Live Trails - Report to Burton Hut (From Rubble Creek parking lot) in Mainland-Southwest, BC, Canada

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1185Km

Report to Trail: Burton Hut (From Rubble Creek parking lot)
Distance: 28Km Elevation: 925m High Point: 1500m Location: Mainland-Southwest, BC, Canada
Trail tags: 2WD backcountry-skiing campsite lake sleeping-shelter snowshoeing viewpoints

By (Reads: 588)

Attempt result and date: Successful attempt

03/21/2010
Mood after attempting this trail:

The whole weekend was supposed to be sunny when I signed up for this hike on Tuesday; the weather had other plans. Saturday at 9:40, five of us donned our multi-day packs at the Rubble Creek parking lot (completely snow-free) and proceeded up the usual switchbacks. Crampons/microspikes/skis went on at 2.5km, and snowshoes - at the Barrier viewpoint. Crossing the white stillness of the lakes was amazing. We got to the shelter at the Garibaldi lake at 2:05 and stopped for a break and a snack.

The wind had really picked up out in the open. I'm not the first to mention that the other side looks much closer than 5km away, and it was a long 1h 25min meditative walk across the frozen lake along the previously established tracks. At the hut at 4:05, we got the heater going, though most of the warmth was added by the heat of the burners; the hut stove was also working quite well and there was a source of water close to the hut. We had a wonderful evening playing German and Russian card games, indulging in wine and chocolates.

Around 7pm, members of the 20-person VOC/ACC group doing the Garibaldi Neve traverse started trickling in, and soon there was a massive tent city outside. Only two of the group stayed in the hut from the start, and another couple of people came in the middle of the night not comfortable enough in their tents. Despite out fears there was plenty of space, and the temperature inside rose to 18C, making for a very warm sleep.

About 25cm of snow fell overnight and was still snowing lightly Sunday morning, so we abandoned the idea of going up any of the surrounding peaks and instead walked ~1.5km towards the glacier and up a small ridge. It was incredibly warm with fresh run-offs visible on the steeper NE slopes. Back to the hut, across the lake and down to the cars, concluding the day with an early dinner at Squamish. Thanks to Rob for organizing this Wanderung trip.