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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 09:10 AM
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Photoset:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/sets/72157629765759143/
Up the unplowed road, up the Rubble Creek switchbacks to Garibaldi Lake, across to Sentinel Bay , up to the Glaciology Huts and return.
Elevation Profile:
Google Earth birdseye:
Google Earth 3d:
This feels good - I've been wanting to do this one for a long while now. On perhaps my 4th attempt, I made it. At 37km on the nose, a personal best snowshoe distance.
Google Earth 3d - Road and Rubble switchbacks:
Intentionally I got a late start - wanted to give time for people coming off the Neve to break a trail for me across the Lake. Being a long weekend it was very busy - had to park on the road about half way from the highway to the power plant turnoff. No real change in the road since I was there 2 weeks ago - still 3-4' on the road past the private Buddhist road. Somewhat of a decent track, but people are also walking every which way. In the morning it's hard and crusty, but I put my snowshoes on from the get go to prevent the risk of postholing.
A number of other people starting off around the same time, and I slowly reeled them in as I traveled higher. Unlike last time, there are now bare patches along the trail from the km 0-1 mark. Probably about 5 in total, 2 of which are of decent length. If I wasn't so lazy, I should have taken my snowshoes off and on for them.
A nice trodden trail up the switchbacks to the Taylor turnoff. FYI, a nice trodden trail heading up towards Taylor as well.
Google Earth 3d - winter route:
The trail took a new (for me) route for me after Barrier Lake. Traditionally, the trail follows climbers right of Barrier Lake, follows the stream between Barrier-Lesser Garibaldi, and then either heads to the Lesser Garibaldi inlet (and a nasty uphill thrash from there to the summer trail), or bails out of Lesser Garibaldi somewhere sooner to gain the trail. This time, the track entered the forest immediately at the inlet of Barrier Lake - no track whatsoever on the stream from there to Lesser Garibaldi, and no tracks on Lesser Garibaldi itself.
I found this to be my new preferred route. It was a nice gentle stroll through the trees paralleling the creek between Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi. The track flanked around the side of Lesser Garibaldi and deposited you on the lower reaches of Taylor Creek, then climbed the creek to the summer trail, and regained the summer trail immediately following the bridge over the creek (pretty much entirely buried and unrecognizable if you didn't know it was there).
From there, the track followed the summer trail until the usual place where the winter trail leaves and descends to the Garibaldi outlet stream and follows that for 50m before arriving at Garibaldi itself.
The whole route the track had been excellent and I didn't have to break trail at all. At the lake I was still feeling energetic and the legs weren't heavy at all, so I knew today was the day I would make it across to Sentinel.
Google Earth 3d - Garibaldi Lake crossing:
Helpful directions to those new to the area:
There were no tracks making a b-line for Sentinel Bay - just one heading straight across to Sphinx. I figured there would be a trail peeling off from that one a ways into the lake, so set off:
A pair of snowshoers had started off from the other end of the campground and had angled onto the Sphinx track. Catching up to them, I recognized Andie McDowell Wilderness Seeker and chatted briefly. Ironically, the last time I ran into her we were both crossing Garibaldi Lake as well (http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34545).
About 4.5km into the Lake, the views to Sentinel Bay opened up nicely:
I was dismayed that I had not come across any tracks heading out to Sentinel Bay. I could see a group of 5 skiers who, having come off the Neve, were making their way across the Lake but hugging the shoreline. Figuring I'd cut my losses (and having eyeballed my GPS and seeing it was only 1km away), I decided to break a trail over to them so I at least had a track to follow to Sentinel. (Note - the Google Earth images are of my return track, not my uptrack described here.) It sucked up some energy, but soon enough I was on their trail and approaching the corner to round towards Sentinel:
Google Earth 3d - Sentinal Bay and the Glaciology Huts:
Video Panorama - approaching Sentinal Bay
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/6909851752/in/set-72157629765759143
Certainly a different perspective to the area. Castle Towers towering over Burton Hut:
Once in Sentinel Bay, the skiers had decided to do their own thing rather than break me a nice trail:
Flank of the Table:
End of Sentinel Bay:
Looking back over Sentinel Bay and Garibaldi Lake:
Now on solid ground, making for the Glaciology Huts:
Video 360 Panorama - at Sentinal Bay
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/6909852934/in/set-72157629765759143
I could see off in the distance a series of tracks of skiers exiting off the Neve. They were framed, in the foreground, by the Glaciology Hut, which was easily visible on a rocky bluff sticking out from the sea of white:
Guard mountain:
Getting closer to the Glaciology Huts:
 
The large Glaciology Hut:
Inside the large one:
Glaciology equipment safely locked up:
The small Glaciology Hut - the door needed some digging out but I didn't bother:
  
A group of 3 skiers off the Neve had arrived at the same time I had, so we all chatted and relaxed as I fueled up and they settled in for the evening. Since I was only half way done my trip, I didn't linger too long and said my goodbyes.
