Scramblegs: Crown Mountain

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Crown Mountain

Mel and Aaron with Vancouver behind
Originally uploaded by Master Pip.

North Vancouver (N 49°24.6' W123°05.5')

Crown is much more of a hike than a scramble, but worthwhile all the same. We hiked a little over an hour up the BC Mountaineering Club trail that runs beside the Grouse Grind, and then settled down at the top to watch the annual race up the Grind - winning time was a little over 28min; nowhere near the record (almost 4 minutes quicker I think), but still outrageously fast. Aaron's brother Kertis came in 4th, and Dustin a respectable 10th or so. Two hours from there to the top of Crown, passing Goat peak and some great views to the north along the way. It's a steep trail from Goat - first down to a notch, and then back up to Crown, but no real scrambling until the last few metres really. Spectacular views of Vancouver and surrounding mountains from the top. Pip tried to get down to the Camel, right beside Crown, and have a look at the 5.2 route up that, but after a look-see decided to turn back as only one with the maturity of a 30-year-old could. Just a few trip photos.

Participants: Aaron, Melanie and Pip.

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Subjective rating systems used in blog

Reference: The Mountaineers (2010), Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. 8th Edition (pp. 566-567).

NATIONAL CLIMBING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
(overall difficulty; technical / scrambling portion only; see posts for length of our outings).

Grade I: Normally requires several hours; can be of any technical difficulty.

Grade II: Requires half a day; any technical difficulty.

Grade III: Requires a day to do the technical portion; any technical difficulty.

Grade IV: Requires a full day for the technical portion; the hardest pitch is usually no less than 5.7 (YDS; see below).

Grade V: Requires a day and a half; the hardest pitch is at least 5.8.

Grade VI: A multiday excursion with difficult free climbing and/or aid climbing.

YOSEMITE DECIMAL SYSTEM (YDS)
(climbing difficulty)

Class 1. Hiking

Class 2. Simple scrambling, with possible occasional use of the hands.

Class 3. Scrambling; hands are used for balance; a rope might be carried.

Class 4. Simple climbing, often with exposure. A rope is often used. A fall could be fatal. Typically, natural protection can be easily found.

Class 5. Where rock climbing begins in earnest. Climbing involves the use of a rope, belaying, and protection (natural or artificial) to protect the leader from a long fall.

5.0-5.7. Easy for experienced climbers; where most novices begin.

5.8-5.9. Where most weekend climbers become comfortable; employs the specific skills of rock climbing.

5.10-5.11. A committed recreational climber can reach this level.

5.12-5.15. The realm of true experts!

ALPINE GRADES
(Reference: David Jones, Rogers Pass Alpine Guide, p. 28)

F (easy).

PD (little difficulty). 4th and easy 5th class; some exposure.

AD (fairly difficult). Low to mid-5th class and/or steep snow and ice. Mixed terrain. Route finding challenges.

D (Difficult). Mid 5th class and/or very steep snow and ice. Sustained climbing; possibly loose rock; route finding challenges; typically descended via an easier route.

TD (very difficult) and ED (extremely difficult). Not likely to encounter these grades in this blog!