Blog Archives
Garibaldi Provincial Park Camp II
December 8-9, 2012
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April 13-15, 2012: Joffre Lakes Winter Camp V
Well, we had time for one last trip back to the ‘Joff before the winter snow begins slowly disappearing from the Mountains.
This time we had guests from Pemberton joining us: Jason Gadd and his son Ben. They had such a good time that we’ll have to find a way of creating a Pemberton branch of the 5th West Van Mountaineer Scouts!
We also had 19-year-old Sam Lotzkar and his friend David join us. They also had an excellent time winter camping for the first time in their lives. Maybe we’ve got our first Rovers for our group?
Saturday morning we saddled up and snowshoed into the mountains. We ate lunch in the sun at Middle Joffre Lake and then continued on to Upper Joffre Lake.
After five camping trips to the park since November, it was the perfect end of a perfect season to finally put our snowshoe prints into the snow on Upper Joffre Lake below the towering Joffre and Matier Peaks and the stunning Matier Glacier!
We took the opportunity to do a leader investiture ceremony on the lake under the glacier for our new leader, Scouter Alan! What a spot for that ceremony! It was like being in a cathedral with the rocks and ice towering all around us.
The weather began socking in and it starting snowing so…with heavy hearts after only a short visit to the “Joffre Cathedral”…we had to turn around and head back to basecamp.
But you can be sure we’ll be back and next time…let’s camp at the Upper Lake!
With all the Scouts in bed on Saturday night, the adults sat in our carved out snow living room and chatted about the day’s adventures.
At 11pm our conversation was interrupted by a sound from high up in the mountains that crackled like rolling thunder for over 5 seconds…something very large, heavy and hard broke loose up there and crashed down the mountain…this was no mere avalanche…it sounded as if half the glacier had broken off.
A good reminder for us to be ever vigilant out there and to take the mountains seriously every time we go out.
UPDATE – 04/16/12: I just got this wonderful message from Jason Gadd regarding this weekend’s trip up in the mountains:
“HI Jody – Thanks for having us. Ben said that Saturday was one of the best days of his life! It was pretty great.”
March 10-11, 2012: Joffre Lakes Winter Camp IV
Welcome New Scout Leader: Alan Dudley
My old friend Alan Dudley has agreed to come on board as a leader with our Scout group! Alan and I went through Cubs, Scouts and Venturers together back in the stone age. He attended CJ’77 in PEI with my younger brother, J.P.
Alan brings a sensible, conservative approach to the backcountry and will be a considerable asset for our group.
Before agreeing to join us, Alan wanted a private weekend up at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park to get his winter camping “sea legs” back.
While not able to attend regular weekly meetings since he lives in Ladner, Alan will be able to come with us on our weekend outings.
I’m happy to report that Alan had a wonderful time and is looking forward to getting all his registration paperwork done and joining us on some of our adventures this year.
 Alan's first day back at winter camp in...oh, maybe 25 years...let's make this easy for him! |
 Alan's immediately loving being back in the mountains! Scout Simon did an excellent job sculpting out a very comfortable living room and kitchen for us for the weekend. |
 We were supposed to get hammered overnight and instead we just got a light dusting of snow. |
 Everyone loves feeding the WhiskeyJacks! |
 We had time on Sunday for a nice snowshoe hike before having to pack up and head back to the city. It must have snowed at least two feet since we were here just two weeks ago. |
 Welcome back to Scouting Alan! You're going to have the best time with the 5th West Vancouver Mountaineer Scouts. I promise! |
Monthly Night Hike V
A fantastic time was had by all! Can’t wait for next month!
 Clear skies tonight over the north shore mountains and a full moon this week. Sounds like it's time for our monthly night hike! |
 The moon keeping an eye on us as we hike up the mountain to the Upper Warming Hut on Hollyburn. |
 Time to bust out the hot chocolate & the crazy carpets! Sorry for the blurry photo. The night skiing lights of Grouse Mountain are visible on the left & some of the city lights far below us are visible on the right. |
 Okay, does anyone have any tips on how best to ride one of these suckers? |
 And you wonder why they call these things "crazy carpets". |
 Okay, I see that this is going to end badly. |
Deal Alert: MSR 30″ Lightning Ascent Snowshoes
30% Off at Sport Chek/Atmosphere
The bad boys are for our heavier members. 😉
They’ll float a 280 lb. load in the pow. That’s a 230 lb. dude with a 50 lb. pack (or a 50 lb. dude with a 230 lb. pack). 😯
Killer deal for a killer snowshoe!
