DIRECTIONS: From Vancouver: Drive east on Hwy #1 to Hope. Take Coquihalla Hwy (Hwy #5) and drive north. After you go through the avalanche tunnel, drive for 3Km and take exit 217 (Zapkios rest area). Drive through the small tunnel to get to the other side of the highway. Then park and walk along highway towards Merritt for approximately 800 meters (7-8 highway lampposts). Look for ribbon and pilon to mark trail head. create
SUMMARY: An awesome hike with spectacular views. After leaving the highway the trail crosses a creek and goes through a small swampy section before beginning the ascent. The trail then goes through a wooded area followed by boulders before reaching the right side of the granite face. You then skirt around the granite face before hiking up through meadow to reach the top saddle between the peaks. There is then a small scramble up to the top of the two peaks. The trail has some switchbacks but is mostly straight up with some moderately challenging sections. Ribbons and cairns mark the trail quite well but it is easy to wonder up/down a wrong turn for a while before realizing that you've gone the wrong way! Be prepared for winds and a chill at the top. create
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Yak Peak
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Sep 25, 2021
You are lucky if you hit the weather just right in the Coquihalla and today was the day.
Some mud to start but easy to avoid with logs, then steep forest to follow, then some rock hoping below the famous slab face of of Yak as you traverse... then you deal with loose granite gravel and slabs (and one rope) which is easier on the way up .. suggest you take poles to help on the way down with balance and control.
Then after about 90 minutes of steep trail you emerge at the bottom of the bowl shared by Yak and Nak. Move up to the saddle and turn left for Yak or right for Nak. You can make your own adventure up in that area... turn left sooner and take a more challenging route up the fun scrambly slabs and boulders to arrive just south of the peak .. .then keep ascending for the win.
Its a steep trail, which means hard but short (distance), so if you have given yourself enough time its doable by many or moderate to excellent fitness ... and many there were... probably passed close to 25-30 people ... a few years ago you might have seen half a dozen.
The best view of Yak imho is from the bump along the saddle towards Nak (east) ... it shows you the sheer 450m North Face of Yak which is still un-climbed as of today.
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