Our original plan was to climb up Triple Peak. With an extremely wet forecast ahead, we decided scrambling wasn’t the safest plan. So we switched gears to a hike on Triple’s neighbor: 5040.
The peak gets its name from its summit height: 5040 feet (or 1536m).
![5040](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/blog-med-190735.jpg)
I took this photo of 5040 while standing at the lake on Triple Peak last year.
My friend Dave and I drove up to the base of the hike Friday night.
We arrived around 10pm. I tried to sleep in my tent on the side of the logging road. Not the most scenic camping spot, but at least I had coffee in the morning.
![med-075755](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-075755.jpg)
![med-075750](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-075750.jpg)
Everyone else drove in from Nanaimo the next morning.
And we were off on our hike!
![med-093854](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-093854.jpg)
The rain was relentless from the beginning, slowly turning to a mix of rain and snow.
![med-101206](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-101206.jpg)
Taking my hands out of my gloves long enough to take a photo was a bit of an adventure itself, but worth it.
![med-120213](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-120213.jpg)
It took us about an hour to get to Cobalt Lake.
![med-095317](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-095317.jpg)
It looked like a beautiful spot, but there was no lingering to enjoy the views with the rain and wind.
As soon as we started up from the lake, the snow began to stick.
![med-101923](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-101923.jpg)
My excitement level was very high.
![med-103012](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-103012.jpg)
SNOW!
![med-102959](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-102959.jpg)
![med-102954](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-102954.jpg)
The last bit was a bit brutal, as the wind whipped frozen rain into our faces.
![med-104347](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-104347.jpg)
Summit!!
![med-105744](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-105744.jpg)
We almost ran down without singing the registry, but one of our brave companions pulled it out. He wrote “Snow / Rain” and left room for us all to sign.
![](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-2.jpg)
Pretty sure the ink was frozen in the pen, but we tried.
![med-105906](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-105906.jpg)
And down we all went again.
![med-105754](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-105754.jpg)
I probably spent 10 hours of driving for 4 hours of hiking, which is quite ridiculous. But the snow made it totally worth it.
![med-131934](https://webelongoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/med-131934.jpg)
Another great Alpine Club trip!
Pro tip: Remember to always bring the 10 essentials on every hike, but it is especially important in remote places like this in colder temperatures.