Brandywine Mountain

On Monday I hiked Brandywine Mountain with Shizuka. It is located West of Whistler, the trailhead is about 2 hours drive North of Vancouver.

This map is super-approximate

From the lower parking area we hiked up to the meadows.

Meadows were beautiful.

Then we scrambled up some rocky areas.

Where's Waldo?

We saw this white bird.

Is it a grouse?

Finally we reached the summit!

We signed the registry at the top.

August Jacob Hotspring

On Sunday I visited August Jacob Hotsprings with Ivan. He had been one time before. It was my first visit. I won't give details on the location, only that is a few hours drive North of Vancouver and a few hours bushwack.

The first couple kms are along a logging road.

Active logging area

Then a couple hours of bushwack.

Ivan leading the way

Then we traveled along the creek.

We were surprised to find that someone had used a bit of concrete to make a soaking pool.

Big enough for two people and nice warm temperature

Tricouni Peak

Last Thursday George and I hiked Tricouni Peak near Squamish.

It took about 2 hours to find the trailhead. There's some new logging roads in this area that make directions confusing. The first 45min-1 hour of the trail was quite muddy. 

There go my new shoes!

After the marshy part the views really opened up!

Tricouni is the pointy peak in the distance

Three glacier blue lakes were highlights of the day!

Upper lake with Tricouni in background

Scramble near the top wasn't too difficult

What! Another blue lake on the other side!

Ah one more photo on the way down.

Well done George!

And.... one more from second lake

A few notes:

-Great day hike, highly recommended. The lakes would make nice camping.

-Trailhead is super tricky to find. A new logging road had covered up the entrance to the road that leads to the trailhead.

Mamquam Lake via Elfin Lakes

On Monday I drove to Squamish and  hiked from Garibaldi Diamond Head parking lot to the new campsite at Rampart Ponds. Tuesday morning I hiked the final 1.5km to Mamquam Lake and then headed back with a quick visit to Opal Cone.

Map courtesy of BC parks

It's permitted to take a bike as far as Elfin Lakes. I chose not to because I was worried about where to lock it up. Of course this portion of the trail was quite busy.

Elfin Lakes pretty as always

The trail to Mamquam Lake is in great shape! Bridges over both river crossings and lots of nice scenery!

My Garibaldi Park map shows Pyramid Mountain as a "scramble" and not a "climb". I was hoping to summit this mountain. The closer I got the more difficult it appeared to be, 

Pyramid Mountain will have to wait until my next visit to the area

The new campground at Rampart Ponds was nice. In the morning I visited Mamquam Lake.

Mamquam Lake

On the way back I visited the old volcano known as Opal Cone.

A touch on snow in the centre of the cone.

I met a friendly Czech hiker named Michal. He joined me for the rest of the way back.

-All together an enjoyable trip. Travel time was about 5 hours to Rampart Ponds and about 6 hours return (with a stop at Opal Cone and a lunch at Elfin). It's a smooth trail with lots of elevation gain and loss.

-I'm VERY interested in getting up Pyramid Mountain. If you have any info on it please let me know!

-BC Parks Garibaldi Map is available here