April 16 - Stats: 13.1 km / 950m gain / 848m high point / 5:15 hours MT
This was the second consecutive hike we did by the Chief, it being not as challenging as Slhanay was. Why? Because it was much better marked, the square orange markers looking new. And although the very first section (about 20 minutes) was very steep, the rest of the trail was a more comfortable climbing grade.
Having parked at the Murrin PP parking lot, we then had to cross Hwy 99 to get to the trailhead after following a gravel path north, parallel to the highway for about 5 minutes. The very start of the trail seemed to discourage hikers from proceeding. Not only did it have an old decrepit sign, but in minutes we had to clamber up & over this huge bolder without a foothold. This was even challenging for long-legged me. But for the remainder of the hike, 3 signs like the pic to the right, helped guide the way. The first one being about 1 hour into the hike, by the deactivated logging road.
Between power-line poles, was this creative carving of what we think is a bear.
About 45 minutes in and we came to this far-reaching viewpoint. Again Garabaldi Mt. was clear to see. With a forecast of clouds all day, we were quite pleased to be hiking most of the day in sunshine.
Slhanay (hiked the day before) is on the north side of the Chief, whereas this hike was on the opposite south side, but farther away.
The Chief to the right.
After half an hour of hiking on an old logging road, (1.5 hours in) we came to the first of several gullies that we had to drop down into and climb back out of on the other side.
About 20 minutes before Petgill Lake, we ran into snow that was more like ice. Without our micro-spikes, we had to dig in our poles and take our time following hardened footprints.
The snow-ice path led to the left, and climbed this ridge above Petgill Lake -- east. Yes, there is a trail that goes around the lake.
We carried on a bit past the lake viewpoint where we turned left at a junction and dropped down back into the forest only to have to climb up again to this beautiful viewpoint of the Howe Sound Islands. This took about 10 minutes. It took us almost 3 hours to get to this lookout.
The Tantalus Mtns.
Bowen, Anvil & Gambier Islands -- south.
Heading back the same way we'd come. A few lingering icicles.
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