Hat Mountain

Minor summit north of Mt Brunswick. Seldom visited.

Statistics

Directions

Start from the BC Highways lookout 3.2 km north of Lions Bay. Tunnel Bluffs Trail begins at the north end of the parking lot.

Details

Follow the Tunnel Bluff Trail to its intersection with the Hat Trail near Yahoo Creek at 700m. Take the Hat Mtn fork (right) to the end of the logging roads at 1100 m. A trail leads through a scree slope and continues though a rocky (but non-technical) pass in the very long cliff band at 1200m. The trail continues to the top of a prominent volcanic outcrop at 1250m on the west ridge. At the south end of the outcrop is a second scree slope; ascend it and continue south to end-run the small cliff band. Turn north and follow the obvious hanging valley all the way to its north end then turn east and follow a series of game trails through easy sub-alpine glades. At 1450m a yellow sign indicates the North ridge / South ridge junction. The entire trail is marked with marked with yellow trail markers to the junction at 1450m.

North ridge:

The North ridge is a short hike and can be followed to Deeks lake via Wettin Peak. From the junction at 1450m, cross the scree bowl to the north (stay high). Continue another 10m beyond the edge of the scree field to a steep but broad gully. In summer, ascend gully. At its top, turn left and follow easy meadows to top of ridge. In winter the gully is a likely avalanche path. Instead, continue past it another 50m to short 45 degree slopes that bypass the gully. Beware of huge cliffs dropping into Logger Creek further to the north. Hat Peak can be reached from the North Ridge.

South Ridge: (scrambling):

From the junction at 1450m, head about 200m SE to a shallow break in the West Ridge (flagged). Traverse south to a large scree field. Cross it, descending slightly (flagged). Continue about 50m to a 2nd scree field and join up with the old Hat trail. Follow the old trail (flagged and painted rocks) to the summit rock face. Traverse under the rock face to the south side of the peak and join the Hat/Brunswick trail.

Notes:

a) Motorcycles and ATVs are not permitted on the Hat Mtn trails.

b) The Hat trail can also be reached from Lions Bay. Starting from the watershed parking lot, hike up the Lions Trail, turn left onto the Mt Brunswick trail, cross Magnesia Creek, and turn left onto the Hat Trail. All junctions are signed.

c) Hat Peak can be reached from Mt Brunswick. Follow the trail as for Brunswick Mountain until you reach the Howe Sound Trail intersection at about 1500m. Take the left fork and follow the Howe Sound Trail north to Hat Pass. Turn north at Hat Pass and follow the divide (flagged) over top of the fore peak to the summit of Hat Peak.

d) There is an old trail that begins at 1050 m and ascends straight up the fall line. It is brutally steep and difficult to follow. Apart from historical reasons, it has little to recommend it.

e) The traverse from Hat Peak to the Mt Brunswick trail via Hat Pass is recommended but adds about two hours to the trip.

f) TR from October, 2009 with some GPS info on the West Ridge route:

http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33032

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Google map (copy and paste URL into your browser):

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106954972148932384440.000455b341ee42822d94f&t=h&z=15

Selected GPS coordinates:

Hat / Tunnel Bluff junction.........(elev=650 m).........10U-0483436.........UTM-5481496

Hat / Cabin trail junction...........(elev=956 m).........10U-0484060.........UTM-5482017

Cabin.......................................(elev=1041 m).........10U-0484392.........UTM-5481743

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

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