Taylor Meadows and Panorama Ridge

Scott is in Edmonton and I am taking over Spokin’ Sportsman (he he he).  Hopefully with our combined efforts focused on one blog we’ll do a better job posting.   If anyone can draw a picture of T. Rex riding a single speed then the merger of ssportsman and fluorineTRex will be complete.  In the mean time….

53 weeks ago in the California Sierras, Scott and I had our first backpacking trip together to the slopes of Mt. Langley.  We didn’t know when we left the house that morning the trip would also be our honeymoon.    This weekend we shouldered packs again and set out to explore Scott’s new backyard.   We headed out late Friday night  and slept at the trailhead on Rubble Creek that accesses Garabaldi Lake, Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge.

This trail is the second most popular day hike and backpack in the lower mainland.  But it is perfectly photogenic and I had hopes that the crowds would have dissipated for the season (I was wrong).  We made it to the Taylor Meadow campground late Saturday  morning, set up the tent, redistributed the gear to daypacks and headed further uphill to Panorama Ridge. (note from Scott…notice my daypack is a camera bag, leaving the heavy gear to Em)

Evidence of multiple glacial advances (as noted by my wonderfully geo-inclined and informed wife)

The view from the top of Panorama Ridge convinced us that we didn’t need a trail to explore further along the ridge.  The glaciers in the background are part of the Garabaldi Neve Traverse, a winter ski that I’d love to do this spring.

We decided to drop down to the north into the Helm Lake drainage, via the Helm glacier, and then hike back into Taylor Meadow.   Just drop down the glacier to the outwash, traverse around the streams through the outwash sands and volcanic cinder and then turn left at the base of the Black Tusk.

Scott’s the slowboarder, I mean, snowboarder in this relationship, but I was the one dragging knuckles on the Helm Glacier.

The wildflower and the marmots enjoyed the sunshine and warmth at the bottom of the ridge, protected from the ridge top winds.

Saturday night in the Taylor Meadow campground was HORRID.  Camping is only on the designated tent pads which are all within spitting distance of each other.  The group of 4 college age guys who left food at their tent, had visible trash outside the tent pad, drank a entire bottle of whiskey, smoked a joint and 3/4 of cigar were also noisy. grrrrr.  If I wanted to hear people instead of the babbling stream I would have stayed home and listened to Saturday night karakoe from the apartment across the alley.  It was 1 am before they shut down and I finally fell asleep.  I expect some noise if I’m car camping, but was surprised at the inconsiderate backpackers.  Poor Scott got the brunt of my anger.  Thankfully he is a much calmer and forgiving person than me.  I wish he had peed on their tent or the last 1/4 of that nasty cigar they left out.

Sunday we left the campground early, before I did anything regrettable to the hungover, stoned jerks and hiked the 4 kms to have breakfast at Garabaldi Lake.  Summer is ending and the frost is getting thicker.

A breakfast with a view.  The second peak on the left is the top of Panorama Ridge.

The end of the trail…

Next weekend is Scott’s b-day and I’ve already planned our weekend warrior assault!  We are trying to fit in a summer’s worth of fun before the rain starts.