Hey fellow hikers, let’s talk about something important: please don’t defecate along the side of the road or trail. It’s not just gross—it’s a serious health risk for everyone. Human waste can carry pathogens like bacteria (e.g., E. coli and Salmonella), viruses (like norovirus or hepatitis A), and parasites (such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium) that spread through contact or contaminated water sources. When feces aren’t properly buried or packed out, rainwater can wash them into streams, rivers, or groundwater, leading to waterborne illnesses that affect hikers, wildlife, and even downstream communities.

​

Gorgeous conditions during one of my Labour Day long weekend hikes. My group of 3 advanced hikers, myself included, made it to the upper Chipmunk Creek FSR parking lot just before 9am and were rewarded for our efforts with these stunning views just before noon.

A few things to note if you want to hike Cheam or Lady Peak:

•have a capable vehicle with AWD or 4x4 and some ground clearance. The FSR isn’t the most challenging but it is steep and has some deep ruts

•there were countless annoying flies at the peak so being bug spray

•the parking lot fills up quick on the weekends so being bug spray sure to arrive early (before 9am)

I'm curious if anyone has done Thunder Lake to the Skyline II trail? It seems such a natural trail to do (or build) as it would provide a really nice loop from the Skyline trail around Mowich camp back past all the lakes.

So, you'd take the Skyline II trail one way and then switchbacks down to Thunder Lake and the lake route back the other after a night at Mowich.

I didn't have time to investigate on my August trip, but wondering if there are any goat trails or unofficial trails that take that route?

The green line is a potential route I was wondering about. the bottom connects to the Manning Thunder Lake trail and the top is close to Lone Goat on Skyline II.

(I'll put a tldr at the end)

hey guys, wanted to know some good 4th class scrambling somewhere in greater Vancouver area (squamish-maple ridge). preferably something lower down so I can practice at a higher energy level.

Went for a day trip on Robie Reid last week and bailed after the chimney. I'm pretty experienced at indoor climbing (v6-7 climber), but in hindsight ive realized that the mindset it out me in was quite counterproductive for scrambling. Robie Reid didn't really have any good holds. it was just a 70° slopey no fall zone. I think I know how to do that kind of stuff after having given it a lot of thought and was wondering if anyone has good suggestions in the area that I could use to practice more. I've already done the west lion which felt a LOT easier. Please let me know if you're planning to do anything that you suggest in the near future if you'd be willing to let me join you

tldr: bailed on Robie Reid and need some good similar difficulty scrambles to practice

Mt Garibaldi summit about a month ago that I never got around to posting.

Day 1 we hiked up-to Brohm Ridge after a questionable FSR for a SUV. Hiked through the clouds and bivyed right below the foot of the glacier.

Day 2 Slept about 5 hours before leaving for the summit around 3:00am. After packing up, cooking and eating, we roped up and began the glacier travel. Start of glacier (1-200m) was a heavy rockfall zone (heard rocks tumbling all night and through the day) so we moved quick. crevasses were wide open except one which we identified and avoided. Upon reaching the headwall, i grabbed all the pro and led up as we simul climbed it due to relatively easy terrain, and despite being just 6am by the time we reached it snow was softening so we moved quick before it got softer. Reached the summit and began descending quick. We decided to make a natural anchor around a large boulder and rappel down the steep upper section due to super soft snow before downclimbing the rest. Roped back in for glacier travel, descended quick and made it back to the car. We were extremely lucky weather wise picking a window that should have been cloudy yet seemed to clear up just for our climb.

We are both pretty physically fit so we did it relatively quick, requires glacier navigation, crevasse rescue skills, and a tiny bit of ropework.

pictures in order, 1. taking a break pre headwall, 2. photo from glacier at sunrise, 3. traversing brohm ridge, 4. Looking up at summit from glacier, 5. looking up at summit from bivy, 6. photo from summit

Hi everyone! I’m visiting Vancouver just for the weekend and hoping to fit in a couple of hikes despite the smoke. Do you have any recommendations for trails where the views are still worth it? I know visibility won’t be perfect, but I’d love to get out and see as much as I can. Thanks!

