickly, while Karen mumbled something about making and keeping eye contact...Yeah, right!  Luckily, a pair of hikers with two large dogs in tow soon came up the trail and we ventured on.  So did the bear.

The trail gently winds is way up through bright green heather, blue green moss covered rocks and blueberry bushes with striking rust red leaves and dark purple berries, and all too soon brought us to Mystery Lake.  The hike dudes had lost a dog and we continued on our own, always looking for critters.  At the bottom of the Peak Chair the trail was barely visible, but a kind soul had hand written a note and arrow on a trail marker.  With that, Ean's directions and faded pink flagging in irregular intervals, we were able to stay close to the trail - despite losing it a few times.  Hiker boys had found their hound and caught up to us again, just as we realized we were on the wrong side of a little swamp.  We scampered back on the trail for the last few hundred meters to the bluffs and then on to the peak.  

The views, as from most of the North Shore Mountains, were breathtaking. The weather forecast held true and we were happy to see and feel the sunshine.  After a few photos and adding a rock to the cairn we returned back to the ski lift. From there we followed a gravel road/wide trail back to the parking lot.  Passing by the trail intersection to Mount Seymour, it was tempting to venture on.  But, my ankle (snug in a brace after a bad tumble 3 weeks ago) was holding, no need to push my luck.  Next time!