Anderson River (Springbok, Le Cornes, Steinbock, Ibex) Info

[Blake]

We did a lot of extra driving on Saturday. Here's some info to prevent others from doing the same. Sorry it's not in Km

Drive Hwy1 East from Hope. All distances are given in miles.

~27 miles: Cross huge bridge, about .5 miles past the bridge, take a right on the Nahatlatch FS Road. This is in the vicinity of a hwy maintenance shed type complex. The road quickly begins by turning steeply up and right. All mileages on these gravel logging roads are in miles, and should be exact. Set the odometer when you turn off Hwy1.

1.8 MilesVeer right @ road fork near old bus/junk

3.8 MilesGate here, it was open on a Saturday, but a key in hand would be wise.

7.1 Miles VERY important sharp left turn up a steep hill. Missing this sharp left turn will bring you immediately to another gate, which we found open. Don't go through the gate, go left before it.

10 Miles Old logging camp infrastructure.

11.5 Miles Big bridge (shortly followed by smaller bridge off to the left)

13.7 Miles Junction with S. Anderson Road. Stay left on North Anderson.

15.1 Miles Junction of North Anderson and a spur road leading off to the right (south) towards roads 600 and 610. Take the RIGHT turn, leaving North Anderson Main.

15.8 Miles Park here, where a small clearing exists at the beginning of road 610. This is unmarked and the old road is now a trail with alders invading quickly. Several small fire rings exist.


Hiking Approach:

Hike South on the old roadbed of road 610. Evidence of alder pruning exists at first. Follow this road/trail, keeping the creek down and to your right. Don't turn off this road, but follow it south until you are opposite Steinbok peak, above where a long strip of old-growth timber extends downslope on the opposite side of the valley. Bash and thrash your way down to the stream, cross it, and head up into the strip of old-growth, where a recently improved trail leads to open alp slopes below Steinbok, Les Cornes, Chamoix, etc.

[PAW]

how much time did it take to do the approach?

[harihari]

how much time did it take to do the approach?

You can do it in 1 to 1.5 hours from where you park.

The important thing with this is GET THE KEY to the gates. if you don't have the key, you will be about 15 STEEP km from the start of the hiking approach. You could mtn bike this but with gear etc that's a whole lot of energy you're burning before you start walking.

[Dru]

The gates were never locked this year, so that's not so relevant. The tenure changed hands and the new licensee has better wood available in other drainages.

[Russianfront]

I'll be a nice guy and post an update I was just up there 2 days ago.
The road is in 2wd condition all the way to Steinbok. Its about 22km from the turn-off off Hwy 1 (right across the road from the Alexandria Bridge picknick area) to Branch 610 where you access Steinbok. Can't miss the turnoff as its a big road (its also about 200 feet south of a big green-roofed gravel/sand storage structure. The road is a bit steep in spots once it starts to climb but again any car should be able to make it. The Vancouver Backroad Mapbook is good for reference if you have a copy. The road is a bit "exposed" in one place where it cuts high above a canyon. Hold on to the wheel tight here and go slow..its a loooooong way to the bottom. And watch for the logging guys hauling a** on the road, I had a couple of close calls on tight hairpins. All gates are open and the camp is gone. When you see the burned-down building, thats where the camp used to be. Branch 610 is bushed in just after it turns into the main valley below Steinbok. There is parking area where people camp then a wall of bush after. I talked with a guy camping there to check out the slabs above and he said that they couldn't find the trail at all. So be prepared to get your ape on and thrash all the way. So to sum up access is good right until the valley below Steinbok then you're on your own - just you and 1,000,000 alders between you and the big crags.

[Craig Mcgee]

How much snow is on the approach? Routes dry? Descent gully snow? thanks. craig

[Russianfront]

Craig there was no snow on the road. The snowline looks to be at about 4500-5000 feet. There is visible snow around the bases of the peaks but this is to be expected for mid-June. Go to it.

[harihari]

How much snow is on the approach? Routes dry? Descent gully snow? thanks. craig

yo-- be MAJORLY careful on the descent. that thing is a full-on shooting gallery.