Andy Gibb
Vancouver is my adopted home town, the North Shore mountains my back yard, and the summer wildflowers my muse. Even when it's raining.
This trail has undergone some major upgrades in the past few years (up to 2016) and is now a gravel path for much of the route. It used to be a miserable root- and rock-fest with a seriously high potential for injury. It's a much more pleasant experience now, if a little boring, and passes through some lovely old-growth hemlock forest. Note there are no water sources along the way so take all you need. Note that in the winter the route crosses a big avalanche path that should only be crossed if the conditions are appropriate. This is unpatrolled backcountry - you should be prepared for self rescue.
4.0
Stunning views from what may be the highest point on the North Shore, even better than nearby Goat (which is a pretty damn awesome summit in itself). Fun scrambling and a knife-edge summit to sit on. Personally, I'd rate this hike as difficult for 3 reasons. 1) The *actual* elevation gain starting from the gondola is nearer 900 m, 200 m of which is on the way back (and it is an extremely steep climb out of Crown Pass in either direction); 2) the approach includes traversing some down-sloping slabs that are tricky when wet; 3) the summit area of Crown Mountain has some pretty lethal exposure in places. It's not a summit for the timid or novice hiker - it's in Matt Gunn's scrambles book (and not in the regular hike books) for a good reason - and every year inexperienced hikers get into trouble up here and need help from North Shore Rescue.
5.0
A memorable backpacking trip for sure, that first day hiking in to Og Lake from Sunshine Village was loooooong. But the scenery is just jaw-dropping the whole way. Be sure to check out Nub Peak, Windy Ridge, and Wonder Pass while you're at Lake Magog. Stunning views, and you can grab a cold beer at the end too. I want to return in larch season and with our ultra-wide angle lens to get those classic pro shots! The camping at Lake Magog has a wonderful cook shelter; Og Lake has absolutely no shelter (or it didn't in 2009) so if it rains... Thunderstorms are common in mid-summer so be sure to get off the peaks before they roll in. We saw grizzly evidence but no bears. If you're hiking in the whole way from Sunshine Village, then know that it's 29 km in to Lake Magog! Not a trip for beginners! On the other hand, if you can afford the helicopter ride...
5.0
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