Team No Fixed Income Diaries: Griffith Highlands 4 Peak Traverse

After the a nights sleep after the day before that also involved a wee bit of leg cramp fun from the first peak bagged of the trip.

Jamiesons Mtn Peak Bagging June 2nd 2025

It was the day of the main event. What event would that be? Well when had been looking at the Peakbagger and AllTrails apps for the area I spotted the Griffith Uplands Trail. And when looked closer the trail technically would pass near three Ontario peaks. hmm idea forming as considered that it would be a doable Ontario epic though tough. Tougher then doing either the Combermere Triple Crown or the Trenton/Batawa 5 Summits Ride.

Combermere Triple Crown Oct 7th 2021

Trenton/Batawa 5 Summits Epic Ride July 16th 2022

This would be challenging physically due to lots of hike a bike, challenging terrain navigation, and bugs. This is remote and at times there is minimal to zilch cell service as some would say...there is no rescue. It was after was done and home when I looked at the elevation profile that noticed it looked like at least to me a traverse. Keep in mind I am no climber so maybe am wrong however sounds cool.

The Griffith Uplands Trail Article

Geared up and headed out for the short gravel road ride to the trailhead where the fun would begin. And this would be a very challenging adventure exceeding what most of my friends would consider Rule 9.

Very soon after entering the trail would be met with the first technical ascent where would be needing to carry the Stylus like a backpack to best navigate the ascent. And this would be the first of many during the day. Fortunately had the foresight to acquire the Hookabike to make this easier.

As would fully prove during this guess you could call it a traverse the decision to acquire the Hookabike would be beneficial. As a good amount of scrambling and such was needed to get up out of the valley. And closer to where could ride a bit and towards the first peak that being Lake Mountain's peak.

After climbing and some navigating found the first peak of the day Lake Mountain. A small cairn would mark the peak with no view. As was surrounded by trees which is pretty much the norm for Ontario peak bagging.

Descended from Lake Mountain following the trail that would eventually require a careful on foot technical descent. It would be later at home that I would look at the elevation profile and see that once climbed up to the Lake Mountain peak. Pretty much the trail stayed higher above the valley floor.

Of course once descended a bit and after traversing the lower section it would be another scramble up to the next high point. This would involved another bit of wearing the Stylus as a backpack.

It would be while looking at the elevation profile and looking at another peak bagger type app called Peakery that would notice something. It appears that while traversing from Lake Mtn to Spring without knowing may have bagged Buck Mtn. It is hard to tell accurately as it doesn't show up on the Peakbagger app and map. However Buck Mtn is 402 m high and matches with the Strava track combined with elevation. So this ended up being number 2. Though there is no "summit pic" for there as I had thought had passed lower to the summit of Buck Mtn. The maps of the trail quite possibly may not be accurate, However I will take it.

From Buck Mtn headed for the third peak of the day. And the third high point would be Spring Mtn. Which again would be a high point marked with rocks and the view blocked by trees. It needs to observed that it isn't exactly easy navigating the summits in Ontario as it isn't always obvious. And what is marked as the high point may not match what is on the maps. all can do is best one can.

After bagging Spring Mtn it was another wee bit of descent and following some ATV track. Thanks to some trees being taken down by weather got lost briefly however after looking around found the track again. And soon after it was another bunch of wearing the Stylus as a backpack

And scrambling with the Stylus backpack to get to the 4th peak of the loop Godin Mtn. Which again required a wee bit of following a barely there track to the rock marked peak of Godin Mtn which was another no view summit.

And once done the 4th photos of a summit went looking for the spot where there was more of a view. And also less bugs like in the no view peak cairn spot.

And knew what would be looking for as a heads up that on the approach to the lookout. The tree with various things tied to it the majority being Dreamcatchers.

At this spot after pushing to get the 4 summits bagged took a break to take in the view. And drink the Mountain Dew had in the pack to drink at some point.

From there resumed descending down Godin Mtn and at one spot during the descent you could see in the distance the Lower Madawaska River. As well as a bit of Highway 41.

With the hard part of the route completed and all supplies drained after descending from Godin Mtn. Headed left on the snowmobile trail towards Highway 41 to take the easier route out. There was beer at the campsite and food as well as lots of water.

Stopped briefly on ride back by the Lower Madawaska to look at the hazy low in the sky sun. Haze being from all the Manitoba wildfire smoke. It was mission accomplished a mission that waited 2.5 years to finally make it happen.