Cox Hill II
February 4, 2023
Mountain height: 2217 m
Elevation gain: 730 m
Roundtrip time: 5 hours
After driving
the full length of Highway 40 to be greeted with nothing but cloudy, threatening
skies, we retreated to find something as far east as possible. Cox Hill was a
logical choice. Mark had never been up the hill, a number of years had passed
since my first visit, the mostly treed ascent would probably keep us sheltered
from a brisk and therefore bone-chilling wind, and if there were to be clear
skies anywhere on this day it would likely be there.
And that’s how
it was. A well-tracked snow trail helped to make the ascent an easy one and we
didn’t experience the cold until arriving at the first of the mountain’s two,
closely-spaced summits. Blue skies did reign above us, as cloud persisted to the
west.
The highlight of
the trip was a brief exploration of a sweet, little rock band near the summit. Here
we were able to find a reprieve from the wind. Needless to say, the descent was
fast and almost effortless.
Good day out.
Typical travel throughout the day
When almost the entire ascent is in the trees, any open view whatsoever gets a look and a photo
Brief section not in the trees
The final push to the summit
...with Mark
Bracing for a very cold wind
Approaching the first summit
View to the southwest includes Mount Bryant (left) and many of the 7 peaks of the GR's of Upper Canyon Creek
Tiara Peak (centre) and Belmore Browne (right)
The Lorette/Skogan/Gilligan/McGillivray massif
Summit only a few steps away
Summit cairn #1
Grotto, Grable, Gap, and Fable (sounds like the start of a Harry Potter spell!) to the northwest
Mark takes the last few steps
The other summit is only a few hundred metres away
Heading there
Summit cairn #2
View to the southwest
Mark takes in the view from atop some interesting rock, that surprisingly turned into the highlight of the trip
Exploring the rock band and looking for some shelter from the wind
Moose Mountain dominates the horizon to the southeast
Awesome rock
Same as above
Same as above
The south ridge of Cox Hill eventually leads to Jumpingpound Mountain - a very tempting traverse, but not today!
My turn to check out the rock
Mark is looking for a way up....
...this
Best to stay on the snow
Nice perch!
Leaving the wind-ravaged summit
Pleasant, wind-assisted hike back to the first summit
Same as above
Wind-blown snow
Same as above
Same as above with Mark
Moose and Mark
Nice scenery to the north
The End
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