| Click on images to see medium size or view as slideshow |
Bryan took the photos of Chris. All images © CPBL and BSP 2018 unless otherwise stated |
| | For as long as I've known Bryan, he has used his teeth as toenail clippers. It seems admittedly the right tool for the job under the circumstances of racking up for St Vitus' Direct (7 pitches, 5.10a). |
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| | The next day found us on Angels' Crest (13 pitches, 5.10b) whose first pitch is (or can be) literally climbing up a tree! |
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| | We don't have photos of any of the harder climbing but, although I have done this several times, it felt hard. Bryan led all the hard cracks, and my shoulder suffered from the untrained exertion. |
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| | There is, improbably, heavy artwork on the route! |
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| | Half-way up, the multi-pointed rampy tower is actually just the first "Acrophobe Tower" of two. |
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| | Neither present challenges, but a rappel is involved between them. |
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| | Despite moving slowly up this Grade IV climb, we finished with plenty of near-solstice light. |
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| | Next, we started from Whyte Lake trailhead in Horseshoe Bay, hiked over Black mountain and down to the normal start of the HSCT, and then --- thanks to a poor route map --- proceeded to do a crest-enhanced (and therefore rather challenging) version of the Howe Sound Crest Trail in still-very-snowy conditions. |
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| | Here, black bear tracks (only hours old) follow and then leave left from human tracks (1.5 days old). |
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| | The Lions are a noticeable feature from eastern Vancouver. The East Lion is off-limits due to its drainage into a reservoir. |
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| | On our second, unplanned night, we camped on two spots straddling a stream, only just narrow enough for us to leap over. Loud white noise is no problem for sleeping. |
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