But first I made my way slightly further up to a high point for more pics.
Video 360 Panorama - at Sentinal Bay Glaciology Huts
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/6909854624/in/set-72157629765759143
Guard-Deception col:
Both Glaciology Huts:
Neve exit:
Glaciology Huts and Garibaldi Lake:
Garibaldi Lake:
Large Glaciology Hut framed by Sentinel Glacier:
Choose your own adventure - options on Garibaldi Lake (left = b-line for Garibaldi Lake campground, right = b-line for Sphinx Bay, centre = b-line for the campground-Sphinx track:
Back across the lake was flat and boring. I followed the Neve exit track the whole way back to the campground. A few parties making their way to the Huts to overnight. Thankfully one of them was a group of 3 snowshoers, so I had a nice trodden trail to follow, rather than ski trackset.
I had planned to take an extended break at the Garibaldi Lake campground cookshelter... but when I saw I had to dig it out I decided to just forget about it:
 
In my pre-trip planning I had guesstimated I would hit sunset at the Barrier, but now I could see I was on a better pace than that. Kept going down the trail, making good time and enjoying the evening rays filtering through the trees:
Headlamp on at km2 and a leisurely walk out. Just at the summer trailhead, my left snowshoe suddenly felt loose. Looking closer, I had completely sheared off one of the two metal connectors of the footbed. (Note, I'm not talking about the pins that connect the footbed to the snowshoe, I mean the metal itself.) I had the exact same failure in my other snowshoe around the same time last year on Ronayne (http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39241).
I didn't take a pic this time, but it was an identical failure to the last one:
Given the two identical failures, I can only think it is a manufacturing defect in my snowshoe set. Metal should not be breaking like that, especially given my weight!
Since I was on the road and only had 30 min to go, I didn't bother trying to fix it and just kept walking. It was ok enough.
For my troubles I was rewarded by seeing an extremely bright orange-hued meteorite blazing the sky and then burning out in front of me. Given the very narrow sliver of the sky I could see from the road, my timing was perfect.
Back at the car in 12 hours, 15 minutes for a very satisfying day.
-Ryan
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Edited by - Ryan.in.yaletown on 04/08/2012 9:34 PM
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1001 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 09:33 AM
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Awesome work on the km's, report and pictures! : )
So many problems popping up on CT with MSR snowshoes...not good. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
383 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 09:43 AM
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Nice! Brings back fond memories of our Neve crossing in 2008. We had to use our GPS to guide us to the hut, as it was dark during crossing the lake. The smaller hut, I think, houses only equipment.
This failure of the MSR snowshoes is very common, it happened not only to you, but to many other people I know. It is metal fatigue and definitely a design mistake. But, since it is backed by unconditional warranty, who cares? Hold on, someone might care, if it happens not near MEC.. |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
2440 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 10:08 AM
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| very nice |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
600 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 10:39 AM
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| Glad you made it this time |
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Langley, BC
Canada
1078 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 10:58 AM
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Nice pictures. Too bad about the snowshoes, but at least they didn't fail at the hut.
I personally had bad vibes about those MSR snowshoes just looking at them in the store. There's no give in the connection between the forefoot and the frame of the snowshoe other than the flexing of the metal.
The Atlas snowshoes use some kind of (synthetic) rubberized fabric strap to provide the flex.
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North Vancouver, bc
Canada
155 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 11:36 AM
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| Nice trip, those huts definitely have character. Good to know (but bad to hear) about the snowshoes. I have the same kind, I will now be doubting them whenever I am 10+ km into the back-country from now on. Was the snow pretty hard at that point, (I would assume not; with the sun) or were you lower elevation and hitting rocks here and there on the trail? just wondering. |
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322 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 1:34 PM
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Excellent read! I love the Google Earth images with your tracks!
Your picture of the slope below Sentinel Pass that is used when coming off the Neve (your picture 345394) brought back a sobering memory- I came down that slope with a group of friends one year and then skied over to the Burton Hut. The next day, we skied back in that direction and found to our surprise that the entire slope had avalanched shortly after we came down it- our tracks were completely buried, and debris had made it almost right across the valley to the glaciological huts.
How much water was in Barrier and Lesser Garibaldi Lake? Usually at this time of year, those lakes are pretty empty- which means that all the fish that are usually scattered throughout Lesser Garibaldi Lake are now concentrated in a much smaller pond- fishermen, take note. The water drains down through the lava rocks and comes out at those massive springs at the toe of the Barrier. We used to descend by skiing from Barrier Lookout down to the springs, and then down the middle of the Rubble Creek valley to the parking lot- but I haven't done that in years and it is probably pretty bushy now. It would only take us about a half hour to go from Barrier Lookout to the parking lot. |
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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 6:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by FrankB
How much water was in Barrier and Lesser Garibaldi Lake? Usually at this time of year, those lakes are pretty empty- which means that all the fish that are usually scattered throughout Lesser Garibaldi Lake are now concentrated in a much smaller pond- fishermen, take note.
