Luna Peak by Mount Fury is the highest point in the Picket Range. This outlier of Northern Pickets above Access Creek sees the rest of the rugged ridgelines. Meanwhile, Mox Peaks, the nearest taller neighbor, sits eight miles away in the Chilliwacks.
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Luna Peak at a Glance
Access: Ross Dam Trailhead
Round Trip: 43.6 miles
Elevation Range: 1600′-8311′
Gear: helmet, crampons, ice ax
GPS Track: available
June 25-27, 2016
Day 1 – Saturday, June 25
Water taxi – Ross Dam Trailhead to Big Beaver Campground
Big Beaver Trail to Access Creek Basin
Day 2 – Sunday, June 26
Luna Peak
Day 3 – Monday, June 27
Access Creek Basin to Big Beaver Trail
Water taxi – Big Beaver Campground to Ross Dam Trailhead
Exit
Day 1
Water taxi + Big Beaver Trail + Access Creek Basin
Overview > Day 1 > Day 2 > Day 3
The Preface on Luna Peak
Luna Peak was a spur-of-the-moment plan since I couldn’t access my other goals. But it ended up being the biggest highlight of the season. The trip also gave me my first glimpse into the famous Picket Range.
We slept in the car to catch the water taxi early the next day. The other option would’ve been hiking to Big Beaver Campground. But I wasn’t keen on adding 14 more miles of walking to the climb.
See more trip photos here.
Hiking Big Beaver Trail
Besides a handful of down trees en route, Big Beaver Trail was in excellent shape but sweltering. I’d sometimes stop to marvel at the sheer size of the tall timbers. We later took a lunch break at Luna Camp.
Shortly past the camp, I spotted a junior bear roaming the trail. It seemed unaware of our presence as it hunted for food. But it hurried into the bushes after I started chanting and beating the poles.
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Fording Big Beaver Creek
After leaving the trail and swimming in the brush to Big Beaver Creek, more mosquitoes showed up. We paced along the shore over massive devils club and giant skunk cabbage. But I couldn’t find a decent spot to cross the water.
Meanwhile, I looked for the reported log jam, which would’ve been ideal for crossing there. So we went farther north and forded the water at waist level. It was unnerving, but the pup seemed to enjoy it.
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Accessing Access Creek Basin
We scrambled downstream Access Creek’s adjacent north ridgeline from the other side. Then we fumbled in the brush before seeing a faint path. So we followed it for a while before the massive down trees took over.
We followed the GPS track to a tee and later crossed Access Creek at 3900′. So glad we didn’t walk to the end of the path. Otherwise, we would’ve been in the arms of the nasty alder swath.
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Luna Peak Above Access Basin
The basin came into view after crossing the creek. Then we saw Luna Peak towering above the valley for the first time. Soon, we scrambled one mile to camp in continuous snow while following some cairns.
As luck would have it, a flat-top boulder was smack in the middle of the basin. It was a perfect spot as our home for the next two nights. Then I quickly set up camp and made dinner before turning in.
See more trip photos here.
Day 2
Luna Peak
Overview > Day 1 > Day 2 > Day 3
En Route to Luna Pass
We spent much time in the steep gully to the southeast ridge the following day. Then we trailed through the broad southwest basin to Luna Pass. Soon, we spotted bear tracks south of the pass over and down the north side.
Going up the southwest ridge to the false peak was pretty direct. We were on class 2 terrain at the most, with some scree to cross. But when I saw the summit from the top, I needed a minute to let everything sink in.
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Luna Peak Summit Views of Picket Range
The pup didn’t care for the exposure and decided to stay put. Shortly, I looked for a feasible way to go onto the ledge on the south side. Then the rest of the traverse was direct, though airy. Glad to see the few cairns that helped guide the way.
The giant boulders on the summit felt as though they’d topple over. So I built an anchor around one solid rock and anchored in myself. Then I took photos while straddling to feel more secure.
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Leaving Luna Peak
Luna Peak hands down the vantage point to see the rest of the Picket Range. After an hour on top, I carefully traversed to the false peak to reunite with the pup. The dog wagged its tail like I had been away for days.
We later saw more bear tracks on Luna Pass that went into the south basin. Unsure if the animal would return soon, we quickly made our exit. En route to camp, we made several photo stops to soak in the views.
See more trip photos here.
Day 3
Exit
Overview > Day 1 > Day 2 > Day 3
The Hasty Exit
Exiting Access Creek was just as painful as coming in our first morning. But we made a decent time back to Beaver Creek. Luckily, I found the log jam half a mile downstream from where we had crossed the creek.
Back on Big Beaver Trail, we walked as fast as possible to Big Beaver Campground. Despite our effort, we were still 10 minutes late for the pick-up. But glad the boat was still around when we reached the shore.
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Back to Highway 20
The driver had no other appointments today and wasn’t hurry to leave. So he and his grandson hung out and waited by the bay. He was gracious enough to let the pup cool off in the lake before leaving.
Shortly, the driver dropped us off at the dock. Then it was a one-mile uphill hike dragging ourselves back to the trailhead. That part was the icing on the cake at the end of a long trip.
See more trip photos here.