Black Mountain

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What: 1217m. An easy bag with partial views.

Where: Black Mountain is located in Cypress Provincial Park on the Baden Powell Trail above West Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	1/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	4/5	Popular Baden Powell Trail offers many opportunities to open it up
Peak view:	2/5	Partial views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Mostly second growth forests. Ocean views. Small lake.
Children:	5/5	Child friendly
Dogs:	1/5	On leash. Check for other potential restrictions in BC Parks.

Route overview: Black Mountain is located on the Baden Powell (BP) Trail above Horseshoe Bay in Cypress Provincial Park.

Trip distance: From the Cypress parking lot, roughly 3 km.

Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2.5 - 5 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. From Cypress, plan for 2 - 4 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Ski lodge at Cypress.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Charted in about 1860 by Captain Richards of the Royal Navy, and presumably named by him. At some time the mountain was ravaged by a forest fire, which left many charred stumps, giving a black appearance which still lasts.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to Cypress Mountain Provincial Park. Park in paid lot.

Route Details: Black is on the west side of the Cypress Bowl ski area on the Baden Powell (BP) Trail.

Take Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) past the lodge
Baden Powell (BP) trail forks left and uphill. Wide, dirt and gravel trail parallels ski lifts to the alpine area.
Singletrack on BP trail to the peak.
actual peak is a large rock outcropping about 3m to the east of the trail.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks St. Marks, Hollyburn and Mount Strachan are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread
map of Cypress Provincial Park

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Brunswick Mountain

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What: 1788m. A big mountain with exciting views.

Where: Brunswick Mountain is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail between Porteau Cove and Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	4/5	Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Some light scrambling in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	2/5	Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs:	3/5	Some sharp rocks in alpine. Water scarce in the alpine

Route overview: Brunswick Mountain can be approached from the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) from either the north (Porteau Exit off #1) or the south (Lions Bay). From the HSCT, the well-marked dogleg to Brunswick climbs steeply uphill through some loose rock sections to a spectacular ridge. There are a series of points along a razor ridge with the money peak being characterized by a disused helicopeter pad.

Trip distance: From Porteau exit parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 20 km. From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 20 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-7 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead at Porteau Exit. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake. Firehall in Lions Bay.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion and lots of water

Name Origin: Named around 1859 by Captain Richards, in association with other Howe Sound names, after HMS Brunswick, 74 guns, 1,836 tons, under Captain John Harvey.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the north: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead. From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: The trail to the Brunswick Mountain is well traveled and a popular weekend excursion.

Porteau Exit to Saddle (3-4 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
continue uphill along HCST to a ridge with large trail and sign to Brunswick

Lions Bay to Saddle (3-4 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to Brunswick is clearly marked. At ridge, look for large trail uphill to right with sign to Brunswick Mountain

Brunswick ridge to peak (1/2 - 2 hours)

follow well-marked trail steeply uphill along a ridge. Watch for loose rock underfoot.
at the razor ridge, go right and uphill across a series of short, steep climbs and descents
the true peak is characterized by some old wooden beams that served as a helicopter pad. Enjoy the 360-degree views and vertical drop!
return via same route

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Fat Ass Peak, Hat Mountain, Wettin Peak are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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Capilano Mountain

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What: 1685m. A big mountain with a commanding view.

Where: Capilano Mountain is located between Vancouver and Squamish, approximately 13 kilometers southeast of Furry Creek, BC.

Difficulty:	4/5	Wide variety of terrain. Long single day return distance.
Runnability:	3/5	Totally runnable to Beth Lake trailhead with some nice sections to lake and in alpine.
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views in 360 degrees.
Scenery:	5/5	Wide variety including old growth, alpine lakes, sheer cliffs, city views and rocky, open alpine.
Children:	2/5	Return trip to peak is long way.
Dogs:	4/5	Sharp rocks in alpine.

Route overview: Widely varied. A bit of gravel road. Some decommissioned logging road. Some rough single track. Some scrambling. Trail is hard to follow in the alpine area.

Trip distance: Roughly 26 kilometers round-trip from gate at end of paved road. Shorter if you drive closer to Beth Lake trailhead.

Trip time: Budget 6 - 8 hours out and back from the gate at end of paved road. This assumes a moderate running pace, where running is possible, and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS is inconsistent until Beth Lake due to heavy tree canopy
No emergency shelters in the area
Given routefinding challenges in alpine, not recommended on a foggy day
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

History: Assumed to be named after Chief Joe Capilano of the Squamish nation.

Headwaters for: Capilano River.

Getting there: Take Highway 99 to the Furry Creek golf course. Once off the highway, take the paved Furry Creek Drive paralleling the highway on mountain side. From Vancouver direction, go straight past the entrance to the country club (Country Club Road.) As the paved road goes left to a tunnel under the highway, go right and uphill. From Squamish direction, take first Furry Creek exit then tunnel under highway and uphill to end of pavement. There will be a dirt road and a yellow gate. A sign warns that the gate could be closed at any time. All trail measurements from here.

