Welcome to Garibaldi Provincial Park. One of the most beautiful parks on this side of the country, Garibaldi is an area roughly 1,950 square kilometers containing ragged snow capped peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, large alpine meadows with flowers of all colours, and vast, vast forests. There are many unique and interesting geological features in the park caused by recent volcanic activity, such as the Barrier, the Black Tusk, the Table, and much more (view the earth caches at these locations for more information). Along with the stunning scenery, the western side of the park is packed full of trails that you can hike. They vary in difficulty from a leisurely day hike, to a demanding mountain climb in the snow. There are also a good number of campsites and shelters throughout the park that you can stay at, though there is a camping fee you have to pay.
I have created this series to take you along some of my very favorite hikes in the park. I have placed four traditional caches at four different locations throughout Garibaldi, as well a final mystery cache. You will have to hike to each of the four traditionals and grab the clues for the final. THIS SERIES IS NOT MEANT TO BE DONE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME!!! If you are dedicating yourself to doing this, you may be able to do it in one season, though for some people, I expect it could take over a year to complete. Each of the hikes this series will take you on has its own challenges and benefits, and some of the caches are not meant for novice hikers. Please make sure you are prepared for your trip, expect rough trail conditions, bad weather, and snow (even in the summer months). You can easily find a list of equipment you may need online. Make sure to view the trail report before attempting any of these hikes! It can be viewed on the BC parks website.
Garibaldi Lake:
I have placed this cache on Garibaldi Lake, the largest lake in Garibaldi Park. The hike up to the lake is nine kilometers one way, with roughly one thousand meters of elevation gain. This hike is probably the most popular in the park, so expect lots of people on the trail. The trail is very well maintained, with a nice gentle incline to take you up hill. Despite the large amount of elevation gain, the hill climbing isn't too extreme; you will be going up aa large number of switch backs instead of going straight up. There are even signs along the trail telling you how far you have come from the parking lot. The first two thirds of the hike don't provide too much in the way of scenery, but after you finish the hill climbing, that changes. You will get a nice view of the barrier and the area you just came from, and you will get nice views of the two smaller lakes on the way. The first and smaller one is Barrier Lake, and the second larger one is Lesser Garibaldi Lake. These two lakes are absolutely tiny compared to Garibaldi lake, you have a treat not too far ahead.
Once you get to Garibaldi Lake itself, you have endless options. If you are overnight hiking, there are over fity campsites to use, a bunch of out houses, and four shelters (though you can't camp in them). Spend a few hours enjoying the view on a bench, go swimming (WARNING: Very cold), chill out on the dock; there are many things you can do. For those spending the night, there are day hikes you can do from the Lake. You can do Mt. Price, which is very technical and steep with rough trail conditions. There is the Black Tusk, which is the intimidating black tower to the north; this hike is very steep and can be dangerous. You can hike north to Cheakamus Lake via Helm Lake, though this is a very long hike. You can also do Panorama Ridge, which will has the most stunning views you will ever see.
Note: As of 2016, all campsites in Garibaldi park require a reservation. Check out the bc parks site for more details.
The cache itself is a small diving container, hidden near the shore of the lake. Please make sure to be very stealthy when finding this cache because this area can become very busy! I have provided a pencil crayon, but I would recommend bringing your own pen just in case the tip is broken. Please re hide exactly as you found it, and send me a message if there is an issue with the cache. If you forget to grab the hint, I will send it to you as long as you provide picture proof that you were there. This cache is NOT available in the winter. Happy hunting! :)
DON'T FORGET TO WRITE DOWN THE HINT!!!!!!
The Great Garibaldi Tour: Diamond Head
The Great Garibaldi Tour: Singing Pass/Russet Lake
The Great Garibaldi Tour: Wedgemount Lake
The Great Garibaldi Tour: Final