Hiking -Garibaldi Lake: West Coast Trail Training
Looking back, we probably should have checked the conditions in this region during March when we booked our stay in Garibaldi Park back in early February. We were equipped for the hike, but we did consider changing plans in the days leading up to it due to the avalanche warnings caused by the unseasonably warm weather.
We held out, checked some reviews on AllTrails, picked up some crampons, and drove to the trailhead at Rubble Creek. One of the things I love about living in Vancouver is the ease of access to the wilderness at any level you want. We left at 7:30 and were at the trailhead just after 9:30, with a stop for the obligatory Timmies in Squamish to fuel up the car.
The early ice and snow
Hannah and I plan to do the West Coast Trail in May, so we wanted to get some training hikes in. Over the 5 days on Vancouver Island's West Coast Trail, we aim to complete around 15km a day carrying all our supplies. Our original plan was to mimic the distance and weight we'd be carrying by completing the full 28km Panorama Ridge Trail over 2 days with full packs. We wanted to hike 20km on the first day and do the remaining 8-9km after spending the night at the lake. We filled our packs with all the essentials, and I also packed all my camera gear to increase the weight a bit more, bringing my pack weight to 15kg.
We started at 9:45 with full packs, planning to camp overnight, but we were prepared to turn around and make it a short day if the conditions weren't ideal. The trail began with a long, gradual climb through the woods, leading to the first of many switchbacks. It was peaceful, and with the time of year we chose to hit these trails, it was very empty. We only ran into a couple of families on this first section, and all we could hear was the rushing meltwater flowing beside us.
The switchbacks just kept coming, and every time you thought you were done, a few more were thrown at you. Once we reached the 4-5km mark, the snow and ice started to build up on the trail, so we pulled out our crampons, which would stay on for the rest of the hike. They really gave us renewed confidence on the icy trail. At the split for Taylor Meadows Campsite, we met some large groups who all seemed to be heading straight for Garibaldi Lake. Hannah and I veered left into the snowy woodland and made our way to our first rest stop at Taylor Meadows Campsite. This was where we first realized how deep the snow was.
We ducked into the cabin to grab some food on the benches and refuel for the upcoming kilometers. We were still undecided about Panorama Ridge and planned to make the call when we reached the split for Garibaldi Lake.
The next couple of kilometers after leaving Taylor Meadows were tough. The snow became very deep, and we followed the tracks of cross-country skiers and snowshoers with Black Tusk Mountain looming above us. Finally, at the 10km mark with 1200 meters of elevation gain, we had to make a decision. With the snow only getting deeper, we opted to head straight for Garibaldi Lake once we found the trail junction.
Deep Snow at the Trail Junction
Finding the trail junction was a feat in itself. We spoke to some people resting and found it was a couple of feet under the fresh snow that had fallen overnight. We had to make a new trail down to Garibaldi Lake through the woodland, link up with the Garibaldi Lake trail, and cross to the lake campground. At this point, we were pretty much post-holing following the trail set by a guy about 20 minutes before us, from what we learned.
It was an experience, but we made it to Garibaldi Lake, which was frozen over. This was beautiful. The mountains surrounded the lake, and with no one around, this was the quietest place I had ever been. You could see the trails from people who had already made their way across the lake to the Garibaldi Neve Traverse (Another time perhaps). At this point, we were pretty hungry but still had plenty of miles left in our legs.
We pushed through the snow to the cabin at the campgrounds and devoured our snacks and drinks. At this point, we decided against camping given the extra snowfall that had happened, and started the 9km trail back to Rubble Creek. This section of the hike was beautiful. The trails were easy-going after the morning we had, and the views through the trees of Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi Lake were great.
The peak for me was reaching Barrier Viewpoint, just past Barrier Lake, which offered a truly amazing view down the valley. This coincided with the start of Golden Hour. The sun lit up the valley and illuminated the cliffs opposite. I was like a child at this point, awestruck by the view. It really highlighted some of the reasons I came to Canada to begin with.
We finished the 21.8km hike back to the car with a total elevation gain of 1195 meters, most of which was conquered in the first 10 kilometers. It was a tough test for some of the new gear we had purchased for our upcoming Vancouver Island adventures. I definitely improved my weight distribution/organisation in my new Osprey Exos 58, which was a game-changer. Any aches and pains I had the following days were from the hike itself, not the weight I was carrying.
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