Hello from Vancouver BC!

[NatureNerd]

Hey everyone! I'm from BC and love hiking(clearly, since I'm here!). I'm gearing up for the spring/summer hiking/camping season and figured it was as good a time as any to get to know some fellow Nature Nerds! Looking forward to learning from you all and hopefully sharing some of my knowledge as well. =)

[John B]

Welcome,

Have done many summer trips to your country (backpacking)!

[NatureNerd]

On 3/1/2016 at 3:00 PM, John B said:

Welcome,

Have done many summer trips to your country (backpacking)!

Oh yeah? I'm sure lots of people here have, it is a very popular place haha Where about have you visited?

[John B]

NatureNerd,

Many places on the Banff/Jasper corridor:  climbed Mt Temple, up to a viewpoint of N & South Twin/Mt Alberta, in to Lake O'Hara several times, Wooly Shoulder, packed in to Berg Lake/Mt Robson 4 times (most recent was last August),  Also Tonquin valley (twice, repeated this past August).  Lots of other day hikes, as I have been up there (I think) 7 times over the past 25 years.  Will be returning this coming August, plan to return to Assiniboine (as it's been 20 years since I have been there), also a new spot--Skoki Valley.  So much to explore, so little time! Although I just retired on 2/1/16, so lots more time now.

John

[NatureNerd]

29 minutes ago, John B said:

NatureNerd,

Many places on the Banff/Jasper corridor:  climbed Mt Temple, up to a viewpoint of N & South Twin/Mt Alberta, in to Lake O'Hara several times, Wooly Shoulder, packed in to Berg Lake/Mt Robson 4 times (most recent was last August),  Also Tonquin valley (twice, repeated this past August).  Lots of other day hikes, as I have been up there (I think) 7 times over the past 25 years.  Will be returning this coming August, plan to return to Assiniboine (as it's been 20 years since I have been there), also a new spot--Skoki Valley.  So much to explore, so little time! Although I just retired on 2/1/16, so lots more time now.

John

That is a lot! haha I moved here about 3 years ago, haven't been able to explore too much because we don't have a car. But we get out to as many day hikes as we can reach and I go camping with some friends every year. I really want to explore more because there is truly and overwhelming number of places to see here. If I'm being honest, BC is the best Canada has to offer!

[John B]

yes, there are areas of central and coastal BC that I have yet to explore.  Have seen some pictures from some friends who were up there two years ago that certainly got my attention and interest.

[seano]

Non-helicopter access to the Coast Range north of Squamish can be a huge pain, since it is often by logging roads and climbers' trails, and those tend to change.  The guys at the mountaineering shop in Squamish will probably have the latest info.  It's easiest to stick to the provincial parks like Garibaldi and Cheakamus Lake. There was a nice trail up Sigurd Creek in the northern Tantalus Range last summer, which I believe continues all the way to Sigurd Peak's summit, which should have a nice view.  Nearby Ossa Peak is also non-technical (a tiny bit of class 3-4) and glacier-free.  Farther south, there is some nice hiking in the Cheam Peaks via Airplane Creek.  South of Chilliwack Lake, there's a decent trail up Depot Creek into the States, though even the easiest peak requires a bit of glacier travel and route-finding.  Or you can head down across the border to North Cascades National Park, which has easier access and less logging.

Edited March 6, 2016 by seano

[NatureNerd]

6 hours ago, seano said:

Non-helicopter access to the Coast Range north of Squamish can be a huge pain, since it is often by logging roads and climbers' trails, and those tend to change.  The guys at the mountaineering shop in Squamish will probably have the latest info.  It's easiest to stick to the provincial parks like Garibaldi and Cheakamus Lake. There was a nice trail up Sigurd Creek in the northern Tantalus Range last summer, which I believe continues all the way to Sigurd Peak's summit, which should have a nice view.  Nearby Ossa Peak is also non-technical (a tiny bit of class 3-4) and glacier-free.  Farther south, there is some nice hiking in the Cheam Peaks via Airplane Creek.  South of Chilliwack Lake, there's a decent trail up Depot Creek into the States, though even the easiest peak requires a bit of glacier travel and route-finding.  Or you can head down across the border to North Cascades National Park, which has easier access and less logging.

Thanks for this super informative post. I'm a real newbie with this stuff, so its great to have any extra info. 

[John B]

Seano,

Thanks for the detailed info.  I would second your vote for North Cascades NP as a good option, also.  I was up there last May for an attempt on Mt Shuksan, and plan to return just to do some backpacking.