⚠️ Hiking and scrambling are inherently dangerous activities. Please read my Disclaimer. ⚠️
Thwarted by an icy and exposed descent between “Frankie Peak” and “Larry Mountain”, Nathan, Keegan, and I, decided on our alternate plan for the day: a loop from “Frankie Peak” to “Eagle Peak” (“Whistable II”) and Whistler Mountain. I’d visited these peaks back in May 2014 as part of what I call, The Whistler Loop. However, neither Nathan nor Keegan had been to them and more significantly, neither had ever tagged three peaks on a single trip before. So if ever there was a place to be denied two of your three original objectives, but still make up for them with an alternate plan, this was it!
To avoid as much wind and ice as possible, we decided to forego a return trip along the ridge and instead, descend the northwest face of “Frankie” into a hanging valley. From here we would have an easy hike to the col beneath “Eagle Peak”. The trip from the col to the summit was miserable as extreme wind gusts made what would otherwise be a relatively easy hike, a more challenging ordeal. We didn’t linger too long on the summit, but rather, made a quick beeline for Whistler Mountain.
As I mentioned in the “Frankie Peak” report, the little hanging valley between “Frankie” and “Eagle Peak” would be a neat place to camp.
The trip from “Frankie Peak” across the hanging valley to the summit of “Eagle Peak” was ~1.8km with an elevation loss of ~230m and a gain of ~169m. Our total distance for all three peaks ended up being 12.5km with total elevation gains of 1323m. Our total time came in at 6 hours and 41 minutes.
“Eagle Peak” (“Whistable II”) (right) and Whistler Mountain (centre) from just beneath the summit of “Frankie”.
Our descent into the hanging valley from the summit was expedited by patches of firm snow.
This is a gorgeous little spot! We even came across a small creek bed that was covered in snow – so there may even be a place to get water if one were to camp here.
After an easy trip across the hanging valley, we arrived at the col beneath the summit of “Eagle Peak”. The wind gusts here were particularly nasty and walking became a chore.
The view back to “Frankie Peak” as we endure a short, but windy ascent to the summit.
At least someone was enjoying the wind! The quality of this picture is akin to most UFO and Sasquatch photos, but that black dot to the centre left is a very large bird of prey soaring over “Eagle Peak”. That’s two for two now when I’ve visited this place, so while I like Vern’s, “Whistable Peaks” as better name, I have to put on my tinfoil hat and think that this is a sign that I should at least hold onto “Eagle Peak” for a little while longer. The black squiggles on the right could be anything from small children to squirrels to snakes – whatever happened to be picked up and blown by the wind.
The summit of “Eagle Peak” (“Whistable II”) (2281m my GPS). It’s twin peak to the north – “Whistable I” – is in the background.
“Larry Mountain” (left) and “Frankie Peak” captivate the view to the south.
The view west at Whistler Mountain and the Whistler Fire Lookout. The “Amoeba” on Barnaby Ridge is on the left and Southfork Mountain is to the left of centre. In the centre is Syncline Mountain.
Nathan and Keegan on the summit of “Eagle Peak”. Castle Peak can be seen in the background.
Nathan and I are all smiles! 😉
After snapping a few pics on the summit, we made a quick descent and headed over to Whistler Mountain. Click to continue reading our Whistler Mountain II trip report.