Fairly standard late winter water levels, in that the level is quite low in all of Rubble, Lesser Garibaldi and Garibaldi lakes. Since the track didn't go to Lesser Garibaldi I only got glances at the lake, but it looked like the standard inlet open water with low streamflow.
-Ryan
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5368 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 6:25 PM
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Again with the stress fracture eh? What are you doing to those poor Ascents? Nice trip. Glad the failure happened near the end of the trip! |
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Port Moody, BC
169 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 7:10 PM
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| Nice to see you make it out to these huts in one day. That's a long haul but you certainly had a beautiful bluebird April day to do it. I wonder if these huts are still in use for research? Maybe it's SFU or UBC. |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5464 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 10:29 PM
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quote:
A pair of snowshoers had started off from the other end of the campground and had angled onto the Sphinx track. Catching up to them, I recognized Andie McDowell Wilderness Seeker and chatted briefly. Ironically, the last time I ran into her we were both crossing Garibaldi Lake as well (http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34545).
Thought you might like a picture of yourself crossing the lake (even if you're a tiny dot in the picture):
Same thing happened to my snowshoe coming down the Garibaldi Lake trail last time (same trip I ran into you last time too). That metal piece just broke. I took it to Valhalla where I'd bought it and they sent it to MSR to get fixed free of charge, and they also offered me a loaner pair of snowshoes too, though I declined as I was about to head to Utah anyway and wouldn't need them. Seems those snowshoes don't like the torque created from lots of sidehilling as occurs on the Garibaldi Lake trail.
As for the shelter near the campground, we took one look at it and said "forget it" BUT.....the next cooking shelter around the corner had been dug out as a man had spent all day digging an access. We did not use it, preferring instead to cook outside and look at the lovely alpenglow and full moon. |
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Kamloops, BC
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 11:14 PM
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Fantastic job on the trip description. I am bookmarking in case I need this info for a future trip there!
Looks amazing! |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
329 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 06:49 AM
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| A long hike. The elevation profile tells the tale. I just checked my MSRs and wouldn't you know it - a crack, in the same spot you illustrate. Guess I'm off to the MEC on Tuesday! |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
140 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 09:57 AM
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| We were the group of 3 snowshoers on your return across the lake. Props for a wicked dayhike, it's ambitious to say the least. |
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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 10:13 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by jeffweichel
We were the group of 3 snowshoers on your return across the lake. Props for a wicked dayhike, it's ambitious to say the least.
How was the climbing? :)
-Ryan
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 11:18 AM
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Once again a great TR, thanks Ryan
As of Saturday afternoon april 7 the smaller glaciology hut door is dug out. Thanks to smac,gearhed,gdichasaz,mad owl woman.
Hut is in decent shape but the door hinges need some screws in the hinges. With some type of backing piece as the wood is cracking in that area. Put a nail which helped but a decent repair is needed to last.
quote:
Originally posted by Ryan.in.yaletown
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north van, bc
Canada
940 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 11:30 AM
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I dug the small hut out sat evening. there were alot of people on the neve this weekend. probably around 50. but they were all crossing the lake sat evening / sunday morning.
I stole your pre dug out pic, since I only have an aft dug out pic ;) |
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| piika
Intermediate Member
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
726 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 1:43 PM
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Lol...after the Neve, the trip aross the lake and down was long enough for me!  Awesome day trip, Ryan.
quote:
Originally posted by jeffweichel
We were the group of 3 snowshoers on your return across the lake. Props for a wicked dayhike, it's ambitious to say the least.
If you're the guys I saw on Sunday while I was snowshoeing down the switchbacks- hope your friend feels better!
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Van, BC
Canada
2780 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 2:51 PM
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Update on the snowshoe: took it in to MEC today, and 10 minutes later they had swapped in a new footbed for me. (Just like last year.) Love the excellent service.
-Ryan
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Surrey, BC
Canada
140 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 9:08 PM
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| Haha yes Piika that was us, and by the time we got back to the car he was 100% wasted. Ryan we didn't get to climbing b/c my two partners were in rough shape after the approach. I woke up at 12 to Jeremy puking his dinner out and not knowing where he was or what was going on, really. He was in bad shape and quite dehydrated so my other tentmate and I spent an hour melting some snow for him and then went back to bed. I think the culprit was the boil in a bag meal he had - so much sodium in those things. Got up in the morning and I got the jive from them that they weren't really up for much. Contemplated heading up Guard or Deception and letting them chill for the day but we ended up descending. Much respect for that trip and I will be back. Might try Castle Towers and Phyllis Engine in June-ish via Gentian. Amazing area, lots of possibilities. |
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Sentinel Bay Glaciology Huts - 2012-04-07