Route Details: The trail to Capilano Mountain is less traveled. There is only one clear route we recommend for baggers.

first question is, "How far do I drive?" If you don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, you are in any way worried about scratching your 4-wheel or you are worried about getting locked in if someone closes the gate, park your car in the guest lot at Oliver's Landing. (Take paved road under Hwy #99, go right towards water. It's about 1 kilometer from parking lot to the gate.)
Gate to the trail-head access road. Reset odometer. Follow the powerlines 3.9km uphill to cutoff. At 1.4km, you will come to a quarry. Go right. At 2.5km you will pass by a gate leading steeply downhill. Don't go here even if the gate is open. Cross 2 bridges (2.8km and 3.1km). At the fork in the road at 3.7km, stay left. At 4.3km, take the smaller road left. We noted 28.3 on the hydro tower near this fork.
Power lines to trailhead. This is a narrow dirt road that goes from being drivable to almost imperceptible singletrack through alders as you reach the trail to Beth Lake. If you are driving, go as far as you dare. We went 600m to a small parking area and recommend you park here, too. The road to our parking spot was OK, but alders were very close. From here, it's about 20 minutes at a moderate running pace to the Beth Lake trail. Pass a rock slide area, then cross 3 large creeks (don't count the small waterbars.) You will know you have arrived at the last creek because on the near side, this one has some big old logs that remain from a bridge. About 100m past the creek, look for surveyor tape and metal reflectors in the trees on your right.
Access road to Beth Lake. Nice trail with runnable sections takes you up to the lake. Watch for metal tags on the trees. Anticipate minor detours around blowdown.
Beth Lake to the tree line. Enjoy the view of this breathtaking amphitheater. At the edge of the lake, go right over a logjam and look for metal tags on the trees on the far side. Head slightly back downhill, then at the foot of the cliff, head sharply uphill on west side of lake. Some orange tape and some metal markers on the trees. You will reach a boulder field below the ridge in about 30 minutes. Trail marking in this section is very hard to follow as there are few places to hang tape. Generally stay left of the rocks up to the ridge.
Ridge line to the summit. Nice view of downtown Vancouver from the ridge! The trail continues left in and out of the trees for a short distance then it's open and rocky to the peak. From here, route-finding is a challenge. Look for small rock cairns to the summit. Pass by a couple of beautiful small lakes, many small ponds and probably some patches of snow. There's a bit of scrambling as you make your way up the final pitch, but nothing too challenging. View from the top is breathtaking!

Neighboring Peaks

given the distance and time considerations, there are no other peaks we recommend for this trip

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar with help from Neil Ambrose

More information:

David Crerar, Club Fat Ass trip report
Trailrunner, Club Tread trip report
Matt Gunn, Scrambles in Southwest British Columbia

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Coburg Peak

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What: 1645m. A nasty bushwhack with an excellent view.

Where: Coburg Peak is located just off the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	5/5	Some bushwhacking and some light scrambling
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warmup. Bushwhacking in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Good views.
Children:	1/5	Not appropriate.
Dogs:	1/5	Not recommended. Sharp rocks in alpine. Several very steep sections.

Route overview: The trail to Coburg Peak can be broken down into 5 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the alpine, a leg to Gotha a leg from Gotha to Coburg. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second section is on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and is very well marked. The final sections are very infrequently traveled and not flagged.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 20 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-7 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Named after the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the former name of the House of Windsor, the current royal house of the commonwealth rhelms. (Queen Elizabeth II's family.)

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to Gotha Peak is relatively well traveled to Deeks Lake. The remaining section is less traveled and flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Alpine (1-2 hours)

follow trail along south end of the lake past a few campsites then across a small boulder field to base of a steep climb. Watch for sign to Windsor Peak.
nice singletrack takes you steeply uphill through tall trees with minimal undergrowth.
At Peak 5400 sign, stay right. You will eventually arrive at an open alpine area in the saddle between Mount Windsor and Gotha Peak

Alpine to Coburg Peak via Gotha (2 - 3 hours)

Coburg is approximately in the middle of the peaks along the ridge above Deeks and Brunswick Lakes. It rises precipitiously from Brunswick Lake.
The route to the peak was not flagged at the time of this writing (fall 2010)
bushwhack through open fields of heather to the ridge following the instructions to the farther of the 2 peaks of Gotha.
while Coburg Peak is obvious as the next in line along the ridge, the route is neither clear nor easy. Follow the west side of the cliffy ridge to the final steep climb. While neither side is pretty, the west side (above Brunswick Lake) appears to be the path of least resistance up cliffy bits of loose rock and through root balls where at times, your best friend is a blueberry bush. Pray the roots hold!
the peak offers views in 360-degrees
return via same route. Note that it is possible to get down the east side of Coburg, cross the boulder field and pick your way over to Windsor, but it is not pretty

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Deeks Peak, Mount Windsor and Gotha Peaks are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there

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David Peak

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What: 1480m. A good climb with excellent views.

Where: David Peak is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail above Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	4/5	Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Some light scrambling in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	2/5	Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs:	3/5	Sharp rocks on final ascent

Route overview: David Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST). The closest trailhead is Lions Bay.

Trip distance: From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 11 km.

Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2.5-5 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Magnesia Meadows. Firehall in Lions Bay.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: David Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT). There are 2 popular routes to David from the closest trailhead at Lions Bay: From the south via the Lions or from the north via Brunswick Mountain.

