Monthly Archives: October 2015

Lynn Peak

 

This is my second post for a hike in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. The first was for a hike to Norvan Falls. Lynn Peak is a much different hike than the Norvan Falls hike. The Lynn Peak hike is uphill pretty much all the way – it’s more of a workout. I found the trail well marked with some bits quite rocky, but overall the trail was very manageable. Compared to the nearby Grouse Grind, this trail is much easier and much less crowded. The trail offers the occasional flat area to catch your breath. Once at the top, there is a large rock bluff at which to have a snack and take in the views looking south. Today, it was overcast, but Mt. Baker was still visible !

NOTE: The access road for vehicles is now closed indefinitely. You will have to hike park on the street somewhere and hike into the park.

Here are the stats starting from the second parking lot…

Distance: 9.1 km (return)
Time: 3 hours moving time
Low point: 192 m
High point: 942 m
Elevation gain: 750 m
Trailhead: 49° 21’ 40” by  123° 01’ 41.5” (Google Map)

Here is the route…

Photos…

Great view from the top…
View 1

Another view…
View 2

View of Mt. Baker…
View of Mt. Baker



Sun fighting through the trees…
Sun fighting through trees

Mushrooms…
Mushrooms

Notch in blow down…
Notch in blow down



Rocky section…
Rocky trail

Steam on dead tree…
Steam on blow down

Trail pic…
Trail 2

Trail pic…
Trail

Wooden stumps at a sometimes swampy section…
Wooden Stumps on trail

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Tunnel Bluffs

 

This hike is also known as Tunnel Point.

This hike starts just north of Lions Bay, about 15 mins north of Horseshoe Bay. For this hike, you will park in a parking lot on the ocean side of the highway (HERE). If coming from Vancouver, you cannot directly access this parking lot; however, after another 1.7 km there is a gravel pull-out alongside of the highway, where you can safely turnaround. (If you miss this pull-out, there is a proper turn-around location 2 km further. Once you’re back at the parking lot, you must make your way across the highway (be careful) and look for the big yellow highway sign that reads “Rockfall Hazard Area – No Stopping” – This sign is right by the trailhead. The hike starts uphill immediately and continues so until about the 600 m elevation mark – at this point you travel on an old logging road until you reach the end. On the way up, there are 3 viewpoints, but none are near as good to what you’ll see at the end. The trail is in good shape and is not technical – there are a couple of ropes, but they aren’t really needed. There is one small creek (at 640 m) and a few monster trees. The view from the bluff is quite spectacular – you see Howe Sound, Bowen Island, Gambier Island and Anvil Island, among others.

NOTE: Cars have been towed from the parking lot for illegal parking. If you see a bunch of cars parked on the side of the entrance or exit driveway, don’t think that’s ok – there is a good possibility you’ll be towed.

Distance: 7.3 km (return)
Time: 3-5 hours
Low point: 64 m
High point: 708 m
Elevation gain: 644 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 850 m
Trailhead: 49° 29’ 5.3” by  123° 14’ 52.1” (Google Map)

The route…

The view from the top bluff…
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A short video from the bluff…

View from first viewpoint (100 m elevation)…
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Steel wire left over from old logging days…
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Old wooden barrel…
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Another relic left over from the logging days…
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The only stream on the trail…
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The old logging road…
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Nice notch step cut in tree…
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The trail was well marked…
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Some Arbutus trees on route…
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Trail pic…
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Trailhead…
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★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Elfin Lakes

 

Today was a gorgeous early Autumn day for a hike.  Elfin Lakes is in Garibaldi Provincial Park, located just north of the town of Squamish.  The first 6 km of the hike are uphill, 4.5 km of which are on a forest service road.  There is a small section where the trail is more rugged and muddy, but then it starts again as a wide established trail. As you continue, the views get spectacular; you see Mount Garibaldi and the surrounding peaks.  At the Elfin Lakes campsite (also known as the Diamond Head Area), there are two lakes, one for drinking water and one for swimming; there is also a ranger’s hut, a camper’s hut, a small dining building, tent pads and picnic tables. We made it to the lakes in 2 hours 20 mins, but didn’t have any prior plans for additional exploration, so we headed towards Opal Cone, which is about 6.5 km from the lakes. After crossing the new bridge over Ring Creek, the valley to Opal Cone is mostly a rugged rock landscape and today it was quite warm with the sun beating down. We ended up about 1.5 km and 300 m elevation short of Opal Cone – we had to turn back due to the early sunset – So close !!! Will have to plan this next year !

Here are the stats for just Elfin Lakes…

Distance: 20 km (return)
Time: 5 hours
Low point: 979 m
High point: 1592 m
Elevation gain: 613 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 750 m
Trailhead: 49° 45’ 0.6” by  123° 03’ 12.64” (Google Map)

Stats for our trip today…

Distance: 29.4 km (return)
Time: 8 hours
Low point: 979 m
High point: 1592 m
Elevation gain: 613 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 1500 m

The route (only to Elfin Lakes)…

Elfin Lakes…

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Elfin Lakes…

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Elfin Lakes Hut…

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View from near the high point on the trail…

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New bridge over glacial stream…

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Trail up to Opal Cone…

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Small glacier in the distance…

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Random trail pic…

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Amanita Mushroom…

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A rabbit we saw…

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View coming up forest service road…

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★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★