Wedgemont ? Why bother ! Needles Peak Aug. 2004

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  More Coquihalla Hikes...wow...... 2 hours from Van and it'll just blow you away . Take the zopkios exit, one at the top of the big hill out of Hope, ie just after Great Bear Snowshed and park up on the right (bathrooms and concession stand are available on the otherside by driving or walking through the conduit).

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Free camping... it's the greatest. Yes Kay, no bears at all. No snakes either!
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You stopped at the right place if this is what you see!
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There it is! Opposite side from Zopkios shown in previous photo
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We did not hit the trail at first but what a find (and wonderful after the hike)
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  Just so you won't get lost, first shot is the trail head looking back on access...

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Just follow the red line...to get to the trail head..
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Hey the trail goes up here!
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Whew 45 minutes of the Grouse grind.. san's stairs
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  Yeah that's a slog but wow suddenly it starts to clear up...

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Just magical...
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Hey it's me!
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First view..Needles peak
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  And then Nirvana... the ridge...

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and it only gets better..
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and better
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Looking over the other side of the ridge
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Step right this way... a bit off the ridge but why not?
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Now where do we go? Ah up the ridge on the left of the photo.
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and up
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Hey is that the top?
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Man! These ridges go on forever.
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Got to be the last pitch but it looks Gnarly
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Whee! Look what we did already!
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Hummmmm...
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All hands, all legs - that's a scramble
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The Cairn!
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Two hours and fourty minutes with 15 minutes of rest stops... WHEEE!
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A quick look at the back side
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Exit stage left
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Oh so that's why this ridge seemed to go on forever
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And a way way way down there is the Coq! And hey we are at the same height as Zopkios!
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Dem Bones! Actually Mount Baker in the background just off the tree limb.
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Japanese Mushrooms!
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Wildlife!
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The waterfall at the trailhead
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  One hour fifty to get back out...to that nice shower and cool water for the feet, that's how to end a hike!

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Checking the view while supper cooks..
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Got to admit it is a nice view
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Created by Primal Incite and IrfanView