Lions Bay to West Lion (1.5-3 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked.

West Lion to David Peak (1- 1.5 hours)

from the base of the West Lion, follow HSCT west past James Peak
trail leading to the peak is sometimes hard to follow and beware loose shale near the peak
small cairn and great views

Porteau Exit to Harvey Ridge (3-5 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
continue uphill along HCST to Brunswick Ridge then down through Magnesia Meadows to red-roofed shelter
continue south along HCST next to a small lake then up to a ridge.

Harvey Ridge to David Peak (1-2 hours)

follow well-trodden path through blueberry bushes around a wide, open clear-cut.
at ridge below David, be careful to *not* descend clearly-marked trail into next valley. Very small, poorly-marked trail goes southward and steeply up the north side of David.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Harvey, James Peak and West Lion are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there!

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DePencier Bluffs

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What: 1230m. A family-friendly bagging adventure with great views.

Where: De Pencier Bluffs are located in Seymour Provincial Park, North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	1/5	Easy trail. Relatively short distance
Runnability:	4/5	Mostly runnable. Some eroded, rooty bits.
Peak view:	4/5	Great views of city and mountains. Partially obscured.
Scenery:	4/5	Good variety of mountains views, lakes and woods.
Children:	4/5	Short distance with several options.
Dogs:	1/5	Not allowed in provincial parks.

Route overview: Single track and/or gravel road. Several access options.

Trip distance: Roughly 5km return from the parking lot.

Trip time: Budget 1 - 2 hours out and back from the parking lot. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS coverage is excellent
Many visitors. Shelter and emergency personnel at ski area
Recommend you bring a light version of your Baggers Companion.

History: Named after the most reverend and mountaineer A.U. de Pencier (1866-1949) the Anglican Archbishop of New Westminster.

Headwaters for: Seymour River.

Getting there: Take Seymour Parkway to Mount Seymour Road and the Mount Seymour ski area. Once in the ski resort parking lot, go to the far north end of the parking lot at the base of the Mystery chairlift. Note that it's pay parking.

Route Details: The trail to De Pencier Bluffs is surprisingly not well traveled. There are several ways to get to the peak. Here's our recommended route:

Parking lot to Mystery Lake. Find the trail to the east side of the Mystery Chair. It's quite well traveled and marked at the trailhead. Eroded, with lots of roots.
Mystery Lake to Chairlift mid-station. Follow the shore of Mystery Lake to the right and about 90-degrees from where you entered. The trail heads up a little valley that winds-up at the mid-station of the chairlift. Note: you can also take the gravel road up to this point if you are in a hurry.
Chairlift to Peak. Looking uphill under the chairlift, go 90-degrees to your right uphill through a field of heather along a very narrow, barely visible trail. When the trail comes to a cliff, go right. Continue uphill around a little lake. There's a bit of scrambling as you make your way up the final pitch, but nothing too challenging. View from the top is breathtaking on a clear day!
Peak to Chairlift. It is possible to take a different trail around the back side. As you come down from the peak, look for the trail to your left. Stay right. It will come out on the trail you took from Mystery Lake to the chairlift. Go right and up to the ski lift to take the road, or left on the trail to Mystery Lake.

Neighboring peaks:

Mount Seymour, Runner Peak

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there!

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Deeks Peak

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What: 1672m. A rewarding climb with great views.

Where: Deeks Peak is located just off the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	Sparsely-marked trail with some light scrambling
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warmup.
Peak view:	4/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes.
Children:	3/5	Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	4/5	Minimal water on access trails.

Route overview: The trail to Deeks Peak can be broken down into 4 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the alpine and lake to the summit. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second section is on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and is very well marked. The third section and final sections are less traveled and less well flagged.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 16 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 4-6 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Named after John F. Deeks, owner of the Deeks Gravel and Rock company that operated in the area in the early 1900s.

Headwaters for: Some small streams..

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to Deeks Peak is relatively well traveled to Deeks Lake. The remaining section is less traveled and flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Alpine (1-2 hours)

follow trail along south end of the lake past a few campsites then across a small boulder field to base of a steep climb. Watch for sign to Windsor Peak.
nice singletrack takes you steeply uphill through tall trees with minimal undergrowth.
At Peak 5400 sign, stay left. You will eventually arrive at a small lake in the saddle between Deeks and Mount Windsor

Lake to Deeks Peak (1.5 - 3 hours)

the trail to the peak is poorly flagged. Follow left side of lake and look for tape to your left at far north-eastern end. Bushwhack through heather and low bushes until you find a narrow trail uphill
at ridge, go left and predominantly uphill. Climb and descend ridge until you come to a seemingly impassible cliff
stay left next to base of cliff face. Scramble over some boulders then continue on narrow trail up to the peak. There are a couple ways to reach the peak with the easiest way apparently being to approach from the back.
rocky peak with big rock cairn. Sign the guest book!
there is a route that continues along the ridge, down the neighboring valley and will eventually return to the highway, but it is very poorly marked. Recommend you return via the route you took

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Windsor Mountain, Gotha Peak are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

Club Tread

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Fat Ass Peak

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What: 1619m. An intermediate adventure with great views.

