Apr 9, 2015
Not sure where to start... this turned into a bit of a haul without sufficient snow in the gulleys and fly gulley full snow and lower down unstable rock and mud with one very sketchy section where there had been some serious erosion leaving aBC Peaks & Trails Hiking Group steep drop on loose mud and rock... the risk being the whole thing (about a 5m wall) looked like it could come loose and grind you up as it washed you down the gulley. It took us about 45 minutes to navigate this section about 1/2 way down Fly gulley.
Here is a quick summary of our experiences:
• Snow, rocks, boulders, dirt and mud... did I mention boulders... lots of boulders
• 2 x gulleys - one fun and one nasty (Fly)
• Found some markers from Alouette to the base of Blanchards Needle - much easier effort than expected to get this done
• Winter warning: both gulleys would be avalanche prone due to grade 38-50% and wind loading
• Alouette/Blanchards gulley had mixed rock and snow for 1/2 and full snow the last 1/5th
• Evans/Alouette gulley boulders for first 3/4... mixed rock and snow the last 1/4
• Alouette had total average 15-25cm of snow from top of easy gulley to peak (very little snow this year!)
• Deer and eagles - I don't usually see any wildlife in Golden Ears, we lucked out this time
Route Summary:
• West Canyon Trail (simple)
• Evans Valley Trail (good foot bed/markers)
• Carry on up the boulders to the start of first gulley
• Ascend gulley between Evans and Alouette (~1.0 km fairly easy)
• Follow normal marked trail to the peak of Alouette (Evans/Alouette Trail)
• About ~70m south of Alouette Peak descend semi-marked trail to Blanchards/Alouette col
• Descend Alouette/Blanchards gulley (Fly Gulley) (~1.5km)
• Boulder hop along Evans Creek back to the Evans Valley Trail
• Take Evans Valley Trail back to West Canyon to parking lot.
Have fun out there, stay safe and see you on the trails!
Regards, Rex.
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