July 30, 2021
Stats: 21km / 1335m gain / 1790m high point / 7:30 hours MT (at the Case-pace)
Last year I'd hiked the Skywalk North trail in my quest to complete the "105 Hikes in SW BC" book. This south trail is the left side of the loop, returning via the same 19-Mile Creek trail. Which do I think is more attractive? They both are but the north trail takes you past Iceburg Lake. The quickest easiest way to Iceburg Lake? Take the 19-Mile Creek trail both ways. The high point on the Skywalk South trail is only 6 meters higher than that of the Skywalk North trail.
After hiking about 45 minutes on a gravel road, we turned left onto the Rainbow-Sproat Flank trail. Soon we came to this paragliding launch viewpoint overlooking Green Lake 4 km north of Whistler .
Case (as is typical of him) did not take much water along but relied on filling up at the creeks. This was a hot day. By day's end, I'd drunken over a gallon of water! Case too!!!
I couldn't stop laughing when a lone mountain biker sped down the trail towards us. Case yelled in terror, thinking he was a bear! I'd never seen him so afraid. The biker was the only human we encountered on this Skywalk South trail.
1) Parrots Beak 2) Pipsissewa 3) Sap on a tree 4) Witch's Hair 5) Seedlings 5) Cushion Wild-buckwheat
Field Crescent butterfly.
1) Parrot's Beak 2) Bracted Lousewort
The air here was perfumed the with scents from the lupines.
Garabaldi Mt and the Black Tusk to the left -- southeast.
Blackcomb & Whistler Mts -- southeast.
Glad to be leaving the forest where the mosquitoes were out in full force.
At a posted junction. Going straight on the Rainbow's end trail or turning right (north) onto the Skywalk South trail.
west
At the highest point of the trail, looking northeast at Wedgemount Glacier & Green Lake.
Descending with full views of Rainbow Mt (2314m).
1) Groundsel 2) Tolmie's Saxifrage
The trail was well marked with rock cairns and orange squares. It was a steep drop towards the valley.
1) Partridge Foot 2) Monkey-flower
Looking back at the slope on the left that we'd just descended.
We stayed about 100m above the meadows at the valley's floor.
northeast
Just past the junction and now on the 19-mile Creek trail, heading back.
For the most part, the 19-Mile Creek trail follows alongside the Upper 19-Mile Creek.
Unlike the Skywalk South trail, on this trail we passed many hikers still coming up.
There were four short spurs that led to viewpoints of the falls equipped with benches. This second spot is my favorite.
1) This fungi was the size of a dinner plate. 2) Wild raspberries.
Leaving the creek, boardwalks led through patches of Skunk-cabbage, ferns and Devil's Club.
Such clear clean water in our mountains.
The grey line to the right of the loop is the Skywalk North trail that we hiked last year. The red arrowed trail is what we did this day.
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