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What: 1466m. A good climb with excellent views.
Where: James Peak is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail above Lions Bay, BC.
| Difficulty: |
3/5 |
Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything |
| Runnability: |
2/5 |
Popular HSCT section of trail offers a good warm-up. |
| Peak view: |
5/5
|
Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound |
| Scenery: |
4/5 |
Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views. |
| Children: |
2/5 |
Challenging from distance perspective. |
| Dogs: |
3/5 |
Sharp rocks on final ascent |
Route overview: James Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST). The closest trailhead is Lions Bay.
Trip distance: From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 9 km.
Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2-4 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.
Safety:
- Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
- GPS spotty under tree cover
- Emergency shelter at Magnesia Meadows. Firehall in Lions Bay.
- Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion
Name Origin: Unknown.
Headwaters for: Some small streams.
Getting there: From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!
Route Details: James Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT). There are 2 popular routes to James from the closest trailhead at Lions Bay: From the south via the Lions or from the north via Brunswick Mountain.
Lions Bay to West Lion (1.5-3 hours)
- park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
- take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
- HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked.
West Lion to James Peak (.5 - 1 hours)
- from the base of the West Lion, follow HSCT west
- trail leading to the peak is sometimes hard to follow
- small cairn and great views
Porteau Exit to Harvey Ridge (3-5 hours)
- From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
- Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
- well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
- continue uphill along HCST to Brunswick Ridge then down through Magnesia Meadows to red-roofed shelter
- continue south along HCST next to a small lake then up to a ridge.
Harvey Ridge to James Peak (1.5 -2.5 hours)
- follow well-trodden path through blueberry bushes around a wide, open clear-cut.
- if you plan to bag David Peak as well, be careful to *not* descend clearly-marked trail into next valley. Very small, poorly-marked trail goes southward and steeply up the north side of David
- if you're in a hurry, skirt around David on the main HSCT. James is the next bump between you and the Lions
- for those with an apprehension about heights, there's a short section that will get your heart pumping. Cable to help you
Neighboring peaks:
- Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Harvey, David Peak and West Lion are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner
Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar
More information:
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