7km, 1010m elevation gain
Total Time: 8h 17m
What an awesome day!
I got invited out to climb a mountain with a friend. Unfortunately they woke up sick the next morning and couldn't make it but the climb was still on with two people I had yet to meet. Laura and Michael were great. Being my first climb I was a bit nervous at a couple spots but they made me feel comfortable, safe and welcome.
The logging road to access Triple Peak is about 45 minutes West of Port Alberni. It is not a road you want to take a 2wd vehicle on. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should! That road was chewed up and in pretty bad shape with all the 2wd people attempting to make it up some of the hills. We ended up picking up a couple of people who had overheated their car while trying to get up one of these hills about halfway up the logging road.
The way up to Triple Peak is super short but steep. It's only 3.5km-4km to the top but 970m of elevation gain in that short distance. The path winds its way up through the woods and onto the rocks where you cross a river several times before making it to the lake where people camp. From the lake to the summit block it was a fairly easy path over the rocks and scree but once at the summit block things got fun!
We went up the Southeast Ridge which is rated as 4th to low 5th class. The hardest part on this route for me was getting up one rock where there was a sling you could use as a foothold. I found it a bit akward but after hugging the rock long enough, I figured out how to get up.
There was a bit of exposure at parts but we only used the rope once as a handline to help pull ourselves up at one spot. At one point a bunch of rocks were accidently kicked down at me. I ducked and covered as best as I could while holding onto whatever I could on that exposed section. My helmet took a few good hits with a couple bigger rocks and one to the shoulder that left a mark but nothing major.
We met a couple people while on the summit and took the North Ridge route down. The North Ridge is rated as 4th class and looked like a better way to approach the summit next time.
We rappelled four pitches down and by the last one I was starting to get the hang of it! Thank you so much Laura, Michael and Erin even though you couldn't make it :(
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