travel log | hiking wedgemount lake

8/08/2014 12:22:00 AM Unknown 0 Comments

Summer just screams hiking, and the weather two weeks ago I went on my first hike this year was just perfect. I met up with an old acquaintance a few months ago, and we were surprised to find out that we both had a thing for hiking, despite the fact that all we ever shared was hard liquor on birthday parties several years ago.

July 27th, Saturday, was the day of the hike. We decided to go on this trail that she had gone to before called Wedgemount Lake, just a few miles past Whistler, BC. The lake is atop a mountain called Mt. Currie (oh yum). The base of the mountain is about two and a half hours away from mainland Vancouver, just at the beginning of Pemberton. You will have to drive a little bit more towards the base after turning right from the highway.

This trail is not for the casual cardio hiker. It is rated D for Difficult on the Vancouver Trails website. Unless you really want to wreck your ankles, potentially slide down rocks and slippery tree roots, or kill your toenails, proper hiking shoes are a must. I did see some hikers in their runners, which instantly made me cringe. Poor toes. I even saw someone wearing sandals. Bless his soul. I recommend high-cut shoes that have good ankle support because unless you are a pro (in which you should have the proper gear), you will twist your ankle at some point during the 5 hour hike up or the 4-ish hour hike down.

Invest in your feet.

The first third or so of the hike wasn't so bad, in my opinion. A problem we encountered was that Chris' back was hurting like an old man and we had to stop every few minutes or so for it to subside. Having to stop kind of kills your momentum, since your body will cool down and then warm up again. That's how you start to feel the fatigue.

It is quite a steep hike, elevations rise within only a few meters, and your lungs will definitely notice the thinning air. You also have to navigate around tree roots, fallen trunks, makeshift steps, and huge boulders. Around halfway through, you will see an area of landslide filled with rocks. And mosquitoes.

After a couple more hours, when you're almost at the top, be prepared to slink through a couple tiny streams, and eventually, boulders that you'll have to carefully climb up. You will be forced to use your hands at some point, find something to hold on to, because no matter how much of a Spiderman you think you are, you never know when a rock wouldn't be so anchored to the ground or someone from above might send one rolling down. Plus, you will have to step through some little streams of water, so your shoes and the footprints left by the people before you will be wet.

Them hobbits on a journey

Once you reach the top, though, prepare your camera for stunning glacier views and the pristine turquoise waters of this small lake. The sights make the grueling hike worth it.

We even saw a cute little chipmunk that we were giving nuts to. Chris decided to take a nap on the ground and we used him as a plate :)

There is an outhouse, a.k.a. prettified makeshift toilet, which was basically a hole in the ground. Hold breath while in use.

The trek down is just as hard as the way up, if not harder. You have to really watch your footing, especially on the boulder area. I wouldn't be too complacent on the lower parts of the trek, either. It's very easy to lose sight of your footing, and the roots and rocks can be very slippery, even on a hot day. A hiking pole will be a huge help if it's your first time.

For anyone who is in BC and is up for a challenging, lesser-known hike, this trail would be a great one to try. This isn't as popular as Garibaldi or even Joffre Lake, which I like, so there are less people to throw you off your game while hiking. It will challenge you. They also allow overnight camping on the grounds, and the BC Mountaineering Club hut is welcome for anyone to use on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you plan on camping, you'll have to bring your stuff up and down, including all your garbage. No gondolas or garbage collection days here, folks. Take back what you bring with you.

If you plan on taking Wedgemount Lake on, I highly recommend, again, proper shoes, a jacket (it can get very cold on top), a hiking pole, some insect repellent, lots of water, a few light snacks, and of course, your camera. Be in the right state of mind and body to hike. Once you're in too deep into the trail, going back will take just as much effort going forward. Also bring a pair of flip flops or sandals for after the hike. Your tired feet will be happy.

And of course, after a whole day of seemingly endless walking, go down to Whistler for some beer and good eats! Yay!

Happy hiking!

Photo creds to Freya. Some photos were taken with my iPhone.