CDMC
Mount Elma Crossover; Sun Dec 11, 2011; snowshoeing; leader: Tim Penney      return to Reports

We had a cold start from the Raven Lodge parking area shortly after nine. It was clear and sunny but the cold north wind certainly gave as a good example of the wind chill factor.

We had very easy going out to Battleship Lake on a well compressed trail. After stopping for a short coffee break we were able to walk the length of the lake on the ice without any problems. The steep climb up the ridge of Mount Elma was one of the easiest that I have done for a winter trip. The snow was quite hard and required no effort to break any trail. In fact, Linda had been up there a day or two before but her tracks were hardly visible.

We hunkered down for lunch at the usual lookout spot above Croteau Lake and found some relief from the cold wind in the lee of the hill. After lunch we had fun on the descent down to Lake Helen Mackenzie. John & Karl, who were both on skis, took a slightly different route down to the lake than the rest of us on our snowshoes.

At the lake we followed around the shore line rather than risk going across the middle. Nobody else appears to have braved the direct route across the lake yet and we were not about to be the guinea pigs.

With such easy going snow conditions we were back to the Raven Lodge shortly after 2 o'clock and all enjoyed some hot drinks and Darrell's homemade ginger cookies.

Tim Penney photo: GPS route map
GPS route map
[Tim Penney photo]
Darrell Tomkins photo: Frost at the start of the day
Frost at the start of the day
[Darrell Tomkins photo]

Tim Penney photo: At the North end of Battleship Lake
At the North end of Battleship Lake
[Tim Penney photo]
Tim Penney photo: Last bit of the steep climb up to Mount Elma
Last bit of the steep climb up to Mount Elma
[Tim Penney photo]

Tim Penney photo: Just above the steep climb
Just above the steep climb
[Tim Penney photo]
Darrell Tomkins photo: Lunch at the top
Lunch at the top
[Darrell Tomkins photo]

Darrell Tomkins photo: View from the top
View from the top
[Darrell Tomkins photo]
Tim Penney photo: Looking towards the Alberni Valley
Looking towards the Alberni Valley
[Tim Penney photo]

Tim Penney photo: Heading down the gully to Helen Mackenzie Lake
Heading down the gully to Helen Mackenzie Lake
[Tim Penney photo]
Darrell Tomkins photo: Day's end at Lake Helen Mackenzie
Day's end at Lake Helen Mackenzie
[Darrell Tomkins photo]


Report contributors: Tim P, Darrell T,

Participant list (10 of 10): Geoff B, John G, Heather M, David O, Tim P, Bob S, Karl S, Darrell T, Kathryn W, Dirk Z,

(G) = public guest     (L) = lapsed member

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