Where: Fat Ass Peak is located toward the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	2/5	Decent trail that offers a little bit of everything in moderation
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Some runable sections in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	4/5	Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs:	5/5	Great adventure with fido.

Route overview: The trail to Fat Ass Peak can be broken down into 4 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the ridge, the ridge to the peak. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second and third sections are on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and are very well marked. The final section to Hat is marked with the occasional bit of flagging and there is a thin trail.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 20 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-7 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion and lots of water

Name Origin: This one will not please the purists: Named after Club Fat Ass by David Crerar in 2009.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to the Brunswick shelter is relatively well traveled. The remaining section is far less traveled and not flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Brunswick ridge (30-min - 1- hour)

follow well-marked HSCT trail to the right along south end of the lake, then around west side of Deeks Lake.
cross the creek and continue on east side of small lake. Trail winds uphill to a red-roofed shelter just above the magnificent Brunswick Lake
continue on HSCT steeply uphill past a little tarn. Watch for small trail and orange flagging to the right

Ridge to Fat Ass Peak (1/4 - 1/2 hour)

thin trail. Look for tape as you near the saddle
climb on moderate trail through heather along the eastern (Brunswick Lake) side of the mountain
small cairn marks the peak. Great views of neighboring peaks and Howe Sound
return via same route

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Brunswick Mountain, Hat Peak, Wettin Peak are en route or relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there

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Gotha Peak

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What: 1641m. A bit of everything with a spectacular view as a reward. Two peaks.

Where: Gotha Peak is located just off the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	Some bushwhacking and some light scrambling
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warmup. Bushwhacking in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Perfect peak.
Children:	1/5	Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	4/5	Sharp rocks in alpine.

Route overview: The trail to Gotha Peak can be broken down into 4 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the alpine and lake to the summit. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second section is on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and is very well marked. The third section and final sections are less traveled and less well flagged.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 16 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 4-6 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Named after the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the former name of the House of Windsor, the current royal house of the commonwealth rhelms. (Queen Elizabeth II's family.)

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to Gotha Peak is relatively well traveled to Deeks Lake. The remaining section is less traveled and flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Alpine (1-2 hours)

follow trail along south end of the lake past a few campsites then across a small boulder field to base of a steep climb. Watch for sign to Windsor Peak.
nice singletrack takes you steeply uphill through tall trees with minimal undergrowth.
At Peak 5400 sign, stay right. You will eventually arrive at an open alpine area in the saddle between Mount Windsor and Gotha Peak

Alpine to Gotha Peak (1 - 2 hours)

Gotha has two somewhat scary-looking rock knobs for peaks. Both rise precipitiously from Deeks Lake.
The route to the peak was not flagged at the time of this writing (fall 2010)
bushwhack through open fields of heather to the ridge. There are a few short sections that require a bit of scrambling over loose rocks and boulders, but nothing as bad as it looks from a distance
the summit is a true rocky peak that towers above the rest of the ridge. Be sure to holler as the echo is as good as the view!
Althought the farther of the 2 peaks is slightly higher, we do not recommend going there unless you are very confident of your abilities as it is a burly bushwhack with a few awkward, steep bits
return via same route

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Deeks Peak and Mount Windsor are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there

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Grouse Mountain

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What: 1231m. A popular peak with excellent partial views of Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Where: Grouse Mountain is located above North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	1/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	5/5	Popular access trails offer many opportunities to open it up
Peak view:	4/5	Partially-obscured views of surrounding peaks and valleys.
Scenery:	4/5	Mostly second growth forests.
Children:	5/5	Child friendly
Dogs:	5/5	Great for dogs

Route overview: Grouse Mountain can be approached from 2 directions. Both approaches offer a great deal of variety for the novice bagger.

Trip distance: From the Grouse base parking lot, roughly 2.5 km. From end of paved Mountain Highway, roughly 12 km.

Trip time: From Grouse parking lot, plan for 1.5 - 2.5 hours. From end of paved Mountain Highway, plan for 3- 4 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent, but usually available.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Peak lodge at Grouse.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: This mountain received its name in 1894 when it was climbed by a party including E.A. Cleveland, who many years later became chief commissioner of the Greater Vancouver Water District. They named it "Grouse Mountain" because of the blue grouse they shot on it.

Headwaters for: Mosquito Creek. Mackay Creek.

Getting there: Drive to Grouse Mountain base or, alternatively, to the end of Mountain Highway. Note: Parking near the top of Mountain Highway is hard to find. Do not park in the resident parking. You will be ticketed!

Route Details: Grouse Mountain is a popular ski area. There are 2 primary routes.

From base of Grouse

from ski area parking lot, take the Grouse Grind to the alpine chalet. Good to get water here.
run uphill past the lumberjack show. At the base of the peak, take the road to the right up to the windmill
the "peak" is between the windmill and the chairlift

From top of Mountain Highway

from the gate at the end of the pavement, take the dirt and gravel Old Mountain Highway roughly 12 km uphill to the windmill
either return the same way and bag Fromme on the way, or continue into the back country to bag Dam

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Fromme Mountain and Dam Mountain are relatively close. Several other Grouse area peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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Hat Mountain

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What: 1644m. An intermediate adventure with great views.

