A Hike to Garibaldi Lake
Remembering a long time ago in a faraway land.
Remembering a long time ago in a faraway land.
The Black Tusk is the basalt core of a long-extinct volcano. It towers 2,319 m (7,608 ft) tall to the south of Whistler, BC.
Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, my girlfriend and I decided to hike up to Taylor Meadows with the idea of climbing the Tusk one more time.
It was mid-August when we drove up Highway 99 from Vancouver.
We began the scramble up through the boulder field of Rubble Creek to the shaded section of the trail. The trail started easy, after the exposed scramble. Wide, shaded, an easy 300 m (1,000 ft) of elevation gain in the first 2 km (1.25 mi). Then it begins. We arrived at the first of twenty-plus switchbacks. Climbing 2.38 km (1.5 mi) to gain another 300 m (1,000 ft) of elevation. If the trail were to follow a straight line up the cliff, we would have come 1 km (0.6 mi). According to Komoot, the slope is better than seventeen percent at points. Exhausting.
We joined other hikers to catch our breath and gaze upon this huge basalt cliff that is The Barrier. This 1,000 m (3,280 ft) cliff was formed when lava from the surrounding volcanos was held back by the valley’s glaciers. It is truly an awesome site to behold.
We weren’t done yet, but it was easy from here. The trail took us up another 80 m (260 ft) in the next 1,000 m (0.6 mi) and we arrived at the trail junction towards Taylor Meadows and the Tusk. Except.
Except on this warm August day, there was too much snow. There was no way we would be able to achieve our goal. We adjusted.
We made our way along the trail past Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi Lake
Reaching Garibaldi Lake, we crossed the torrent of Rubble Creek.
The lake was still swollen with the winter runoff. The trail was almost impassable. Almost.
Making our way around the edge of this glacier-fed lake, we arrived at the Battleship Islands.
The islands were reflected picture-perfect in the still waters. Mount Garibaldi was lost in the fog and clouds across the lake to the south.
I get emotional thinking about this hike as I know I will not gaze on Garibaldi Lake or climb the Black Tusk again. Between my knees and my heart, I would be a danger to my companions as well as myself on such a strenuous hike. I also get emotional because it marks the last time I was out on a hike with my girlfriend.
A week later she also became my wife. This was 49 years and many, many adventures ago.
https://rover-dave.com/membership
The world is a beautiful place. Share the beauty. Leave only footsteps.