I am hoping to hike wedgemount lake tomorrow but I’m concerned about the smoke. Would you guys recommend it?

We have an overnight reservation at Elfin Lakes Shelter for 6 people for 2 nights. We all want to get there at different times so we are wanting to go in 3 cars. Will this be an issue to have 3 cars get through the checkpoint at the top with the same reservation or are they only focused on the number of people?

Secondly, one member is only staying for 1 night and our reservation is for 2 so one person is hiking down after night 1 and another friend is coming up for night 2. Will the second person have any issues being allowed up?

Really my question is, do they just check you have a reservation and let you through or do they record that you have checked in with the appropriate amount of people?

And if worse case scenario they don't allow some of us up, can we park in the parking lot a couple of kilometers down and hike/bike up past the checkpoint?

First time seeing it so wanted to confirm. Looks similar to some pictures I can find online, but also aware it can be mistaken - and it kinda doesn’t look big enough.

Taken on the Grouse Backside, heading from the Peak down to the Alpine Trail.

Hello, has anyone recently gone to Elfin Lakes or any spot in the area? A bit concerned with the higher smoke intensity of the last day, since friends and I have a backpacking trip this weekend, hopefully the AQHI index will be lower

Hey!

I'm planning on doing the Saltery Bay loop this weekend on Sunshine Coast and staying in the huts. Just wondering if anyone has experience with how busy its been lately?

Since the huts and first come first serve, what happens if its already taken when we get there? Should I bring a tent in case?

Thanks!

Just a friendly reminder that going up the Sea to Sky Highway will be a sub ideal choice for Saturday due to the Gran Fondo.

https://www.rbcgranfondo.com/event-resources/whistler/traffic-advisories

I almost forgot about it while planning for the weekend…

Hi Everyone,

I’m from the UK in Vancouver for the first time and have bought a bus ticket with the intention of hiking whistler mountain & the high note trail tomorrow. After reading some of the news stories about the smoke in the region is it still safe to do this? Will the views be pretty terrible as a result of the smoke?

Will be really disappointed if I can’t make it. Any advice or maybe alternatives would be much appreciated (no car, public transport only)

This one has been on my bucket list for a long time living in the area. My goal this summer was to complete this one, Brunswick and panorama ridge, so I’m glad I got this one in to complete the trio. Definitely the toughest hike I have done but well worth it. The terrain is so technical for a large portion of the hike that you move very slowly, even coming down. It took us 5 hours up; we could have been much faster but we met up with a guy who needed help with the trail and then water filtered. We stuck with him for the final scramble to the summit after the shelter to be safe. The scramble was way easier than I expected. There was never a part where I felt unsafe or exposed to a fall. Staying on trail was fairly easy for this part but having AllTrails pro was nice for an offline map. There are a lot of orange markers or ribbons to keep you on track but you can choose your own way up for a lot of it. There is a nice cold creek at the emergency shelter near the summit. No water between alder flats and the shelter creek. We took the East canyon route and connected via the bridge rather than the traditional west canyon way. I think the length is the same but the terrain is supposed better on the east canyon which was nice for the last 4km when we were exhausted. I haven’t been on the west canyon trail so I can’t compare. Coming down from the summit was honestly worse than the ascent because of the terrain and how frustrating it is moving at snail pace down rocks. You will be in the sun for a long time on this hike. Bugs were non existent. Overall, this was a fantastic hike but not for everyone

I have hiked Cheam Peak in 2023 and I loved it. This year I’m going to do it again this time I’m wondering if doing overnight camping at Cheam peak is allowed, which I highly doubt. And in case it’s allowed is it safe to do overnight camping there?