Where: Hat Mountain is located toward the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	Decent trail that offers a little bit of everything in moderation
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Some light scrambling in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	3/5	Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs:	4/5	Some sharp rocks in alpine.

Route overview: The trail to Hat Mountain can be broken down into 4 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the ridge, the ridge to the peak. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second and third sections are on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and are very well marked. The final section to Hat is marked with the occasional bit of flagging and there is a thin trail.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 20 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-7 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion and lots of water

Name Origin: As referred to in hiking journals and advertisements. So-named because it is a "conspicuous flat-topped peak, shaped like a coolie hat, when viewed from Horseshoe Bay.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to the Brunswick shelter is relatively well traveled. The remaining section is far less traveled and not flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Brunswick ridge (30-min - 1- hour)

follow well-marked HSCT trail to the right along south end of the lake, then around west side of Deeks Lake.
cross the creek and continue on east side of small lake. Trail winds uphill to a red-roofed shelter just above the magnificent Brunswick Lake
continue on HSCT steeply uphill past a little tarn. Watch for small trail and orange flagging to the right

Ridge to Hat Mountain (1/2 - 1 hour)

thin trail to Hat passes a smaller peak (called Fat Ass for the Bagger Challenge). Look for tape on western side of Fat Ass and a short scramble down to saddle
Hat is characterized by tall, green cell tower with 360-degree views.
Be sure to sign the guest book in the cairn when you pose for your peak shot!
return via same route

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Brunswick Mountain, Fat Ass Peak, Wettin Peak are en route or relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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Hollyburn Mountain

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What: 1325m. An easy bag with excellent views.

Where: Hollyburn Mountain is located in Cypress Provincial Park above West Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	2/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	4/5	Popular Baden Powell Trail offers many opportunities to open it up
Peak view:	4/5	Partial views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Mostly second growth forests. Ocean views. Creeks.
Children:	5/5	Child friendly
Dogs:	1/5	On leash. Check for other potential restrictions in BC Parks.

Route overview: Hollyburn Mountain is located in Cypress Provincial Park above West Vancouver, BC.

Trip distance: From the Cypress parking lot, roughly 3 km.

Trip time: From Cypress parking lot, plan for 1 - 3 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent, but usually available.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Ski lodge at Cypress.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: The name Mount Hollyburn was adopted in 1937 after being known as Holly Burn, presumably due to a grove (burn) of holly bushes.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to Cypress Mountain Provincial Park. Turn right at cross-country ski area. Free parking at trailhead.

Route Details: Hollyburn is between the Cypress Bowl downhill ski area and Hollyburn cross-country (XC) ski area. There are 2 primary routes.

From downhill ski area

Take Baden Powell (BP) Trail south. Trail entrance is between parking lot and ski slope on north side and is well marked
narrow, well-traveled singletrack trail is eroded and rooty. Cross 2 creeks before coming to a wide, open cross country ski trail that is covered in blueberry bushes in the summer and fall
go left and uphill along well-traveled, well marked trail to peak

From crosscountry ski area

trailhead is on left side of parking lot before you reach the XC ski rental area
take well-marked trail uphill under powerlines. Where terrain flattens, look for signs to left
follow singletrack along XC ski trail uphill to peak

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks St. Marks, Black Mountain and Mount Strachan are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread
map of Cypress Provincial Park

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James Peak

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What: 1466m. A good climb with excellent views.

Where: James Peak is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail above Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything
Runnability:	2/5	Popular HSCT section of trail offers a good warm-up.
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	2/5	Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs:	3/5	Sharp rocks on final ascent

Route overview: James Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST). The closest trailhead is Lions Bay.

Trip distance: From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 9 km.

Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2-4 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Magnesia Meadows. Firehall in Lions Bay.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: James Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT). There are 2 popular routes to James from the closest trailhead at Lions Bay: From the south via the Lions or from the north via Brunswick Mountain.

Lions Bay to West Lion (1.5-3 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked.

West Lion to James Peak (.5 - 1 hours)

from the base of the West Lion, follow HSCT west
trail leading to the peak is sometimes hard to follow
small cairn and great views

Porteau Exit to Harvey Ridge (3-5 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
continue uphill along HCST to Brunswick Ridge then down through Magnesia Meadows to red-roofed shelter
continue south along HCST next to a small lake then up to a ridge.

Harvey Ridge to James Peak (1.5 -2.5 hours)

follow well-trodden path through blueberry bushes around a wide, open clear-cut.
if you plan to bag David Peak as well, be careful to *not* descend clearly-marked trail into next valley. Very small, poorly-marked trail goes southward and steeply up the north side of David
if you're in a hurry, skirt around David on the main HSCT. James is the next bump between you and the Lions
for those with an apprehension about heights, there's a short section that will get your heart pumping. Cable to help you

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Harvey, David Peak and West Lion are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there!

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Leading Peak

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What: 765m. A good adventure with outstanding 360-degree views.

Where: Leading Peak is located on Anvil Island in Howe Sound.

