Aug 21, 2010
This was a truly memorable birthday and one of the greatest camping trips. Camping at 1800m atop open alpine meadows, an ocean of cloud breaching mountain tops, and a sky full of stars; it was magnificent.
Okay now with the lovey dovey stuff out of the way, this report isn't intended to highlight Knight Peak itself, but rather the general area; it's just beautiful. The hike right away grabs you as you leave Airplane Creek FSR. The open valley vista, rugged Stewart Peak and Baby Munday jutting up into the sky; it's a quite a sight. As you descend into the valley bottom, you're provided a chance to sample a myriad of berries, Salmonberry, huckleberry, and raspberry all at peak sweetness, just leave enough for the bears.
Then as you ascend away from the valley on the other side you're faced with a hike that I would describe as Grouse Grind on steroids. Though short, this section of hiking is quite strenuous and with multiday packs a bit challenging, but somehow fun too. This section is along a ridge, with the forest at your left and the valley at your right. Once through the forest you'll be in alpine country, but this section is just as relentless. It's especially hard, when you're hiking down to the valley in the rain, VERY SLIPPERY WHEN WET!
There are orange markers highlighting the trail up to about 1800m, but after that it's open and no real trail exists. Head Northwest after the worn trail towards Knight Peak, Matt Gunn's route to Knight Peak is really the best option, my friend and I stupidly didn't follow it, at least for the ascent. From Knight you have great views of Lady, Cheam, Baby Munday, Stewart, and Jones Lake.
From Knight my friend and I inspected the route to Baby Munday as described by Matt Gunn. I couldn't see how that route was rated as moderate. I decided that, with my fear of heights and irrational thinking not something you want when hiking a steep scree slope, I was not going to attempt it.
On my way back to camp though, I found a different route that seemed not as challenging, this was a bad choice. As I started up the talus, it was easy enough, it took me about 40 minutes to reach the base of Baby Munday North Face, but after that I found no hand holds or foot holds that I deemed sufficient, and that's when I decided to descend. It was at that point that my fear of heights hit and at the same time I remembered a golden rule told to me by an experienced hiker, don't climb up anything that you wouldn't downclimb. It was tough and I slipped couple times, which caused a few instances of cotton mouth. Though my original plan had been to do Stewart Peak, being served humble pie and being fairly shook up; I decided to stay put at camp.
This was a good experience for me, I have learned to appreciate the priority of experience over desire. I no doubt plan to return, but with a group of seasoned hikers; ones with some patience.
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