Wife and I will be visiting Vancouver next week and would like to spend one day hiking. We’re staying at the Pinnacle Harbourfront and won’t have a car. I’ve done some research and was considering either Lynn Canyon, Quarry Rock or Grouse Mountain but would be open to other suggestions. Thoughts?

Hi everyone,

Would hiking Saturday be clear? Obviously Friday is ideal but not sure if that is possible for us but debating if we should make it work or do you think we will have a clear view on Saturday?

Hi, I’m 22/f from Germany and I am looking for a hiking buddy (or hiking group) during my trip to Vancouver. 🏔️ Show me your favourite hike in the area? Try a trail together you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t so far? 💫 Looking forward to exploring some beautiful places and meeting friendly new people 🥰

I’ll be in the city from September 10th (Wednesday) till September 12th (Friday).

Down for moderate hikes (technically preferably rather easy; 4-6 h max; altitude difference up around 600 m)

I was lucky enough to secure a booking for Helm Creek campground for Saturday night (6 september) and would love to join fellow hikers on the trail (happy to tag along if you're only there for the day, whether it is saturday or sunday). I moved to BC earlier this year and can't get enough of the hikes around here!

I'd love to do the one-way route (or alternatively starting/finishing from one point, either Lake Cheakamus or Rubble Creek) but it proves challenging all by myself so if anyone is planning any of those trips and would be happy to have a +1 in their group, I'd love to share that journey with you

- Lake Cheakamus > Helm Creek > Panorama Ridge > Helm Creek (night) > Garibaldi Lake > Rubble Creek

- Lake Cheakamus > Helm Creek > Panorama Ridge > Helm Creek (night) > Lake Cheakamus

- Rubble Creek > Helm Creek > Panorama Ridge > Helm Creek (night) > Rubble Creek

I'm aware of the distance and difficulty of the trail, and this definitely won't be my first overnight trip (for context I've done 5040 Peak, Wedgemount lake, Bedwell/Cream lakes) and I'm happy to adapt my pace to the group.

Note: I was initially planning to rent a car (I don't have one yet ut have a BC license) but thought I'd ask around before doing so and be all by myself. Obviously I'll contribute to any cost involved for the trip up there. I've got all my camping/hiking gear otherwise. Any tips or recommendations I haven't thought of is also welcome, cheers!

On August 31 I lost a pair of Smith Parallel Max Sunglasses while hiking either up the Skyline trail or down the LGMH trail. Small reward offered if returned to me. Thx.

Does anyone know why the Garibaldi fire team was on the Panorama ridge trail Aug 31st? We noticed them going up as we were on our way back to the parking lot

Hello all. I'm looking to do the armchair traverse this coming Sunday. To those who did it:

How long did it take you? -I'm assuming a car to car time of 15 hours

Did you use any maps? I can't find the traverse route on all trails. My plan is to download the routes to cook and weart, and figure out the traverse part on my own.

How would you compare the difficulty of climbing compared to West Lion, Sky Pilot and Needle-Markhor Traverse?

Thanks to any and all answers.

Yesterday (Sunday August 31), my friend and I hiked High Note Trail in Whistler. A little ways past Symphony Lake, we came across an older couple, who we had seen earlier on the trail. The man was sitting down on a large rock, and his wife was sitting in his lap, resting against him. Something seemed off and we asked if they were OK. They said they were fine, just resting, that the woman had felt faint and "blacked out".

At first they insisted they were fine and just needed to rest before completing the hike, but there was still an hour or so to go and the trail wasn't easy, and the woman did not look fine -- she was very pale. She then said that she couldn't see, everything was black.

My friend called emergency services, but unfortunately we could not remain with them as we needed to get back down to Whistler Village to catch our bus back to Vancouver. We felt awful for not being able to stay. But at least emergency services came fairly quickly -- they called my friend back.

I really hope the woman was OK -- it seemed like a pretty serious situation.

Leaving Vancouver airport tommorrow, have some unused bear spray, wondering if anyone's around who wants it, or what to do with it if not. Thanks in advance!