EXPEDITION::Coast Mountain Traverse

A nine-day backpacking and mountaineering expedition into the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. This traverse begins at the headwaters of Hope Creek, and ventures over 12 high mountain cols, past 9 granite peaks and countless meadows, tarns and hanging lakes. Peaks such as Mt. Beaujolais, Mystery Pk, Tenquille Mountain, Copper Mound, Mt. Barbour, and Sun God Peak may be on the intinerary.

To participate in this trip you must be in good physical condition and be prepared to hike cross-country over rugged alpine terrain including talus, scree and snow.

The rewards are great: this is an opportunity for a rare tour through some of the most pristine and seldom-visited mountain wilderness of British Columbia's Lower Mainland.

Location
Coast Mountains of British Columbia, close to Pemberton (30 mins north of Whistler, 2 hrs north of Vancouver).

Dates
Late June until October.

Itinerary
(Subject to change.)

Pre-trip: Co-ordinate equipment and food; discuss itinerary and objectives by telephone and/or email.

Day 1 - Meet at the Pony Espresso coffee shop in Pemberton at 7:00 am. Depart for the trailhead (Hope Creek). Approx driving time: 2 hours. Hike up to Glacier Bay (4 hours) and set up camp above treeline. 9 km, easy hiking.

Day 2 - Hike over the pocket glacier above Glacier Bay and over two spectacular alpine passes, dropping down in front of Mt. Beaujolais' striking North Face to camp in Beau Basin. 4 km, rugged hiking over glaciers and high passes.

Day 3 - Hike up over Mt. Beaujolais' south shoulder (with a possible scramble up Mt. Beaujolais en route) and drop into Mystery Basin to set up camp by the lake at 6500 feet among the krumholz and granite boulders. 3 km, rugged hiking over glaciers and high passes, peak scramble.

Day 4 - Possible scramble up Mt. Mystery (via the S ridge) followed by a hike to Chipmunk Basin. 9 km, cross-country hiking through mostly open bush.

Day 5 - Possible hike up Chipmunk Pk followed by a high pass and descent into the hanging Opal Lake (at Chipmunk/Tenquille Pass). From here, depending on the time of day, we may decide to continue along Finch Ridge and down into Tenquille Lake. 4-8 km rugged alpine hiking.

Day 6 - Hike to Barbour Basin, either via the high level traverse (summitting Copper Mound, Mt. McLeod, and Unnamed en route) or vie the scenic Tenquille Creek trail. Barbour Basin is both beautiful and historic: the vast lush meadows filled with valerian, anemone, and glacier lilies were once home to old silver prospectors, and evidence of their old camps can be found with a little hunting. The vista is framed by Finch Ridge and Grizzly Pass to the north, across the headwaters of Tenquille Creek. 6-8 km either rugged alpine hiking and scrambling (high level traverse) or gentle below treeline hiking along Tenquille Lake and Creek along old horse trails.

Day 7 - From Barbour Basin we have the opportunity to climb Mt. Barbour. From the top of this majestic easy peak we have a panoramic view of the Pemberton Valley (Lillooet River), Sun God Mountain, and--far to the north--Mt Mystery! We've come a long ways already--over 40 kilometers of mainly off-trail hiking. We're in a beautiful spot to spend an second night, soaking in the beauty and solitude.

Day 8 - Hike to Cerulean Lake. This section of the trip takes us through incredibly complex glaciated moraine features, ridges and bowls and brings us to a camp high above Cerulean Lake -- as its name implies, Cerulean Lake is a sublime shade of blue and unmatched in beauty, nestled below the grand, fractured North Face of Sun God Mountain.. 8 km rugged off-trail hiking.

Day 9 - Back down to the trailhead near the junction of Birkenhead River and Tenquille Creek. This final 3 km push through ancient old growth forest is marred by the fact that we will emerge in the midst of a huge clear-cut in the old 1970s style--a vast scar that nevertheless does offer some beauty and delight: hordes of wild berries and the chance to see feeding grizzly bears. We also have the loggers to thank for a rough bush road that will take us home.

Cost
$1550 per person for groups sizes of 2-5. If you are an individual we may be able to place you with another individual or group.

What you provide
Your own equipment, food, and insurance (accident, travel, medical, trip cancellation).