What an adventure!
Given that Vancouver had experienced 26 consecutive days of rain, I wasn't quite sure what to wear when I got up in the dark this past Sunday morning. I could see the stars as I packed snowshoes into the car. The city forecast was for intermittent sun and clouds. By the time we reached the mining museum at Britannia Beach, however, it was pouring rain... and I forgot to pack a poncho. Dho! For the next 20 minutes as we approached the Brennan Rec Centre in Squamish, I conjured up excuses for how to avoid snowshoeing in the rain while not loosing Club Points for being a no-show!
After a brief checking, we picked up Bill Dagg for the drive up to the Diamond Head trailhead. As we approached the end of the paved road, I joked with Bill about when I almost slid off the road and down a cliff the last time I tried to negotiate the last bit of the dirt road into the Diamond Head parking lot in the winter. Bill and the kids were reassured that our new Subaru Forrester was a highly-rated off-road wonder machine that could handle any back country challenge.
The next thing I knew we were sliding backwards. Young Erik (my 7 year old) almost soiled his snowsuit. Passengers bailed as the Forrester accelerated backwards down the hill. In the rear view mirror, I could see the guy in the van behind me hit the breaks and similarly start spinning out of control on the steep, icy road. After a few white-knuckle moments, the situation was back under control. I backed about a kilometer down the road to where more prudent and experienced back road drivers were installing chains.
As it turns out, most of the Fat Ass Scramblers assembled at the lower parking lot and jogged with their snowshoes a couple of K up to the trailhead. Good plan, as those monster trucks with chains that did make the drive weren't that much faster than us.
Amazingly, the snow was dry and powdery. Given that it had puked snow for the last several days, even the main trail up to Red Heather Cabin was deep and narrow. The snow was so deep that even with running snowshoes on, you sunk in up to your waist the moment you stepped off the packed trail. I hooked on to a good pace group. We steadily overtook the ski tourers who were also out to enjoy the pow.
It was about 10:30 when we arrived at the warming hut. Whiskey Jacks (a species of blue jays) swarmed us looking for handouts from our trail mix bags. The sun poked out from behind thick clouds as Elke Bauer, from the lead pack, looped back into camp. Word was that the 5K section of trail to Elfin Lakes hut had been broken, so I took off on my own to try and catch the leaders. (Who, by the way, had an hour head start on us because their vehicle made it to the upper parking lot!)
My solo trek to the Elfin Lakes cabin in was Zen-like. The deep powder muffled all sounds. Stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks came and went with the passing clouds. The rolling ridgeline trail was a nice change of pace from the constant uphill grade to Red Heather. I barely recognized the cabin when I arrived as it was almost completely covered in snow.
I forgot to start my stopwatch, so I have no idea how long it had taken me or my position relative to the leaders. Part of me said, "Catch them and kick their butts!", the other said, "Chill, enjoy, take photos and win the snowman-making contest." I opted for the latter and thoroughly enjoyed taking action shots of many of our group who were coming up the trail as I made my way back down.
It was 2:30 by the time we reassembled at Red Heather. The hut was warm and cozy from the wood fire. My wife and kids were there with their snowshoes and toboggan. Complete strangers were sharing their lunches with each other as they gushed enthusiasm for the day, the conditions and how we in British Columbia are blessed to have all of this at our doorsteps.
Looking back on the day, I think the descent to the parking lot was most fun of all. While I thought trekking up to the hut with toboggan in tow was a lame idea, it turned out to be a stroke of genius. (Thanks, Sibylle!) The entire 5K trail from Red Heather to the trailhead was deep, narrow and downhill: It was as if all of the best technology in the world couldn't have invented a better luge course. The kids (then the adults!) piled onto the toboggan and flew to the bottom sending snow flying everywhere and occasionally crashing into the deep pow on the hairpin turns.
I've put photos of the day up on the
Squamish Scrambler event website. Thank you to the Howe Sound Brewing Company for the pint and Trail Runner Magazine for the subscription I was awarded for the 2-dimensional peeing snowman. A special thank you, to Club Fat Ass event host Gary Robbins, for hosting a *fantastic* event!
