Boundary Peak Saturday 1-24-09

[MTNRUNR]

Met in Stratton at 6:30, Marc with me in my Forester and Onestep and Carl with Dritter in his outback(19 degrees).

I followed Damon about 12 miles in on the "Canada Road" plowing thru small drifts...Yikes

We met the legendary Oncoman(who had secured permission to use the road), who was glad to see us as he had attempted alone this morning and bailed out due to deep unconsolidated snow!

Parking well off the road we headed up the unplowed CMP road at 8:03(11 degrees and windy) to a large yarding area that was far above where all the maps show the end to be.

We started into the woods(glad to be out off the wind that was directly in our faces!) and a short ways later came out onto another road that eventually took us to a large high altitude clearcut.

The trailbreaking rotations were on the short side as the snow was very deep. The clearcut gained us to the ridge that leads to the summit from the southeast side.

There were mixed conditions with the majority pleasant woods, but some thick stuff and some buried blowdown fields that were "minefields"! Damon stepped into one that he had to be helped out of, or he might still be there otherwise

We picked our way along and in true whacker fashion, whacked all the way to the cannister, just before coming out onto the border swath

On the way down Damon had visions of shoveling the Canada Road for 12 miles but luck was once more on our side! As our vehicles came into view, at 1:32(-5 degrees), a logging company plow went by, ensuring a safe drive out! While getting ready to leave a pickup with a plow went by...sweet

Oncoman left in his van and soon after I once again followed Damon, who stopped to thank each of the plow truck drivers

I credit Damon for the original write-up AND for the privilege of hiking with this incredible group!!!

The new best route to Boundary from the US side is now scouted and open thanks to a group comprised of members from 3 states and 2 countries

 

[onestep]

Yeah the route was sweet! I was expecting an all day 15 mile round trip Dennison Bog / Swath slog. Instead we we're up in 4 hours and back down in 2. Gotta love it!

 

[Papa Bear]

Sounds like a great trip. I'm jealous. Looks like I know some folks working on the Winter HH

...
Parking well off the road we headed up the unplowed CMP road at 8:03(11 degrees and windy) to a large yarding area that was far above where all the maps show the end to be.

We started into the woods(glad to be out off the wind that was directly in our faces!) and a short ways later came out onto another road that eventually took us to a large high altitude clearcut.
...

I find the aerial (satellite) photos from Google maps (and perhaps others) more up to date than DeLorme as to where the roads go.

Here's a map for Boundary Peak (it's actually one of my benchmark maps): Boundary Peak map

Use the selector in the upper right of the map and select "Google - Satellite". You will see a log yard at the end of a road on the right margin near the bottom, just above the area context map. I bet that's your kick-off point. The road going off to the right is indeed the CMP road. Zoom out and you'll see White Cap Pond and the Canada Road.

You might also try "USGS - Aerial" on the map type selector, which gives a different set of images. They're older and B&W, but sometimes they show things better. In this case they show that road going up past that log yard.

It's amazing how much of the country has good current hi-res satellite images.

 

[MTNRUNR]

I was hoping one of the others that are more familiar with these maps and such would chime in.

Looking at your map, Papa Bear, using "Google - Satellite". If you look upscreen about 3/4 mile above White Cap Pond you see a road ending, coming up from the right (that hooks down - looks kinda like the end of a cane). That was about 2 1/2 miles in from the Canada Road.

This is where we went into the woods for a short ways before coming out on another road(that connected to a point on the "cane") that continued up to the high altitude clearcut(which would show clearly on a current satellite map). This brought us quite close(I'd guess about 3/4 mile?) to the boundary. As Onestep said It was WAY easier than we'd expected it to be

#94 for me...

GPS map showed it was 7.8 miles roundtrip

 

[una_dogger]

Simply awesome!

And thanks for the link, Papa Bear.

Having made two different approaches to Boundary this past summer (one whack from White Cap to 3510 (?) peak and Swath & the other traditional new route from Canada); I found myself gazing out toward the area of your approach and thinking there had to be a way....really nice job guys!

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!