Widgeon Peak
Approximately 15 km northeast of Coquitlam City Centre at the north end of Burke Ridge is a picturesque yet elusive 1436m summit called Widgeon Peak. After years of exploring Burke Ridge and looking up at Widgeon Peak, I was eager to finally get to the summit, which is typically accessed from the south along a narrow connector ridge from the north end of Burke Ridge. When I summited Coquitlam Mountain a year ago, I got a good side view of the connector ridge. It looks pretty straightforward from this angle, but past reports indicate there are some tricky sections.
There are two main approaches to Widgeon Peak: from Burke Ridge trail to the south, and from Widgeon Campsite via the Burke-Widgeon Connector trail to the east. The Widgeon Campsite approach is much shorter and requires less elevation gain, but access to this route requires a 1 hour paddle from Grant Narrows in Pitt Meadows. I live near the bottom of Burke Ridge, so the Burke Ridge route is much easier to access for me. I also prefer my trips to be self-propelled, and the access to the Burke Ridge route by bike from my place is straightforward. Below is the the riding and hiking route from home to Widgeon Peak via Burke Ridge, and the hiking route from Widgeon Campsite to Widgeon Peak (not including the paddle to get to Widgeon Campsite).
Snow-free conditions are ideal on the route to Widgeon Peak from Burke Ridge. A snowpack will make some of the bushy sections easier, but will also make many of the steep sections along the route more challenging. In the past, I have had a difficult time traversing the side of Pika Peak on Burke Ridge efficiently in the snow, and there are other similar traverse sections further along the route. With no snow, there is a smooth trail most of the way that is generally straightforward and efficient to follow. I also find it nice to not carry snow gear on long trips with a lot of elevation gain.
The Burke Ridge route is usually snow-free between July and September. I was thinking I would miss the window again this year, but found myself with an opportunity on a sunny late September weekend. The forecast for Saturday September 28th looked favourable, as it would be clear and moderately warm. There was rain the previous day so the bush would be wet, but there would be no snow and the temperatures would be comfortable, so I decided I'd go for it.
I left home at 7am on my mountain bike with a full day pack, and pedalled up Harper Road to where the road surface begins to deteriorate just below the old ski lodge site. I locked my bike up in the trees before beginning the hike up Burke Ridge trail at a rapid smooth pace. I wanted to leave ample time for the routefinding and semi-technical bushwacking between Burke North Summit and Widgeon Peak, so I made sure to be efficient on the Burke Ridge trail section which is easy to follow. I stopped at Burke North Summit for a few minutes to take in views of my objective and the surrounding peaks.
The trail that continues north of the Burke North Summit is called the Burke-Widgeon Connector. This trail meanders a bit as it drops off the North end of Burke Ridge. There are a few spots along this trail that are overgrown and unmarked. I made a few wrong turns, but was able to get back on track without much trouble. Overall, the connector trail was actually better than expected - it looked like someone had recently worked on it, which is surprising considering how difficult this area is to access. The trail gradually flattens and bottoms out at the Burke-Widgeon saddle. At the bottom there is a sign pointing to Widgeon Peak to the north and Widgeon Campsite to the east. This is where the Burke-Widgeon Connector trail drops off of the ridge saddle to Widgeon Campsite.
From the end of the connector trail to the summit there is interspersed old flagging and a very faint foodbed that comes and goes, but there’s no longer a trail. On the approach to the peak I was either following the withered flagging or taking the most obvious route ahead of me. I tried to stay on the top of the ridge as much as possible as it was generally the least bushy, and the least steep. However in some spots the ridgetop became cliffy and I had to veer to the climber's left of the ridgeline and sidehill in the bush until I could find a way back to the top of the ridge. There were lots of tricky sections where I performed fancy yoga moves. I was extremely cautious on the ridgeline sections - the ridge drops off in a steep manner on its east side, and there are a few exposed spots on the ridgetop. Fortunately no technical moves were required in the exposed areas. The ridgeline gradually flattens out, and there's a nice pond with a view of the Widgeon Peak summit block above. This was a nice break from the bush, which was on and off along the route to the summit. Some spots were open and easy, while in other spots I was swimming in the thick wet bush and using the sturdy shrubs as handholes to move myself forward. My clothes got pretty wet, but I was prepared with lots of layers.
I followed flagging that trended to the climber’s left of the summit block through some tall, wet, dense vegetation. The route trends towards a steep chute, which ended up being the crux of the trip. To get up it, I grabbed onto the bottoms of some of the plants and very carefully pulled myself up the chimney, which was slightly foothold-deficient and a little bit exposed. Once at the top of the chute, it is a straightforward push to the summit.
Looking down the Or Valley.
Widgeon Peak as seen from the summit of Coquitlam Mountain (May 2018).
The east side of Burke Ridge and Widgeon Peak from Pitt Meadows.
There are two main approaches to Widgeon Peak: from Burke Ridge trail to the south, and from Widgeon Campsite via the Burke-Widgeon Connector trail to the east. The Widgeon Campsite approach is much shorter and requires less elevation gain, but access to this route requires a 1 hour paddle from Grant Narrows in Pitt Meadows. I live near the bottom of Burke Ridge, so the Burke Ridge route is much easier to access for me. I also prefer my trips to be self-propelled, and the access to the Burke Ridge route by bike from my place is straightforward. Below is the the riding and hiking route from home to Widgeon Peak via Burke Ridge, and the hiking route from Widgeon Campsite to Widgeon Peak (not including the paddle to get to Widgeon Campsite).
Widgeon Peak via Burke Ridge from home (red) and via Wigeon Campsite (orange).
