Needle Peak

Today climbed Needle Peak again. The first time I climbed this mountain was two years ago with friends from church it was a climb that was part of a few days where I had learned alot about trusting God, trusting others and being thankful for basics such as rope. I also learned that one doesn't have to be doing crazy things to get hurt because it was the day after a somewhat sketchy climb that I broke my ankle running on the grass =) 
Today though it was just a fantastic hike in the sunshine. I went with N. We had gotten to know each other when I was working in Chilliwack a few years ago and have sorta stayed intouch via FB and now she works in ICU in Abby so we see a bit more of each other.  We met up, got some pumpkin spice goodness and headed up the Coquihalla. The sun was out but the air was cool and we could see our breath as we started up the trail around 9ish. Its a bit of a grind up through the trees but soon breaks through to fabulous views as we continued to work our way up through the alpine scrub and on to a glacial debris field of sorts full of large boulders and rocks covered in lichen.  The peak is almost always in view as well as sweeping views to the north and the other distinct Coquihalla peaks.  We worked our way along the base of the ridge and then small scramble up the south side puts you on the ridge.  Here large rocks are just haphazardly lieing around and piled.  A little spoon lake and red scrub dot the landscape.  Then it was the final scramble to the top. Remembering from last time we avoided the front side staying abit more to the middle. Then it was the top!!! So very rewarding with a 360 panoramic view of a sea of mountains.  The absolute variety is astounding as you see the coastals with Baker, the shale peaks of Yak, Nak and Thaar, and then the tree covered hills of the interior.  We were up by 1115 so had an early lunch and then just chilled for an hour. It was just as we were leaving the top we saw our first people.  We went down off the ridge and then took a small detour working our way down the opposite valley and up onto the base of Flatiron ridge to a small alpine lake. Our feet appreciated the water and our eyes the views back to the peak we had come from. Then it was back the plateau, down to the alpine and then the cool blessing of the trees and the sweet wild blueberries.
Our view from the parking lot. Needle is the peak to the left.

 We saw no people for the first three hours but there was a SAR helicopter buzzing us almost the entire time.

 Up on the ridge looking towards the peak

 The little spoon lake

View to the south/west and Flatiron. The alpine lake on the left at the base of the two snow lines

 Final scramble to the top

 Looking back at the ridge and peak from by the alpine lake

 Glacial boulder field

Yak. The next challenge on this corridor.