Day 5

On day 5 we would make the climb out of Raspberry Pass and across a small plateau leading to Cache Hill, before navigating the last remnants of the spectrum range as we round Tadeda Peak to the head waters of Walkout Creek at camp (9.5 km, +592 m, -459 m, camp 4b in the route planning post).

A cold night (-4 C) meant my laundry wasn't quite dry in the morning.

It didn't take long for things to warm up - the shadow line marks the quick transition from frost to no frost (looking west from our camp through Raspberry Pass). 

If you look in the photo above you can see the steep descent that most people take to get down into Raspberry Pass. We followed a much safer route down a drainage farther to the east (not visible in this photo).

The long climb out of Raspberry Pass.

Our route up the west side of the gully was in direct line with our camp and proved to be not as steep as the climb farther to the west. Picking our way through the trees on the lower slope was straight forward.

Looking back at yesterday's route down the drainage into Raspberry Pass (just right of center).

Jeremy high on the slope above Raspberry Pass.

The small plateau with the south face of Cache Hill on the left and Edziza in the distance.

Looking ahead to Mount Edziza (zoomed in).

Looking back to Obsidian Ridge (zoomed in).

The north face of Cache Hill is another volcanic eruption that has blown out the side of a plateau.

Still a long way from Big Raven Plateau and Mount Edziza (far left).

Christoph on a narrow ridge leading away from Cache Hill with Tadeda Peak in the background.

Tadeda Peak surrounded by rolling mounds of glacial moraine.

High on the north west shoulder of Tadeda Peak.

The colors of the Spectrum Range are still evident even this far north.

Me.

Jeremy.

Christoph and Alejandra.

Crossing the last remnants of the Spectrum Range.

Looking down the head-waters of the south fork of Walkout Creek.

A large bull elk in pre-rut was keeping an eye on us as we set up camp. Through the binoculars you could clearly see the bloody, raw strips of velvet hanging off its antlers.

It does not get much better than this.

Our original intent was to set up camp on the north fork of Walkout Creek but when we came across this small bench high above the south fork, and with spectacular views to the west, we decided to pitch our tents beside a small creek draining off the snow-melt.