What an Experienceat Garibaldi Lake in Canada🤩
#outdooradventure
Canada | Hiking the Panorama's Ridge Guide
Summer is when real adventures happen.
I have never been to BC in all these years in Canada. By chance, I finally booked a flight in early July this year and went to the Panorama's Ridge hike that I had always dreamed of.
While completing my longest single-day hike, I also fulfilled another little wish of mine: road trip every province in southern Canada🫡
This route is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park. In summer, you need to book a pass on the BC Park official website 2 days in advance. This time I took the route starting from Ruble Creek parking lot, with a total length of about 30KM and a climb of about 1,550 meters. I took an hour to take photos and rest + the actual hike took about 9 hours. On the way there, I walked to Garibaldi's Lake. The signboards were very clear. The first 6KM was an endless uphill switchbacks, and then it would be much flatter, until the last 3KM, which would be a big uphill again. The scenery in the middle of the flat section was still picturesque, and it felt like being in Switzerland. In early July, the snow on the top had not completely melted. You had to walk carefully when you went up, otherwise you would easily slip. Finally, you had to climb a rocky slope to reach the summit. The scenery after the summit was really beautiful. You could see Mt. Garibaldi, Black Tusk, Mt. Price, and the Garibaldi Lake, which was so blue that it seemed unreal and surrounded by mountains. We returned after a short rest. We walked through Taylor Meadows on the way back, which saved 1KM of walking and allowed us to see different scenery. The downhill on the way back was the most endurance-testing. It is recommended that you speed up and go down in a zigzag pattern to reduce the pressure on your knees as much as possible.
It is indeed quite difficult for a day hike. If you think it is too long, you can consider camping overnight. The advantage is that you don't have to walk so much in a day, and you can also see the reflection of the snow-capped mountains in the lake when the light is softer. If I have the chance, I will do it again, but I will probably take the Helm Creek route at that time, which will be less crowded and slightly more challenging.
In terms of equipment, hiking shoes are a must. The climate in BC is relatively stable in the summer, so a soft shell is enough. I wear the Arc'teryx gamma LT, which is perfect for this climate. If possible, it is best to bring a trekking pole, which is very helpful. If there is snow on the mountain, it is also best to prepare a pair of snow claws to prevent slipping and falling. Depending on the weather and personal situation, you can bring 2L-4L of water. There are many mosquitoes in the mountains, so mosquito repellent spray is also a must.
BC is really beautiful in the summer. I have been unable to visit BC because of the expensive airfare and five-hour flight from Toronto, but now I want to spend every summer in BC in the future.