Snow-free conditions are ideal on the route to Widgeon Peak from Burke Ridge. A snowpack will make some of the bushy sections easier, but will also make many of the steep sections along the route more challenging. In the past, I have had a difficult time traversing the side of Pika Peak on Burke Ridge efficiently in the snow, and there are other similar traverse sections further along the route. With no snow, there is a smooth trail most of the way that is generally straightforward and efficient to follow. I also find it nice to not carry snow gear on long trips with a lot of elevation gain.
The Burke Ridge route is usually snow-free between July and September. I was thinking I would miss the window again this year, but found myself with an opportunity on a sunny late September weekend. The forecast for Saturday September 28th looked favourable, as it would be clear and moderately warm. There was rain the previous day so the bush would be wet, but there would be no snow and the temperatures would be comfortable, so I decided I'd go for it.
I left home at 7am on my mountain bike with a full day pack, and pedalled up Harper Road to where the road surface begins to deteriorate just below the old ski lodge site. I locked my bike up in the trees before beginning the hike up Burke Ridge trail at a rapid smooth pace. I wanted to leave ample time for the routefinding and semi-technical bushwacking between Burke North Summit and Widgeon Peak, so I made sure to be efficient on the Burke Ridge trail section which is easy to follow. I stopped at Burke North Summit for a few minutes to take in views of my objective and the surrounding peaks.
Widgeon Peak from Burke North Summit.
The trail that continues north of the Burke North Summit is called the Burke-Widgeon Connector. This trail meanders a bit as it drops off the North end of Burke Ridge. There are a few spots along this trail that are overgrown and unmarked. I made a few wrong turns, but was able to get back on track without much trouble. Overall, the connector trail was actually better than expected - it looked like someone had recently worked on it, which is surprising considering how difficult this area is to access. The trail gradually flattens and bottoms out at the Burke-Widgeon saddle. At the bottom there is a sign pointing to Widgeon Peak to the north and Widgeon Campsite to the east. This is where the Burke-Widgeon Connector trail drops off of the ridge saddle to Widgeon Campsite.
From the end of the connector trail to the summit there is interspersed old flagging and a very faint foodbed that comes and goes, but there’s no longer a trail. On the approach to the peak I was either following the withered flagging or taking the most obvious route ahead of me. I tried to stay on the top of the ridge as much as possible as it was generally the least bushy, and the least steep. However in some spots the ridgetop became cliffy and I had to veer to the climber's left of the ridgeline and sidehill in the bush until I could find a way back to the top of the ridge. There were lots of tricky sections where I performed fancy yoga moves. I was extremely cautious on the ridgeline sections - the ridge drops off in a steep manner on its east side, and there are a few exposed spots on the ridgetop. Fortunately no technical moves were required in the exposed areas. The ridgeline gradually flattens out, and there's a nice pond with a view of the Widgeon Peak summit block above. This was a nice break from the bush, which was on and off along the route to the summit. Some spots were open and easy, while in other spots I was swimming in the thick wet bush and using the sturdy shrubs as handholes to move myself forward. My clothes got pretty wet, but I was prepared with lots of layers.
A small pond on the south ridge of Widgeon Peak with the summit in the background.
I followed flagging that trended to the climber’s left of the summit block through some tall, wet, dense vegetation. The route trends towards a steep chute, which ended up being the crux of the trip. To get up it, I grabbed onto the bottoms of some of the plants and very carefully pulled myself up the chimney, which was slightly foothold-deficient and a little bit exposed. Once at the top of the chute, it is a straightforward push to the summit.
I spent nearly an hour and a half relaxing, eating, and taking photos on the summit. I always like to take my time at the top of hard-earned summits, especially when the temperature is comfortable and there's clear views. I took a number of photos between bites of my sandwich.
Looking northeast towards Widgeon Valley and freshly dusted mountains in the distance.
Looking east towards Pitt Lake and peaks in Golden Ears Provincial Park.
Looking south towards the city.
Me on the summit of Wigeon Peak above the Widgeon Valley.
Widgeon Lake bowl on the left, Widgeon Valley on the lower right.
Looking down at Widgeon Creek.
Summit vegetation was beginning to show some fall colours.
Distant layers of ridges to the east.
Another shot of Pitt Lake.
Looking directly south over Pitt Meadows, Langley, the US, and eventually the ocean.
Looking straight down at the Pitt Valley.
Looking down the Or Valley.
Gabbro Peak, and the Pitt-Coquitlam divide in the distance.
Coquitlam Mountain on the west side of Or Valley.
I eventually packed up my stuff, and carefully retraced my route down to the trail on the saddle. I’d say the most challenging part of the entire trip was lowering myself down that slightly exposed chute on the summit block. I had to hold onto the plant roots firmly, and slowly lower myself down with few foothold options, and drop my feet down to the bottom of the chute. The bottom was only slightly flat, and was a little exposed, so I had to make sure the landing was smooth. Once this part was done, the rest of the bushwack back was relatively straightforward. I have heard there may be a bench on the climber’s right of the summit block that can be used to avoid this sketchy bit, so if I’m up there again I think that’s the way I’ll go.
Once I got back onto the trail, I made good time getting down Burke Ridge to my bike. The cruise down the mountain on my mountain bike was extremely satisfying, and I finished the trip off strong on the short climb up the base of Eagle Ridge to my house. I got home 9.5 hours after leaving, and I have to say this was a very satisfying trip. I am elated to have finally summited Widgeon Peak, and to have done it in self-propelled fashion. I always find it rewarding to reach challenging objectives that are so close to dense civilization but so rarely visited.
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