Flat Iron Summit

Dec. 5- Stats: 11.5 km / 950m gain / 1890m high

This is a classic snowshoe in the Coquihalla area, one we do annually. It has much to offer and this day the weather could not have been better.

We took the #217 exit off of the Coquihalla Hwy and parked below the maintenance sheds on the south side of the freeway. They've been doing some logging here but have preserved the forest surrounding the trail.

A clear-cut area at the beginning of the trail. The Needle Peak is in the distant middle.

The first hour is a steep 32% grade climb. In 1.67 km we gained 372m. This is steeper than the Abby Grind.

While waiting to regroup at the first viewpoint, we met these guys. Anne said if we take a pic it'll be good advertisement to lure more young women to our club.

Yak Peak -- north.

The Needle peak to the right.

Mt. Markhor + the Needle.

Flat Iron.

Looking back to the north: Alpaca, Vicuna & Guanaco are the 3 humps to the left.

The base of the ridge rising up to the Needle's peak.

2.5 hours later at the saddle, we had lunch. At this point we'd snowshoed 4 km and done 660m gain. The North Cascades -- south.

Southeast to southwest.

Group shot: Ingrid, me, Case, Bote, Terry, Allana & Anne.

Four skiers ascending. We climbed farther to the right, onto the rocks.

The summit.

Full circle: from the Needle to Coquihalla Mt to the North Cascades to Alpaca-Vicuna-Guanaco to Markhor Mt and back to the Needle.

Markhor & the Needle.

We all made it! It took almost an hour to get to the summit from the saddle.

Mt. Baker in the background - southwest.

Heading back.

Iago, Jim Kelly (pointy peak) & Coquihalla Mtns. I've summited all three.

Ski tracks below Flat Iron's ridge.

Careful steps on a steep section -- southeast.

Terry is a wild woman.

Back at the saddle after a short not-so-welcome-anymore steep climb.

The wind-swept patterns in the snow reminded me of the desert sands.

All downhill from here.

Roots and rocks.

Looking back.

There's big cornices to the left of this lower slope.

Streaks of melting snow on Yak.

We got back about one hour before sunset ( 4:30pm), having started at 9:30am.