Since I was but a puny four year old rapscallion I have gazed up in awe from the Bulkley Valley to the peaks of Hudson Bay Mountain in my hometown of Smithers, BC. Just last month I had the opportunity to climb for the first time up to one of it’s mighty peaks and sign what is known as “the book”. I was left with a whole new perspective and a sense of awe that exceeded that of my four-year-old self.
The hike started out quite pleasantly in the lower alpine, from the base of the “Green T-bar” of the ski hill. We hiked up 40 minutes or so to Crater lake and then branched up around the right side of it. Summit time was a little over 3 hours with photo stops.
There was a lot of scrambling up the loose rock, but we eventually arrived at the ridge of one of the first peaks, which offered some pretty magnificent views.
I never realized until climbing atop the ridges and peaks that what look like smooth, giant stone surfaces from kilometers below are actually many loose rocks of all different sizes.
The final climb got a little trickier, but overall the summit is quite accessible.
Atop at last:
It rained in the valley below, but we stayed dry up top.
