We had been suggested to join another group called meetup, to meet people in our area keen on hiking and climbing etc. So on Friday morning I did just that and in a big flurry of emails and decisions we were leaving early the next morning to tackle a long day hike to a glacier.
The track starts close to Squamish so we were lucky to get a lift with Brian, that made our team of four, Brian, Francois, Lee and I. We didn't have a four wheel drive unfortunately so that meant about 9km of road walking, groan! Being a forestry road, they've now dug large trenches out of the road, even a 4wd would struggle now I think. So it took us 2 1/2 hours to reach a smaller path, directed by a large arrow of stones pointing us off a way that didn't look right. Still making a mistake and going with someone who didn't have a full scale map, yet a print out route description only was a mistake (if I'd have known I would have got a map last minute)
Here the path became really narrow, bordered by shrubs trying to scratch you to bits and streams trying to seep water into your boots. As we got higher the views of Sky Pilot and Co Pilot were great. We were indeed still quite a way from them though, as we criss crossed the stream and entered into boulder fields, the ice became thicker. We were sliding all over the place, attempting not to end up at the bottom of the sheer cliff, having our poles with us would have been a sensible option (next time she says). Still, the ever changing walking surface kept things interesting.
Finally we made it to the bottom of the steep boulder field, where the guide book notes pretty much ended and we just had to pick a route and go up. Up continued steeply for what felt like an age, it was slippery on the ice and just full of boulders and scree, not a great mix, hands and scrambling a must here.
After 4 1/2 hours we made it to the glacier, time for a rest. We took photos had some lunch and soaked up the sunshine, we'd finally made it. After exploring a bit on the glacier (which was such a solid block of ice, crampons were needed, we wondered how it was people got up the top of these mountains in just one day. Perhaps its an earlier start than we had, longer daylight (in the height of summer) and not the slower progress we had with the heavy frost and ice over every surface. Whatever reason it was, we weren't going for any summits today and besides, we had no map or description to get to the top disappointing as it was.
So the long long trek back down inevitabley came. First the steep reverse down the icy boulder and scree field, back through the thick forest and undergrowth, crossing back and forth over the rushing stream and we finally made it to the arrow turn off point. With 2 1/2 hours as an up time we knew we still had close to that to go. This is sometimes when things can get a bit boring on the hike, covering a path you already know and it turning into a logging road, never fun, but gives you time to chat and continue to get to know each other and also just enjoy giving your own thoughts some time to surface.
Finally back to the car just as the sun had set, a quick change and we were heading back to Vancouver. A great long day out 20km of hard hiking, with perfect weather, fun company and a story to tell......
Oh and never assume when someone says they have a map they actually do! Get your own.....
The track starts close to Squamish so we were lucky to get a lift with Brian, that made our team of four, Brian, Francois, Lee and I. We didn't have a four wheel drive unfortunately so that meant about 9km of road walking, groan! Being a forestry road, they've now dug large trenches out of the road, even a 4wd would struggle now I think. So it took us 2 1/2 hours to reach a smaller path, directed by a large arrow of stones pointing us off a way that didn't look right. Still making a mistake and going with someone who didn't have a full scale map, yet a print out route description only was a mistake (if I'd have known I would have got a map last minute)
Here the path became really narrow, bordered by shrubs trying to scratch you to bits and streams trying to seep water into your boots. As we got higher the views of Sky Pilot and Co Pilot were great. We were indeed still quite a way from them though, as we criss crossed the stream and entered into boulder fields, the ice became thicker. We were sliding all over the place, attempting not to end up at the bottom of the sheer cliff, having our poles with us would have been a sensible option (next time she says). Still, the ever changing walking surface kept things interesting.
Finally we made it to the bottom of the steep boulder field, where the guide book notes pretty much ended and we just had to pick a route and go up. Up continued steeply for what felt like an age, it was slippery on the ice and just full of boulders and scree, not a great mix, hands and scrambling a must here.
After 4 1/2 hours we made it to the glacier, time for a rest. We took photos had some lunch and soaked up the sunshine, we'd finally made it. After exploring a bit on the glacier (which was such a solid block of ice, crampons were needed, we wondered how it was people got up the top of these mountains in just one day. Perhaps its an earlier start than we had, longer daylight (in the height of summer) and not the slower progress we had with the heavy frost and ice over every surface. Whatever reason it was, we weren't going for any summits today and besides, we had no map or description to get to the top disappointing as it was.
So the long long trek back down inevitabley came. First the steep reverse down the icy boulder and scree field, back through the thick forest and undergrowth, crossing back and forth over the rushing stream and we finally made it to the arrow turn off point. With 2 1/2 hours as an up time we knew we still had close to that to go. This is sometimes when things can get a bit boring on the hike, covering a path you already know and it turning into a logging road, never fun, but gives you time to chat and continue to get to know each other and also just enjoy giving your own thoughts some time to surface.
Finally back to the car just as the sun had set, a quick change and we were heading back to Vancouver. A great long day out 20km of hard hiking, with perfect weather, fun company and a story to tell......
Oh and never assume when someone says they have a map they actually do! Get your own.....
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