Panorama Ridge

Our trip started in the rain around 4:30pm. We headed up with our heavy back packs up the many switchbacks. At the 2/3 point, where the split in the path is, we stopped for a snack and met these brave and hungry whiskey jacks. They ate from our hands and even stole a crumb or two when we weren't looking. There were about 5 or 6 of them circling us.

We then kept going and stopped at the viewpoint 2 minutes later. The clouds have lifted and gave us an excellent introductory view to the park.

We kept going, glad to be done with the switchbacks. Barrier Lake came to view and we increased our pace knowing that we're so close to the campgrounds. We passed by Lesser Garibaldi Lake inching closer to ou destination. And finally we were there.

We searched around the entire campsite and finally found a good spot near the fourth shelter. It was quite busy. There weren't too many free spots left. Night came and we ate and drank like kings. We finished all our beer and wine and then enjoyed some conversations with one of the other campers that joined us there.

We then watched the rise of the full moon behind mount price.

1:00AM came and went and we finally went to sleep. My friends got some sleep but I was half awake the entire night. I was out and about around 6:00am. After breakfast we started on a hike up to the Tusk or Panorama Ridge. We weren't decided on which to do yet. My friends wanted to do the Tusk since they've never been up there but I wanted to do Panorama ridge since I have already been to the top of the Tusk. I also wasn't too interested in climbing that dangerous crumbling chimney again...one scary experience was enough.

When we got to the decision point, the split in the road, we encountered a ranger working on the path and we asked her which she would recommend. Lucky for me she recommended the Panorama ridge due to its better views of the park. She also told us a story about a ranger needing to be flown out from the Tusk a couple of years ago. That ranger got hit in the head from a big rock falling from another climber... So with that, my friends were convinced that Panorama ridge is the better choice...phew...

The climb up to Panorama ridge was pretty exciting. We started seeing snow right after the convergence in the path between the panorama ridge trail and the cheakamus lake trail. The first part of the climb was relatively free of snow. When we got closer to the top it was nearly all in snow. It got really cold and cloudy/foggy. We could barely tell where we were going in some parts. Scaling that part of the mountain in the snow with the wind blowing clouds all around us made the whole experience so much more interesting. We could see all the way to the bottom but barely a few meters ahead of us.

We could barely tell we got to the top. When looking down on the other side of the mountain we could see traces of blue. We assumed that must be Garibaldi Lake.

We then decided to take a break on the part facing the tusk in a shelter from the wind. We had lunch, took a 30 minute nap (got totally burnt on my face from the sun somehow...even though it was totally cloudy). Once we awoke from our siesta the clouds lifted enough for us to see the magnificient Garibaldi Lake.

It was time to head back.

Looking down to where we had to go we couldn't help but think that there is an easier way to get down... Luckily we just happened to meet with some other hikers who arrived at the top and they had the necessary tools for the way back: garbage bags. They were generous enough to give us 3 extra ones they had and we headed down the best and fastest way possible. Sliding at top speed down the mountain.
We left our trails on the big slide.

We kept sliding on every slope we could find. We must have cut an hour from the journey back. Not to mention it was a blast sliding down those slopes...

We got back to our tent rather quickly, had some more food, packed and headed down to the car to complete a perfect trip.