ARLINGTON PEAK 2412m 7913′
MOUNT RUPPLE 2376m 7795′
These two remote peaks are rarely visited but are usually both climbed together. The summits are 2.5 km apart – but when are you going to be in this neighbourhood again? The western Kokanee Park boundary makes a special jag to include the summit of Rupple in the park. Arlington remains just outside.
Access is either via Enterprise Creek/Timber Creek or via Lemon Creek/Crusader Creek.
Elevation gain: 2200′
Key elevations: Park 5700′
Distance: Depends on access
Time: depends on access
Season: mid-July through September
Assess:
Maps: 82F/14 Slocan and 82F/11 Kokanee Peak (Arlington is on the Slocan sheet and Rupple is on the Kokanee sheet).
Via Lemon Creek
Drive. Lemon Creek FSR (accessed via Duhamel Creek and 6-Mile Lakes if from Nelson). Just before the parking area for the Lemon Creek Trail, turn left (north) up Crusader Creek.
Alternate #1: Drive towards a trail leading to a mine site on the south side of Arlington Pk. Park at 1750m (5700’).
Route. Continue up the old road to a log cabin with a collapsed roof and then an old mine entrance. Ascend through the forest and aim for the ridge. Reach the east summit of Arlington and cross over to the main west summit.
Alternate #2: Go up the old mining road up the south side of Mt Ruppel 4500’ to 7400’. This old road was in good condition because of all the ATVs. Leave the road and scramble around the back side to the summit in 3 hours.
Descend the north ridge, cross a boulder field and start up the ridge to Arlington. Descend the steep, gravelly south ridge of Arlington to an overgrown logging road.
Via Enterprise Creek
Drive. Enterprise Creek Rd:
0.0 Start east on Enterprise Creek Rd
12.1km Turn right up Timber Creek FSR; go 5.8km
17.9km Turn right heading SE into the basin between the two peaks.
18.7km Park.
Route. TH at 1740m (5700′) NE to the ridge. Sitting in the basin between the two peaks, choose which one to ascend first, traverse the two mountains and descend to the car.