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Whistler, BC
Canada
1174 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 08:35 AM
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Spent three days on a backpacking trip in the general area of Cheakamus Lake from May 22-24. We found good supportive snow from 1000m up on northern aspects allowing quick travel to treeline. Corrie Lake just starting to break up at outlet, with a little fresh convective snow in the afternoons. Snow quality approaching near winter conditions above treeline.
If you lost a brand new Komperdell pole without a strap at Corrie Lake this winter, we put it in a forked tree at the outlet meadow for your easy finding.
Conditions on southern aspects were different, with continuous snow at 1300m and above, but occasional punching through over logs and bushes. Lower avy slopes greening up quickly, with bear food coming into season about 100m and more above the lake. Startled one black bear in an avy path, but otherwise very quiet.
The old packer's trail at the head of the lake is still in good shape, with a few more blowdowns from this year. Lots of deer feeding in the wet meadows at the head of the lake.
Ironically, in the valley bottom, the most snow encountered was in the last km before the lake. All lakeside campsites are dry.
Folks are already creating fire rings. We took two apart. |
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Van, BC
Canada
2789 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 4:54 PM
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This "old packers trail" - where does it start/lead to? Always interested in finding places to explore off the beaten path in Garibaldi Lake area :)
-Ryan
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Whistler, BC
Canada
1174 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2012 : 7:29 PM
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From the Singing Creek Campground on Cheakamus Lake, cross Singing Creek and look for a narrow beaten track not far from the lakeshore. At first there is lots of deadfall to step over but bear with it, it gets better. You'll see some old fossil blue surveyor's tape here and there.
As you approach the end of the lake, you'll find an old wooden window frame hanging from a small tree, just beyond are the remains of a chinook trapper's cabin (dug into the soil, a few courses of small logs, and then a high-angled cedar shake roof), complete with a small old sheet metal stove. Long ago snows crushed the structure. Continue on, at times with a less distinct trail and some bog to an old log jam at the head of the lake. If you work a little up in elevation you can follow the shoreline of the old lake until you come to the remains of a larger log cabin. Beyond that, the trail tends to disappear, but it is possible to walk through into the upper Cheakamus drainage.
Recently, some maps have shown this area to be "sensitive wildlife habitat." Just FYI there is lots of animal sign, from deer, black bear, river otter, and occasional grizzly sitings. As well, the old meanders and oxbow lakes provide excellent habitat for waterfowl with a variety of ducks, Canada geese, and sometimes swans.
This terrain is less "skier friendly." Kind people have been known to show a considerable lack of restraint when trying to bash through this with skis on their packs.  |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
59 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2012 : 12:13 PM
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| What condition is the road in going up to Cheakamus Lake? We're planning a couple of trips into Cheakamus Lake and Helm Meadows late in the summer, and while I know it tends to deteriorate over the course of the summer season I note that BC Parks website now lists it as 4x4. Three years ago was the last time we were up there in our Escorts, Corollas etc with little problem - has it gotten that much worse since then? |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
1174 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2012 : 9:29 PM
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No, it's no worse. It never gets graded, but the regular mountain bike and car traffic seems to keep it in submission. It's good enough to take a school bus in on.
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
59 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 9:03 PM
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| Thanks Mitch. We're the gang that met you last Thanksgiving in Marriott (from Nature Vancouver) and we're probably going to do both of those hikes this August/September. It sounds like a similar situation to Brandywine Meadows which we're also probably going to do - doable with sedans if we have to but we'll try and get the drivers with CRVs, Subarus etc if we can. |
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double-double seeking, snow-chasing, short-cutting, vertical feet collector
4523 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 9:47 PM
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Bill I bought a new car some years ago and took it to Cheakamus Lake, reading too-quickly the description of the road to the trailhead. I had no idea that it was not paved, and that it was /that/ rutted. This was 17 years ago and the road condition has basically not changed.
It's a gravel road with potholes as big as one's head, narrow places, with loose rocks and blind corners.
Drive it slowly and you will be fine. Once you brave the ten or so km to the trailhead you will arrive at a parking lot where fellow 2wd cars will flank your steed. I was there last year, and it was no worse than that first traumatizing drive with a new standard-transmission car.
Cheakamus Lake and Helm Lake/Glacier are gorgeous places, and that road offers easy access to these locations.
But I would not ever think of taking my ageing car up the Brandywine road. New or old 2wd car, that's just crazy talk ;)
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Whistler, BC
Canada
1174 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2012 : 3:05 PM
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Bill, glad you're getting out to those places. I'd echo seawallrunner on the difference between Brandywine and Cheakamus. If you're trying to access the higher trailhead for Brandywine it will be 4X4 high clearance.
Another alternative is the approach to Cypress Peak. That route is often two-wheel for most of the journey and has some great one or two day trips from the end. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
59 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2012 : 7:19 PM
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| Well the way I like to do Brandywine is do go up the main (steep) trail then walk out the easy one and back around on the rougher road. Though the last time we did it the last part of the road back up to the trailhead seemed to be getting longer and steeper, so I think we'll drop a vehicle at the junction next time. |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
2440 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2012 : 7:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by seawallrunner
Bill I bought a new car some years ago and took it to Cheakamus Lake, reading too-quickly the description of the road to the trailhead. I had no idea that it was not paved, and that it was /that/ rutted. This was 17 years ago and the road condition has basically not changed.
It's a gravel road with potholes as big as one's head, narrow places, with loose rocks and blind corners.
Drive it slowly and you will be fine. Once you brave the ten or so km to the trailhead you will arrive at a parking lot where fellow 2wd cars will flank your steed. I was there last year, and it was no worse than that first traumatizing drive with a new standard-transmission car.
Cheakamus Lake and Helm Lake/Glacier are gorgeous places, and that road offers easy access to these locations.
But I would not ever think of taking my ageing car up the Brandywine road. New or old 2wd car, that's just crazy talk ;)
SW, That road was by far better than the Singing Pass Logging road in the 70s. I took a brand new Datsun 610 up the road. How stupid could I be but the old Garibladi trail guide indicated it was no problem for 2WD. There use to be a steep angled S-turn where the road is now washed out (Obvious now as to why it slumped). A lot of time was spent buffing out alder scratches and fixing the exhaust system. We got wiser and figured out the best way to deal with the road. |
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Cheakamus Lake, Corrie Lake and Ridge, Singing Ck.
