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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 09:24 AM
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After taking my girlfriend to Panorama two weeks ago for a 16.5-hour round trip hike to the top of the ridge I was itching to go by myself again in sunny weather. It's amazing how much snow melted on the road in 2 weeks - it's 100% gone including the parking lot so good news. Although given how beautiful of a day it was and the fact that the road is clear, was surprised not to see hardly anyone. However, consistent snow starts around the 2.5km marker. If you go early in the morning, I'd suggest microspikes for the 6km switchbacks since it can still be pretty slippery since the temperature drops overnight. I didn't really use snowshoes until the Black Tusk/Panorama junction where there was new soft snow. It was cool walking across Taylor Meadows since it was still pretty hard so made good time across there. Lots of fresh new snow going up to the peak from Black Tusk Lake as well. Took me a good amount of effort to punch through the cornice at the top of the peak - finally rolled on to the peak with big smiles :) Coming back snowshoes a must since quite a bit of the snow had melted so if you do this trip this time of year - four musts - snowshoes, microspikes, lots of sunscreen and sunglasses. I wore shorts partly on the way back. Saw a few people crossing the lake (3) from the peak - maybe you heard me whistle (and a few burps ;)
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Edited by - ubishops on 05/07/2012 09:26 AM
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 09:35 AM
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Nice. I have to agree about the suntan lotion - some of the worst sunburns of my life have happened in that area at about this time of the year.
Any problems with the parkees? |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 11:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
Nice. I have to agree about the suntan lotion - some of the worst sunburns of my life have happened in that area at about this time of the year.
Any problems with the parkees?
True. That sun really reflects off the snow :) Half the photos I took were just winging it since I couldn't see the LCD screen because it was so bright. What's a parkee? |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 12:01 PM
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| Wow great panorama, getting the best of the snow, I've been doing the opposite the past few days going for water, flowers, trees, fish, people, & no-people. Great time for a spring awakening! |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
1294 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 1:16 PM
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| Thanks for the TR - was wondering how the snow and the lake ice were holding up up there. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 1:26 PM
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Parkee: an employee of the BC Parks. Usual duties include chasing hikers and skiers to collect fees. They were formerly known as "Park Rangers", back when they did useful work.
According to Bivouac.com, they will try to extort $10/day from anyone they catch in their park. They can issue fines for up to $144, but it is not clear whether the fine has to be paid.
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Whistler, BC
Canada
1174 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 2:10 PM
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quote:
According to Bivouac.com, they will try to extort $10/day from anyone they catch in their park. They can issue fines for up to $144, but it is not clear whether the fine has to be paid.
Isn't that just for people who are allegedlyspending an evening in the park? Interesting how the daily overnight backcountry fee is 3.3 times as much as the local heli company reimburses the province for a day of heli-skiing in the park if there is currently a day fee.
But then, I never go into the park... |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 2:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by tu
Thanks for the TR - was wondering how the snow and the lake ice were holding up up there.
Was surprised to see people crossing the middle of lake in May but I guess it's still frozen this time of year :) Doesn't surprise me since last year it was still frozen in July :0 (or at least snow covered :) |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 2:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
Parkee: an employee of the BC Parks. Usual duties include chasing hikers and skiers to collect fees. They were formerly known as "Park Rangers", back when they did useful work.
According to Bivouac.com, they will try to extort $10/day from anyone they catch in their park. They can issue fines for up to $144, but it is not clear whether the fine has to be paid.
lol :) Hope they have an Interact machine with them :) Actually I wouldn't mind paying $10 as long as they did something useful with the money - like plow the Rubble Creek access road in the winter! :) Guess in the middle of winter I'd have a hard time convincing them I did it only as a day trip lol :) |
Edited by - ubishops on 05/07/2012 2:46 PM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 2:55 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ubishops
quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
...Actually I wouldn't mind paying $10 as long as they did something useful with the money - like plow the Rubble Creek access road in the winter! ...
This has been discussed in other threads. The government does not maintain a special bank account for your park fees. Park fees disappear into General Revenue. The Government then spends its budget on whatever it thinks will win the most votes (ex a new roof for BC Place stadium) or the most campaign contributions (ex new Port Mann bridge).
If you want to donate $10 to park maintenance, there are better places you could spend it. |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
352 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2012 : 7:35 PM
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| What was your time like second time round going solo with no snow on the road or parking lot? |
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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
13465 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2012 : 10:23 PM
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A huge display of sparkling pics... Was the multi-image loader available whey you uploaded. Using the single, would have taken you some time to get done with than many photos.
K |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 08:06 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by sidetrip
What was your time like second time round going solo with no snow on the road or parking lot?
Took about 4 hours to get to the peak - I made good time during the switchbacks and through the meadows since I only had microspikes but after the Black Tusk/Panorama junction I slowed down a bit since it was new snow trailbreaking after that point :) Took me about the same on the way down - my knees have been bothering me a bit lately - it's kind of funny but the more I do the better I am, if I take two weekends off and do a big trip like this, it comes back. I honestly think that motion is a good thing - it's finding the right balance between too much rest and too little :) I also think the 16.5 hike I did with my gf two weeks ago contributed to the knee pain. My body isn't used to being out there that long. Last summer I did Wedgemount and Panorama Ridge in the same day and I didn't suffer like I did two weeks ago - for me fast is better than slow :) I'm taking the day off tomorrow and doing Russet Lake and up to Whirlwind if my knees co-operate ;) Should look like this with the beautiful sunny weather: A trip to physio and massage today should be a good primer 
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42168&SearchTerms=whirlwind
Any takers for tomorrow ? ;)
Likely will do Wedgemount on Sunday and then Joffre Glacier on Tuesday :) |
Edited by - ubishops on 05/10/2012 09:06 AM |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 08:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by KARVITK
A huge display of sparkling pics... Was the multi-image loader available whey you uploaded. Using the single, would have taken you some time to get done with than many photos.
K
Nope :) It did take me awhile but it made me more selective (I took about 220 photos but only posted a fraction). I think the single image loader might be a good thing for the likes of me lol :) |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
2 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 10:29 AM
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ubishops: That was our party of 3 you saw crossing the lake. We were enroute to Mt. Carr. Didn't hear you whistling. Lake ice was solid.
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
263 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 12:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hexfish
ubishops: That was our party of 3 you saw crossing the lake. We were enroute to Mt. Carr. Didn't hear you whistling. Lake ice was solid.
Good to know :)Any photos? :) |
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Sunny Panorama Ridge (Summit) - May 6
