Sat, Mar 7 2009 - Exshaw Ridge (View Original Event Details)
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What do you do when hiking season still seems far away, but you are just itching to get to the top of some mountain? You choose a non-scrambling route and aim high, even if it means learning that your goal may have been a little ambitious. First we were greeted by a trailhead that should no longer be a trailhead (see note below), then snow. And snow, and snow, and snow. Thanks to our toopers (Ali with his bigfoot boots, David, and Joey) for braking trail and making it easier for the rest of us. Snow above your knees can be fun to play in, but it gets in the way if you have to hike 6.5km just to gain the foot of the ridge (and another 0.7km to get from the new trailhead to the old trailhead). Throw in a dozen creek crossings as well, and we simply didn't get as far as planned in the time we had. After 4 hours we had gone about 5km, and finally had lunch at 2pm. Yet onwards we went, and just had to get in a little elevation. The weather and time of day did not work in our favour, so we turned around. Still a great day out in a nice quiet valley where we did not encounter anyone else. This is definitely one to keep in mind for summer.
Note to those wishing to start from this trailhead in the future: Do not park at the trailhead at the end of Mt. Lorette Drive as is noted in so many of the guidebooks. While there still is an official trailhead sign, the entire area is a big tow-away zone and one man told us that the locals are very good at getting cars towed. The new trailhead is the first right past Exshaw Creek and past the firehall. This is shown on the GemTrek map along Mt. Allan Drive. From there you can head directly up the berm behind the trailhead (Big Berm Trail) and head for your destination (Exshaw Pass, Exshaw Ridge, and/or Exshaw Mountain). You do not need to head across the pedestrian bridge, though you can use this as an alternate and head up the creek along the other side.