September 2nd, 2006

Mount Cook At Wedgemount Lake / Photographs

The Wedgemount Lake area is very beautiful with glaciers and tall mountains including the highest mountain in Garibaldi Park, Wedge Mountain. My plan is to hike up to Mount Cook on my second day there.

From the trailhead to the lake, it took me three and a half hours. It was quite steep in some sections especially the last part where you hike over the rim of the lake level. Along the way, I had to cross boulder fields and walk through old growth forest. Near the top, I could see glimpses of a 300 meter waterfall.

When I finally crested the lake, the view was fantastic. The lake was teal blue surrounded by mountains – Cook, Weart, Wedge, Parkhurst, Rethel. And dominating the scene due east was Wedgemount Glacier. There was a cabin, a outhouse and numerous tent sites scattered throughout the north side of the lake. I pitched my tent near the shore east of the cabin then I walked to the glacier to get some close-up pictures.

The next day, I started hiking to Mount Cook at 7:30am. According to the book, it’s the easiest hike in the area. But I lost the route at one point and had to backtrack. Most of the hike was on rocks and boulders. The last part up the scree slope on the west side was especially tedious. In the end, it was worth all the effort I put in. The view all around me was breathtaking. I can see Whistler Village, Green Lake and Highway 99 to the southwest, Tantalus range to the west, Mount Moe and Weart Glacier to the north, Black Tusk, Cheakamus Glacier, Rethel, Parkhurst and Wedge to the south, and Mount Weart and Wedgemount Glacier to the east. After some more pictures I came back to camp at 4pm. Early next morning around 7, I packed up and left with some wonderful memories.