July 9, 2021 -- Stats: 11.2 km / 934m gain / 1438m high point / 5 hours MT
This hike took alot of organizing. Because of the heat wave, I postponed it twice. This meant people dropping out and signing up. Also I got discount group tickets. More organizing. And it was a large group of 24. This meant carpooling and dinner afterwards so as to avoid rush hour. More organizing.
But by the end of the day it was a grand success and things had gone quite smoothly.
Leaving Chilliwack at 6:30am, we congregated at the Sea-to-Sky gondola in Squamish and caught the first gondolas of the day up at 9:00am sharp.
We started out on the Al's Habrich trail which led us through interspersed sections of forest on a rooty dirt trail and smooth slabs of granite dotted with stunted evergreens.
There were a few ropes to assist with the lack-of-foothold spots.
There were numerous viewpoints of the Tantalus Mt range across from us to the west, the town of Squamish with it's harbor below us and the three summits of the Stawamus Chief before us.
Group shot: Back row, left to right: Herb, Ling, Elizabeth, Liz, Peter, Case, Charlotte, Cindy, Cal, Simon, Don, Mimi Front row: Denise, Denise, Carolyn, Christine, Irene, Ingrid, Sonia, me, Maureen & Carolyn
Careful steps down on rock that had a sand-paper surface.
How do those trees grow on rock?
This tarn marked the end of the Al's Habrich trail at 3 km.
We carried on on the Neverland Loop trail. This trail was rougher and steeper, requiring repeated high body-hoisting steps and 5 rope assists. All the while providing more and more expansive views.
Garabaldi Mt -- north.
Tantalus Mt range + Don.
Some made this viewpoint their turn back point. Most carried on another 100m up to Neverland Lake.
At the lake (which was more like a tarn) Peter, Charlotte and Sonia went swimming. Or should I say bathing.
Heading back down.
We regrouped and soaked our feet back at the end of the Al's Habrich trail.
This time we did the second of three loops on the descent. The first looked incomplete on my All Trails app and the third was closed.
Re=entering the forest after an open rock slab area.
Sonia being goofy.
Sky Pilot in the background.
Sky Pilote.
Cheers to a wonderful day. Got to the Sky Pilot restaurant at 4:15pm, just in time for happy hour. After dinner most of us went to Boston Pizza in Squamish for dinner.
The Mamquam Mt range from the gondola.
Our GPSs came in handly. Its best to download their free app since most of the trails and junctions have no signs, but numbers.
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