Difficulty:	4/5	Seldom traveled. Good trail marking. Some good singletrack.
Runnability:	3/5	Dirt road to trailhead. Some small stretches of singletrack in center of island.
Peak view:	5/5	Spectacular views from peak.
Scenery:	4/5	Second growth forests. Creeks. Lake.
Children:	3/5	Aggressive distance. Fairly steep in sections.
Dogs:	4/5	May require a permit.

Route overview: The Leading Peak trailhead is on private property at the Daybreak Point Bible Camp. From the caretaker's house, take the well-marked trail next to a waterfall steeply uphill to the White Spot lookout. Good singletrack through second growth forest. Beautiful lake at saddle. Corkscrew up Leading Peak to a helicopter pad at summit.

Trip distance: From Daybreak Point, roughly 10 km out and back.

Trip time: From Daybreak Point, budget 3-5 hours out and back.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Caretaker at Bible Camp and handful of cabins at waterfront.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Anvil Island is accessible by private boat or water taxi. Bible Camp charges $25 per group to cross a small section of their property.

Route Details: The trail to Mt. Liddell is well marked, but seldom traveled.

From the dock at the bible camp, (note: good dirt road from moorage at north end of island) take well-marked trail steeply uphill beside waterfall.
small detour to white spot lookout is worth the view!
well marked singletrack to a lake with great view of the cone-shaped peak
descend through narrow valley, then approach peak from north side. Some relatively steep, rocky sections
solar power station, microwave tower and helipad at peak. Spectacular 360-degree views
trace your steps back down the same route to the gravel pit

Neighboring peaks:

no other Bagger Challenge peaks on Anvil Island.

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

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Lynn Peak

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What: A steep climb with partial views.

Where: Lynn Peak is located along a ridge between the Lynn and Seymour Rivers in North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	2 well-marked routes
Runnability:	3/5	Paved access road. Singletrack.
Peak view:	3/5	Partially obstructed views of surrounding peaks, city, ocean
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Rivers.
Children:	3/5	Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	4/5	Minimal water on access trails.

Route overview: There are 2 popular routes on rough single track that approach the peak from different valleys. The popular Lynn Lookout that most people assume to be the peak is not the actual peak!

Trip distance: From the dam at Lynn Headwaters, roughly 9 km. From the gazebo at start of LSCR trail, roughly 13 km return via paved LSCR trail.

Trip time: From the dam at Lynn Headwaters, budget 2-4 hours out and back from the parking lot. From the gazebo at start of LSCR trail, budget 3-4 hours assuming you bike to the trailhead, at least 1.5 hours more if you run to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Help at the entrance to LSCR near gazebo.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Not applicable, as this is a steep ridge.

Getting there: There are two (2) recommended bagger routes to the Lynn Peak: One starts at Lynn Headwaters and is 100% hiking/running. The other route starts in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (LSCR) and can be completed partially by bicycle.

Route Details: The trail to the Lynn Peak is relatively well traveled from Lynn Headwaters, less from via Hydraulic Creek.

1. Lynn Headwaters

From the parking lot, go over the old dam then take the wide, well-traveled trail on the east side of Lynn Creek toward Norvan Falls. After about 3K, take well-marked Lynn Peak trail to Lynn Lookout. Continue north to the true Lynn Peak. This trail will loop back to Lynn Lookout or take you via the Lynn Ridge Trail to the South Needle.

2. LSCR

From the Gazebo, run or ride your bike roughly 6K along the paved trail to the Hydraulic Creek picnic area. The trailhead is right of the creek opposite the picnic area. Climb steeply uphill on a relatively well-marked trail to the saddle
ftom the saddle, follow Lynn Ridge Trail over a series of steep ascents and descents to Lynn Peak.
from Lynn Peak, either descend to Lynn Lookout and Lynn Headwaters park or retrace your route along Lynn Ridge Trail to LSCR.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks South Needle, Middle Needle and North Needle are relatively close

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

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Mount Artaban

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What: 615m. The summit promises good views of Lions Bay to Bowen Island. Unfortunately, the key distinguishing feature of this peak is the remains of a wooden forest service lookout tower.

Where: Mount Artaban, the 3rd highest point of land on Gambier Island, is located at the south end of the island.

Difficulty:	2/5	A good trail for beginning to intermediate baggers.
Runnability:	3/5	Gravel road and some single track.
Peak view:	3/5	Partially obscured. Large pile of wood, glass and rusting nails takes away from atmosphere.
Scenery:	4/5	Variety includes coast, cottages, old growth.
Children:	4/5	Ferry ride adds to adventure.
Dogs:	4/5	May be an issue on the ferry.

Route overview: Varied. A bit of gravel road. Lots of single track. Well-marked.

Trip distance: Roughly 12 kilometers return from government dock at Halkett Bay, 10km return from Brigade Bay.

Trip time: Budget 2.5 - 3 hours out and back from the government dock at Halkett Bay/Fircom. This assumes a moderate running pace, where running is possible, and some contingency for getting lost. Add 30-45 minutes if you start at the marine park and 15-45 minutes less if you start at Brigade Bay.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is spotty.
Fairly dense tree canopy, so GPS may have inaccuracies
growing number of permanent and weekend residents on the island, so emergency help is not far
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

History: From the book "The Other Wise Man" by Henry Van Dyke

Headwaters for: Several creeks, but no major rivers.

