Seymour Sunset Snowshoe

January 13 2021 - Stats: 10.3 (from parking spot) / 790m gain / 1407m high / 3:50 hours MT

Usually we go to the First Pump but since we made good time and got up there 1:30 hours before sunset, half of us opted to continue on to the second pump which is also named Tim Jones Peak.

Phew. We got a place to park. It did add about 1/4 km to the route though. When we told the traffic controller we just had to go to the bathroom, he directed us to go ahead a bit and turn by the blue sign. But he'd have his eyes on us...(to make sure we didn't drive further). So when driving back to complete our 'U"y, we made sure to wave and smile at him. He liked that. He liked it even more when Anne offered him a piece of her homemade chocolate cake.

The first stretch of well-packed trail followed alongside the ski slope.

A steep section and then a lovely viewpoint. This one looks west towards Grouse Mt.

A bit farther and another lovely viewpoint northeast.

Now we had to drop down a bit. On the way back, after getting into the rhythm of the downhill return journey, my body was not so happy about having to climb yet again, albeit no longer than 20 minutes..

Passing a very steep avy slope. Don't worry, Brigette was far enough away from it.

Port Mann bridge in the distance -- southeast.

After another steep section we arrived at what I call the snow dunes. That's Pump 1 to the left.

Pump 1.

Thankfully this dark cloud stayed to the north of us.

Northeast.

Southeast.

The harbour of Vancouver by Stanley Park.

In 1:45 hours we were at the base of Pump 1. So what to do for the next 1:30 hours before the sun sets? We decided to start out towards Peak 2 (1380m).

Love the patterns in the wind-swept icy snow.

At this point half our group settled down and waited for us to do Pump 2. It was warmer there, being sheltered from the wind.

Following a foot path up through the gully left of the peak.

Pump #3, which is the official Mt. Seymour summit at 1455m.

This young guy walked down to the top of the gully, said "Hi" to Don after butt sliding to him and then proceeded to run down the rest of the steep icy way!

At the summit of Pump 2, looking north at Pump 3.

The sinking sun. That round white ball is not the sun, but a reflection of it on the ocean.

Don with his cool illuminated glasses on.

Cornices.

Northeast.

Starting to head back down.

Brigette making shadows.

That's Ingrid standing on the hill.

Time to get up to Pump 1.

The skyscrapers shadows in the harbour.

There were several steep sections on the trail but this final push to the summit of Pump 1 on the north-facing slope, was the steepest. We really had to dig our grippers in.

Brigette & Don coming up with Pump 2 in the background.

Wow wee!

Group shot: Don, Ingrid, Janice, Anne, Brigette & I. It wasn't till we were almost down that mountain that Don realized he was the only guy with 5 women.

Heading back.

East.

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