| Friday, 1-Aug-2008 18:38 |
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Vineyards report
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Here are photos of Vineyards overnighter hike done last weekend, and a trip report that I just wrote up. Sorry haven't been here for a while.
Trip Leader: Darryl P.
Hikers: Carolyn I., Darryl P., Dave M., Iris S., Peggy, Ric M.
Written by: Carolyn I.
There were 6 Ramblers who decided to go on an overnight trip to the Vineyards. It was a very nice day to start our climb up to the alpine meadows up top. We eventually split into 2 groups as Ric, Peggy, and Dave, were much quicker then me and Iris. Darryl stayed with me and Iris also..so we wouldn't be alone.
After 2 1/2 hours of hiking up, we made it to the Sub Alpine Meadows up top. We weren't sure if we were going to camp there, or somewhere else. There was a decent sized water source here though, and after scouting ahead a bit, Ric couldn't find a better source. We decided to eat lunch and think about it. After lunch, it was decided that we would camp at the current location as this is usually where hikers camp.
After pitching up our tents, we decided to explore a ridge that we could see in the distance. The Ramblers never usually go up this Ridge, so this would be new to us. After following the trail for a bit, we turned off the trail to the Left and started climbing through some thick bush. What would a Rambler's trip be without a bit of bushwacking!
After somewhat of a struggle, and a few few scratches later, we made it to the 'top' of that Ridge. We saw the Ridge go on in the distance to another peak, so after a quick break, we wondered down the ridge to the next peak. There were wonderful views everwhere as the visibility was good. We eventually found a spot and had another snack break to regain our energy. For most of the way, we could spot our campsite, so it was hard to get lost.
After we went as far as we could, we turned around and headed back to the campsite. We took a different, more direct way home, and thanks to an animal trail we found, we hardly had to do any bushwacking!
As the area is called the Vineyards, Darryl decided to bring a 3 L bag of wine up. Iris thought she should bring an appetizer, so she brought up some Salsa, Rice crackers, and Ukrainian Cavier. Yummy! We really lived the cultured life that evening. Darryl lit a fire, which we nicknamed 'Darryl's Inferno', to help keep the bugs away. After sitting around fire for a while, soon, it was time for bed
Next morning, after a night of heavy rains, it was all fogged in, and cooler. We quickly ate our breakfast, and started our dayhike to the third and possibly the fourth peak in the Vineyards range of mountains around a lake. We had let Ric and the others go ahead of us, but they ended up wandering off the trail, in the wrong direction as they couldn't find the second peak and trail because of the fog being so thick. This time around, Iris had good eyes to spot the continuation of the trail from the first peak to the second one. It's so easy to become disoriented in the thick fog.
Ric and the others again, had problems with directions in the fog, as when they climbed up the second peak, they headed in the wrong direction to get to the third peak, and only found out when they ended up on the edge of a cliff.! Then, after they found us, and we had a quick break, Iris too, headed off in the completely opposite direction until we called out for her to return to us. We did eventually find the trail and ridge to the third peak.
We made it to the third peak a half and hour later and decided to try to go the fourth, but no matter what, we had to turn around at 11am, so we could meet up with the Rambler's dayhikers who were to hike up to the Vineyards that morning. We didnt' quite make it to the fourth peak, before it was time to turn around, but we did make it to '3 1/2' mark, so that was alright. This was the farthest that most of us had been at that point.
Eventually we met up with part of the Dayhikers, as not all had made it to the top where we were camping. Nowell got to enjoy some wine that Darryl had saved for him. After, dismantling the tents and packing up, we started the hike down the mountain, along with the Dayhikers. For most of the trip, we only saw some rain, but on the way out, it began to pour. And as the trail went through a few dense sections of Alder Forest, it was IMPOSSIBLE to stay dry, even with rain gear on.
After what seemed eternity hiking down an old logging road, we finally made it to our cars , completely soaked. We were so glad that we had backup dry clothing to change into! Thank you Darryl for such a fun weekend, and to all those who came on the overnighter and the dayhike next day.
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