This was the title of the email sent five days before this years gathering to 7 lucky participants although not all of the choosen started they were still part of something special.
Howe Sound Crest Trail is a rugged 30km backcountry hiking trail that leaves from the down hill parking area at cypress mountain and heads out along the ridge the boundaries the Capilano watershed on one side and Howe Sound on the other until passing through the Lions and heading out towards Deeks Lake and the Sea to sky highway just a km before Porteau Cove. It is a rugged trail with several sections that require the use of your hands as well as keen sense of direction to follow the trail or at least know when your not on it any more.
The Crew (Tom, Jurgen, Nicola and Gary)(Peter missing)
After having done the car drop at the far end we met up on top of Cypress at the washrooms where we lingered for probably 20mins before finally talking ourselves into heading out into the worst weather of the month at that point but as we’ve had it, it was one of the last days that didnt feel like winter.
So off we started with 15,000ft of elevation change ahead of us we wondered. Not more then 5mins into the run we missed a very obvious switchback went off trail and schwacked for 10 before finally heading back to our last known point in which we found our way. We were dressed for a run in the arctic at the start given the damp, dreary conditions of the day but we were quickly warming up and soon we were stopping for people to change up their attire to match the conditions.
The opening 2hr of this run are very much the an in the forest experience but as you finally get to the top of Mount Unneccessary you end up on this beautiful alpine ridge with rock and heather everywhere. We were not so lucky as to get to enjoy the beautiful view that exsists up there because of our choosen day but I know will be back to see its sights again.
After Unneccessary you head up towards the west lion just as you get to it you descend to below the west peak and then acend to the col between the two peaks. This is a highlight of the trail as the exposure off both sides is quite impressive even in the fog.
The next section of this trail was kind of the crux in my head due to the fact that Tom and myself had lost the trail in this section several times in really good weather but with the local knowledge and a little group cairn hunting we found the trail and made good time over to St David peak.
Now when Tom and I had done this run 3 years ago the route went down to the east dropping 1500ft at least and then climbing right back up to the same elevation but since then with one more trip to the area last fall I realized that there was a flagged trail up and over St David Peak which was only about 600ft of elevation gain so why not go that way. Off I lead up this steep, steep trail but after what only seemed like 15mins we were on the summit and off down the descent trail which was also very, very steep in sections. Over this section Tom and Jurgen had started to fall behind a bit and they were having some doubts about finishing so when we passed a sign on the trail which said to Lions Bay they decided to take that varation despite my warning from previous experience that the trail they were going to be on was reclaimed by the alders long ago, but off they went because the mind says down is better then up so with just the 3 of us left we headed to Magnesia Meadows for the first accessible water of the day.
After refilling our bladders we stopped by the emergency shelter to check it out and thats all it really is a place to wait out emergency’s or terrible weather.
After this place there is only one more climb up and around Mt. Brunswick and then its almost all downhill to the highway and the awaiting pizza, beer and chocolate milk that was stashed during the car drop. It was at this point in the day that we ran into 5 or 6 older hikers up on the trail that had left from Lions Bay and had climbed Brunswick and were on the way to Mt. Harvey to round out there outing, it was revitalising to see some others out suffering as well.
As you round Mt. Brunswick and come into Hat Pass you get your first glimpse’s of the alpine lakes that wait in the valley below. As well as you finally feel like your able to run for more the 5mins without having to go up or down some crazy steep hill.
It was nice to finally feel like we were out of the clouds but as we descended futher we got back into the mist of the forest which made it seem like night was about to fall at any minute eventhough it was the middle of the afternoon.
With a couple of falls on my butt on the way down the finall 3000ft downhill my quads were getting cooked. When we hit the logging road at the bottom Nicola and Gary just opened up and sprinted down them like nothing. God was I happy to hear them complain about sore quads for the next week it deserves you right for dropping me at the end.
Thanks to the crew for a successful mission. The 3 of us completed the run in 6hr55min about an hour slower then when Tom and I had done it a couple years ago, but this days conditions definetly played a factor.
PAW