I saw 10 pairs still available at my local Sport Chek. Check your local outlet if you are in the market for some big dog shoes.
A Bluebird Day At Garibaldi Provincial Park
February 4, 2012
On Saturday we did a snowshoe trip up to the Red Heather shelter in the Diamond Head area of Garibaldi Provincial Park.
We had two Scouts from the 5th West Van (plus a dad and younger sibling) and three Rovers from different PCC & FVC groups that we connected with on their excellent web forum: http://www.roversbc.com/forums/index.php
It was a real pleasure to hike with Andrew, Kim and Mark. Amazingly talented and impressive Rovers.
Once we arrived at the shelter we were immediately greeted by a contingent of Venturers from the 1st Coquitlam Scout group (the benefits of having readily identifiable head gear) that had arrived earlier in the afternoon. After we exchanged email addresses and got to know them (and woofed down some lunch), it was time to head back down the trail for home.
We’ll be back every weekend this month (except the weekend of our two night camp up at Joffre Lake).
If anyone wants to join us, just shout!
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AST-1: Anyone interested?
Are you heading into the backcountry this winter?
Garibaldi Provincial Park (Diamond Head area). January 28, 2012
Canada West Mountain School is offering 2-day AST-1 courses for snowshoers:
“Avalanche safety skills for those who travel in the backcountry on snowshoes.
This course is specifically designed to address the needs of recreational snowshoers who want to ensure they are staying safe in the backcountry.
One theory session is held on the morning of Day-1, followed by a field session in the afternoon.
On Day-2, you will head to a different location for further field training and practice, followed by a final wrap-up theory session.”
The courses are offered at Mount Seymour and cost $210.
If you are interested in joining me on one of these courses, let me know.
The next available dates are: February 4-5 or 18-19 or March 3-4 or 17-18.
If you really need a reason for taking such a course, check out these frightening videos (especially the second one): http://www.wildsnow.com/6640/small-avalanches/
For more information, please check:
http://www.themountainschool.com/avalanche-snowshoe.html
Garibaldi Provincial Park Snowshoe Recon Trip
Well, that was fun…
We did a trip up to Garibaldi Provincial Park and checked out the road conditions up to the trail head. The road up from Brackendale (just north of Squamish) was well packed and mostly sanded. Four-wheel drive was all we needed until we got to a section where a sign indicated that chains were mandatory (steeper and unsanded). Not having chains, we parked at the chain-up area along with quite a few other cars and walked the last 3 kilometres of road to the trail head. Note to self: buy chains before next weekend’s trip!
Once at the trail head (where all the clever ones with chains had parked), we put on our snowshoes and headed up the mountain. The trail was great and plenty of backcountry AT skiers, splitboarders and snowshoers were coming and going – all having a great time .
We didn’t have time to get too high up before having to turn around and head back down the mountain.
Next Saturday we will get up to Red Heather shelter and maybe even Elfin Lake!
BTW…we found that Valhalla Pure Outfitters (right near the main intersection into Squamish) rents
MSR Evo Ascent showshoes for only $10 a day!
Anyone that wants to come next time…just give a holler.
Who wants to do some snowshoe day trips?
If anyone is interested in coming along for some day snowshoe trips into Garibaldi Park, let me know.
We’re looking at going out tomorrow and again on February 4, 11 & 25.
We’ll probably hit the trail into the Diamond Head area tomorrow. Nothing too aggressive, just a recon and conditioning trip.
We’ll probably leave around 9 or 10 am and be back by dinner time at the latest.
For the moment, you will need your own gear.
FYI: Vertical Reality Sports in Squamish rents snowshoes for $13/day
(604-982-8248 – ask for Pat or Donna).
Here’s the latest copy of the trail report for this area:
Scouter Jody
1st Mountaineers 