Aug. 7 - North Shore, Mt. Seymour Provincial Park
Stats: 22 km / 1600m gain / 1270m high point / 8:10 hours MT
Our aim was to get a good workout in before we leave on our designated trips. This hike was that and so much more. The trail was rough, rooty and had four boulder slopes. It was a true test of one's endurance. Unlike most hikes, most of the elevation gain was on the return journey, with plenty of ups & downs inbetween. So the stats for elevation gain in the Destination Hikes book are very inaccurate. Accumalted gain is almost 1000m more!
The highway was blessedly peaceful on this Civic holiday at 6:30am. We parked at the Mt. Seymour ski resort and hiked up the well-travelled Mt. Seymour trail. We set off at a relaxed pace, knowing this'd be a long day -- southeast.
The valley we'd be hiking into -- northeast.
About 1 hour in, we came to a junction where left would take you to Mt. Seymour's three peaks. We turned right, onto the Elsay Lake trail. We were now in unchartered territory. The trail immediately dropped sharply. This section named Wes's Staircase, seemed to be unending when climbing back up it at the end of the day.
The cliffs of Pump, Tim Jones, Mt. Seymour + Runner Peaks rose above boulder slopes, the grade now mellowing. Sections of trail involved pushing by wet overgrown bramble bushes that made it hard to see where to place our feet. The narrow trail was angled with the slope and dropped off sharply to the side.
This was the only patch of snow on the trail.
Most of the bog had dried up, it being August.
A bear!!!
The final boulder slope.
About 1 hour on the Elsay Lake trail, we crossed the south fork of Elsay Creek. If you look through the trees to your left there, you'll see a small lake at the base of the rockslide leading to Mt. Elsay.
About 3:30 hours on the Elsay Lake trail comes the second steep section but not as long as Wes's Staircase. This section drops almost straight down a narrow debris chute. Then the trail continues to wind round the east flank of Elsay Mt.
1) False Solomon's Seal 2) These 2 signs had the arrows pointing the wrong way. The route was
well marked with the orange squares + flagged cairns.
This creek crossing was a bit sketchy.
Some open meadows just before the lake.
2) Finally at 1:00pm we arrived at the lake. While most of the group soaked their feet in the cool water, I hiked 10 minutes to the opposite side of the circular lake to photograph the hut. But to truly relax? I think all of us were all too conscious of the fact that the upward return journey would be even harder and in the hottest part of the day.
Group shot: Lorenz, Denise, Charlotte, Ingrid, me & Irene
The hut is maintained by BC Parks but it didn't look like it was very maintained. An outhouse was not far from it.
A humongous tree root as viewed from the hut's door.
Hut view of the lake.
2:00pm was our turn-back time.
Quietly concentrating on placing our feet and saving our breath for the task ahead.
We were sweating buckets, climbing back up that debris chute. I drank 4 litres of water this day.
Looking back.
When we were in the open stretch, nearing Wes's Staircase, we noticed a helicopter hovering above us. It dropped something and then we wittnessed North Shore Rescue airlift two people out of the valley. Later we learned that this lady had broken her ankle. A big thank you to NSR!
Back at the parking lot at 6:30pm, as we were unloading our gear, my eyes wandered to the right where the bathrooms were. Above the 5' high concrete lego-blocks, I noticed a black head. Wait! That was not a human, it was a bear!!! He didn't seem very interested in us. We cautiously watched him as him lumbered towards the garbage bin. Three of us mothers could not keep our mouths shut when this little boy got awfully close to the bear where there was no barrier. Perhaps the father didn't realize how dangerous this could be.
Indian Arm to the right.
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