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Vancouver Island/Sea To Sky, BC
Canada
31 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2008 : 01:26 AM
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The dominant peak of Black Tusk has been an alluring fixture in my Whistler/Vancouver life over the past 6 years. For the first time ever, I hiked all the way to the top last Saturday.
30 KM 10 hour bad idea? Hmmmm .... Maybe for some.
This is probably one of the best hikes I've ever done, but the climb up the chimney and the ridge is certainly not for everyone. I wish I had a climbing helmet for this one, and will bring one next time.
Trail, as reported by ryan.in.yaletown is surprisingly snow free. A lot of people heading up to the lake/meadows area on this sunny Saturday. Even a fair bit of traffic all the way up to the saddle ridge below the summit. Very little traffic beyond the summit.
I started off with a few friends at 11am who were camping at Taylor that night, as Garibaldi Lake was reportedly full. I was working the next day, so I had to be back by nigthfall. I left them around the 3km mark, to make better time enroute to the summit. Including about a one hour stop, I reached the summit at about 3.45pm and stayed until just past 4:00. Relaxed in "safety" on the saddle and stayed there until , oh lets say, 4:21pm.
I began heading down the unmaintained trail, and even 2km past the viewpoint to where I met my friends, who were camping that night, on the trail. I decided it would be a good idea to take them up to the saddle. It was just after 5, and I figured if I planned it right and jogged most of the way back, I could be back at the car by 9 or 10. I wasn't ready to leave the alpine and head back to the city, anyways!
We made it back up to the saddle, had a break, then made good pace back down to Taylor Meadows as the sun was setting. Having exceeded 30km for the day, I was wishing that my tent was at Taylor and I could rest... but it was 8:30pm and I had to push on very quickly.
This trail is such a great one to run down... So level and properly graded compared to some of the trails we're used to on the southwest coast. I jogged down the 7.5km to Rubble Creek in around 55 mins, and was out with some light to spare at 9:25pm.
This was a true test of my endurance, as I did 40km or more in 9.5 hours, with around 2.5-3hrs of breaking in there. When you set your mind to it, it's amazing the pace you can make on some of these trails. I don't think I've ever really hiked a longer hike, or one that's been more demanding. I really want to find others that are like this. That chimney was so fun.
The meadow starting to open up with views of the Tantalus range:
Cool Rocks:
Watch your step enroute to the chimney:
Nearing the Summit:
Summit View:
Summit:
Summit:
Chimney from the top:
For those of you whole love interpretive signs as much as I do:
Look at those little specs on the left of the tusk ... Hard to believe the chimney and ridge are so explosed. Eeek:
Found the girls. Decided to go back up for more:
Mary and I:
Almost back at the saddle:
Meadow sunset:
If I could just live up here, I would:
Barrier glow and moonrise: |
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Smurf Village, BC
Canada
1496 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2008 : 10:31 AM
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Ambitious trip with the late start! You took some nice shots. So, next year you're doing the Knee Knacker race first, I presume?   |
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 Fast hikin, carrot chompin, always grinnin, gear scatterin recipient of the Theta Lake manouver
Burnaby
2039 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2008 : 4:36 PM
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We must of been just behind you on the way back down. I know what you mean about wishing you had a tent to stop at Taylor Meadows.
Good workout = = Great reward
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13446 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2008 : 6:20 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by burnabyhiker
We must of been just behind you on the way back down. I know what you mean about wishing you had a tent to stop at Taylor Meadows.
Good workout = = Great reward
I second that thought. Beautiful views and area, you got some great vista shots.
K |
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White rock, BC
Canada
206 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2008 : 1:09 PM
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quote:
Relaxed in "safety" on the saddle and stayed there until , oh lets say, 4:21pm.
Laughed pretty hard when I read that. |
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Vancouver Island/Sea To Sky, BC
Canada
31 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2008 : 12:50 PM
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Knee knacker, maybe next year... Although with my pace without breaks being 6km/hr , not sure I could place too well on it. I suppose even finishing that race would be a sweet feat to accomplish.
I'm still amazed at the clarity of the pics. Certainly anyone who was hiking on that weekend got some amazing vistas thanks to the wind storm on Thursday clearing the smoke and smog up. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
543 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2008 : 2:18 PM
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| Spectacular photos. |
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Cycling guru, Wig wearing, James Bond wannabe, answers to the call of "Eurobabe"
Langley
Canada
1231 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2008 : 2:36 PM
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Nice Photo's
I should head up there again sometime, it's been 26 years since my last visit to Black Tusk. |
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Black Tusk Summit Daytrip July 12th
