Coliseum Mountain, North Shore Mountains , North Vancouver, BC, Canada

2021-05-08/2021-05-09. (DO NOT FOLLOW MY TRACK). TRAIL CLOSED.
Backpacking trip for two days in the backcountry area of North Shore Mountains. We started the trip at 10:38 AM, full equipped and prepared for the knew hard and dangerous adventure. The first 7 KM to Norvan Falls were relatively easy, roots, muddy but not bad. We took our first break by then, just before staring going steeply up. The way up was challenging and difficult, with more than 3 meters of wet snow and a backpack of 51 pounds. We did not see any sign of wild animals more than birds and a huge Eagle up to the mountains. We had the opportunity to see from above an avalanche in one of the steepest areas near one of the valleys we had to cross on our way up, the noise was certainly an avalanche and when we look down to localize where it possible happened we saw it from far, glad it was not exactly where we were at that time but near enough to confirm that the avalanche season it is not over and we shouldn’t put our guard down just not yet. Coliseum is always challenging even if it is on Summer, obviously in Winter is a bit crazy but not impossible if you are well equipped and you follow all of the mandatory trip preparation like the follow of the weather, temperature on the peak, conditions of the snow, risk of avalanches and so on at least for a full week. Up there, over 1200 m we decided to stop to camp, we were tired by then and it was getting late 7:45 PM. We found a nice flat area only 200 m below the peak. We set our tents and running out of water we had our supper and we melt snow using our stove and make water to re-fill our water bottles for next day, funny but one of the most important essential and survival easy thing to do. Just before sleep and following one of the important rules when staying in the backcountry is hanging the food from a tree far from our tents just to be safe and to avoid unwanted visitors near us (bears, cougars, wolf...). The night was excellent, the temperature dropped to -2 or -3 during the night but no trouble, I slept tightly well. In the morning of the next day, Sunday 9th, we had a strong breakfast and we left the tents with big backpacks inside and we started our journey again. We left the campsite at 10 AM and we brought with us only a small backpack with some snacks, rope, poles, ice axe, first aid kit and water. Feeling rested and full of energy we started going up again the last 200 m to the submit of Coliseum. Challenging, dangerous we applied all of our possible skills to be safe in such a unknown situation and weather conditions. Finally there we were, on the top of the world. It took us 1 h to reach the peak, 1 h for only 200 m. We arrived at 11 AM, and sat down to enjoy the view and drink coffee while enjoying such a wonderful view of all of the mountains around such as Mount Burkwell, Cathedral Mountain, and some others already done by us in the pass like Crown Mountain, all of them around 1500 m of elevation. At 12 M, we started the descent, it took us only 40 min return trip to the campsite where we needed to pack everything into our backpacks and start the way down to the car far far away. On the way up, we did not follow the flags so we were most of the time bushwhacking/out of trail. On the way down we decided to try to follow the flags and stay on the trail when it was possible. We needed to cross many creek jumping on rocks to try not getting wet and using the ice axe to climb back to the trail. Scary some areas where the snow was melting and the holes were huge, it was fun though. Finally no more snow, and time to remove the crampons and gaiters. We arrive at the car at 7:20 PM Sunday. It was a great trip, and I am looking forward to go on something similar soon. Some info from my Garmin:
Total Distance: 35.70 Km
Total Activity Time: 16h27min
Elevation Gain: 1505 m
Maximum Elevation: 1441 m
Calories: 3740 Cal