Zoa Mt.

Jocelyn Timmermans
Jan 7
2 min read

January 6, 2025 -- Coquihalla Summit Recreational Area

Stats: 9.2 km / 691m gain / 1848m high / 3:30 hours MT

What to do on a rare sunny day? For us COCers, that's a no-brainer. This popular snowshoe and backcountry ski route, proved to be a beauty.

At 9:35 am, we started out on a well packed footpath. There was no need for breaking trail this day.

Nak & Thar Peaks were illuminated in the early morning light.

We regrouped at the base of the pipeline road.

This was the steepest part of the route -- southwest.

One hour later, at the highest point on the pipeline road, we turned west into the forest.

For almost half an hour we climbed through snow clad evergreens.

In the subalpines, the views to our right opened up -- northwest.

Fog hung low in the valley -- northeast.

east

Glimpes of the triplets.Would we be able to see them when we got to the lookout?

Arrived at our destination at 11:30am. But no views. I was thinking, its just fog. If we stayed long enough, it'd lift. There was no wind, and it was warm out. So we were in no hurry.

To our north the skies cleared almost right away. Vicuna & Guanaco Peaks stood out -- north.

Two snowshoers making their way to the summit. I've done this once and found the view is nicer from where we were. This is also an avalanche slope but not a risk this day.

A "Happy New Years!" group shot (thanks Danny for the Baileys):

Back row from left to right: Joe K, Lori Y, Fred H, Peter E, Mary R, David G, Iraj F, Mark S

Front row: me, Annette W, Janice H, Sue A, Leora P, Danny G, Narasi M, Karen S

As COCers were starting to pack things up after a 45-minute lunch break, my hopes of seeing the Triplets started to fade. But then the fog started to lift off of Falls Lake.

Numerous Whisky Jacks kept us company.

I was determined to stay till I could see the whole scene clearly, thinking just 10 more minutes...

And voila! Mary & I started calling out to the others to come look! A few people rushed out to retrieve those that had started to head back down. It was so exciting to get the full views!