Getting there: The easiest and cheapest way to get to Gambier Island is by hitching a ride with a friend who owns property on the island. Given few of us have such friends, it is possible to take a water taxi from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. The ferry ride to Halkett Bay or Brigade Bay takes about 20 minutes and costs roughly $25 per person, each way.

Route Details: The trail to Mt. Artaban is relatively well traveled. There are two decent bagger trails to the summit: one from Halkett Bay Marine Park or the Halkett Bay government dock in the south, the other from Brigade Bay in the north.

1. Halkett Bay Government Dock:

from the government dock, head inland on the gravel road. Take Jay Road uphill to where it ends at the trailhead in about 3K. (There are several large, blue metal signs referencing the trail along the way.)
the trail is well marked with orange metal tags. Mostly runnable.
take note of the old growth Douglas fir and western red cedar as you climb
the summit is fairly flat. You will know you have arrived when you see the remains of a wooden lookout tower

2. Brigade Bay:

from the dock, take the gravel road left and uphill
trail is well marked with orange flagging tape.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Liddel, Mount Killen are also on Gambier Island.

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

Gambier Island Conservancy map

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Mount Collins

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What: 412m. A bushwhack with access issues.

Where: Mount Collins is the third-largest point of land on Bowen Island. It is located on the north east corner of the island.

Difficulty:	4/5	Route is not flagged near the peak.
Runnability:	3/5	Paved and dirt road sections.
Peak view:	1/5	Obstructed views of Cypress Mountain
Scenery:	3/5	Park trail, 2 lakes, second growth forests.
Children:	2/5	Ferry ride. Bushwhacking.
Dogs:	3/5	May be limited in park. Private property

Route overview: Varied. Some wide, gravel trails. A bit of road. Some old logging road and a bushwhack.

Trip distance: Roughly 10km return from ferry.

Trip time: Budget 3 hours out and back from the ferry dock at Snug Cove. This assumes a moderate running pace, where running is possible, and some contingency for getting lost.

Getting there: The easiest and cheapest way to get to Bowen Island is by ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, BC, Canada. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is spotty.
GPS readings inconsistent under tree cover
no emergency shelters in the area, but many permanent and weekend homes
Recommend you bring a light version of your Baggers Companion.

History: Believed to be named after Lieutenant Commander William Collins of the Royal Navy. Collins commanded the gun vessel Boxer.

Headwaters for: Several small streams.

Route Overview: The trail to Mt. Collins is less traveled. There are several possible ways to get to the peak, but all involve crossing private property or watershed access. This bagger route was selected because it appeared to allow the most running.

Ferry to trailhead. From the ferry, take your first right at the library, then go left onto the Crippen Regional Park trail after about 50M. Nice gravel trail for about 3K. Follow signs to Killarney Lake. Follow left (west) side of the lake then go up to the road. Turn right (north west)
stay on Mt. Gardner Road about 500M then go right onto Woods Road toward Grafton Bay.
after about 500M, look for an overgrown logging road on your right. Jump over the ditch and heed the "no trespassing" sign
Trailhead to peak. Follow this dirt road up about 1K up to Honeymoon Lake. Note that the lake is a watershed. Begin bushwhack. Go right (east) along the lake then up for about 2K. The "peak" is not obvious. Hopefully, you have a GPS. You have arrived if you find a spiderweb of netting.
return via same route.

Neighboring Peaks

Bagger Challenge peak Mount Gardner is also on Bowen Island.

Submitted by: Davis Crerar and Ean Jackson.

More information:

Robert Ballantyne offers a good writeup and some GPS information

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Mount Fromme

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What: 1185m. A rewarding bag with excellent views.

Where: Mount Fromme is located to the east of the Grouse Mountain resort above North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	2/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	4/5	Popular access trails offer many opportunities to open it up
Peak view:	4/5	Partially-obscured views of surrounding peaks and valleys.
Scenery:	4/5	Mostly second growth forests. Small lake.
Children:	4/5	Child friendly
Dogs:	5/5	Great for dogs

Route overview: Mount Fromme can be approached from 3 directions. All approaches offer a great deal of variety for the novice bagger. Note that there are 2 peaks with the flatter, more open one being the highest, and therefore the "money" peak!

Trip distance: From the Grouse parking lot, roughly 3 km. From end of paved Mountain Highway, roughly 2.5 km.

Trip time: From Grouse parking lot, plan for 2 - 3 hours. From end of paved Mountain Highway, plan for 1.5- 2 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent, but usually available.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Peak lodge at Grouse.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Named after J.M. Fromme, the reeve [mayor] of North Vancouver in the 1920's, and logging operator whose company had obtained timber rights on this mountain..

Headwaters for: Mosquito Creek.

Getting there: Drive to Grouse Mountain or, alternatively, to the end of Mountain Highway. Note: Parking near the top of Mountain Highway is hard to find. Do not park in the resident parking. You will be ticketed!

Route Details: Mount Fromme is east of the Grouse Mountain ski area. There are 2 primary routes.

From base of Grouse

from ski area parking lot, take the Grouse Grind to the alpine chalet. Good to get water here.
take the ski area access road/old Mountain Highway downhill and past the Olympic Chair. When the road bends right at the bottom of the saddle between the 2 mountains, look left for a small trail that parallels a creek
where the trail forks, go right and steeply uphill to the peak (note, the near peak is the lower of the 2)

From top of Mountain Highway

from the gate at the end of the pavement, take the dirt and gravel Old Mountain Highway roughly 7 km uphill.
at a bend in the road where it flattens out, go right and into a large stone quarry
in the far left corner of the quarry, look for flagging. Take this beautiful trail uphill to the peak
peak is flat and open
either return the same way, or drop down one of the small trails on the side of Fromme back down to Mountain highway and consider continuing on to bag Grouse (see Grouse Mountain)

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Grouse Mountain and Dam Mountain are relatively close. Several other Grouse area peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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Mount Gardner

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What: 758m. A mountain with two peaks! The South (true summit) is nothing to get excited about. The North Peak boasts a spectacular view on a clear day, 2 helipads and some telecommunication towers.

Where: Mount Gardner is the highest point of land on Bowen Island. It is located near the center of the island.

Difficulty:	3/5	Several well-marked routes.
Runnability:	3/5	Paved and dirt road sections. Singletrack.
Peak view:	4/5	Partially-obstructed views of Howe Sound peaks, city, ocean
Scenery:	4/5	Park trail, lakes, second growth forests.
Children:	4/5	Ferry ride. Treats in town. Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	3/5	May be limited in park.

Route overview: Varied. A bit of road. Some wide, gravel trails. Some old logging road and some rough single track.

Trip distance: Approximately 14 km return from ferry.

Trip time: Budget 2.5 - 3 hours out and back from the ferry dock at Snug Cove. This assumes a moderate running pace, where running is possible, and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is spotty.
GPS inconsistent on trail to peak
no emergency shelters in area, but permanent homes in area and trail is popular
Recommend you bring a small version of your Baggers Companion.

History: Named by Captain George Vancouver in 1793 after Rear Admiral (later Lord) Alan Gardner. Gardner was captain of the ships Europa and Courageous.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: The easiest and cheapest way to get to Bowen Island is by ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, BC, Canada. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes.

Route Details: The trail to Mt. Gardner is well traveled. There are several ways to get to the summit, but the Gardner Hardener trail is the most fun and direct way to the true peak. Here's our bagger route:

Ferry to trailhead. From the ferry, take your first right at the library, then go left onto the Crippen Regional Park trail after about 50M. Nice gravel trail for about 3K. Follow signs to Killarney Lake. Follow left (west) side of the lake clockwise with lake to your right. About 3/4 of the way around the lake, cross a small bridge then take the first trail to your left steeply uphill to the paved Mt. Gardner Road. Cross and go right (west) about 200M. You will come to a gravel road (Bowen Pit Road) with a small kiosk that has detailed topo map of the mountain.
Trailhead to peak. Take the gravel road uphill. After about 500M, you'll come to a gate. Shortly thereafter, look for a trail to your left (Skid Trail), also known as the Gardner Hardener. While you can get to the North Peak via the road, the Hardener is far more scenic and takes you directly to the true summit.
the South summit is uninspiring. There are a few scrubby pines, some blowdown, no view at all and a small rock cairn. Put your rock on the pile, take your bagger photo and follow the signs on over to the North Peak.
on a clear day, the view from the North Peak is breathtaking. Have a snack. Knock the pine needles out of your shoes.
for a change in scenery, drop down the rope next to the big green phallus and take the North trail home. It descends fairly steeply on nice single track. You'll eventually drop down onto a coarse gravel road that will take you back to the kiosk at the trailhead

Neighboring Peaks

Bagger Challenge peak Mount Collins is also on Bowen Island.

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

Trail Peak

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Mount Hanover

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What: 1748m. A climber's peak with an excellent view.

Where: Mount Hanover is located toward the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	5/5	Some bushwhacking and some serious scrambling
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warmup. Bushwhacking and rock-hopping in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	1/5	Not appropriate.
Dogs:	1/5	Not recommended. Sharp rocks in alpine. Several very steep sections.

Route overview: The trail to Mount Hanover can be broken down into 4 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the shelter and the shelter to the peak. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second and third sections are on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and are very well marked. The final section is very infrequently traveled and not flagged.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 20 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-7 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion and a helmet

Name Origin: Named after the House of Hanover, the German royal dynasty. Queen Victoria belonged to this family.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to the Brunswick shelter is relatively well traveled. The remaining section is far less traveled and not flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Shelter (30-min - 1- hour)

follow well-marked HSCT trail to the right along south end of the lake, then around west side of Deeks Lake.
cross the creek and continue on east side of small lake. Trail winds uphill to a red-roofed shelter just above the magnificent Brunswick Lake

Shelter to Mount Hanover (2 - 4 hours)

Hanover is the steep, rocky peak that towers above the east side of the lake. Getting to its base is a bushwhack. The route of least resistance is considered by most to be from the south, along the cliff face of Brunswick Mountain.
short bushwhack to the left, then cross a rocky bit to the base of Hanover where you will be faced with 2 very challenging gullies
the gully to the right is considered to be the easier of the 2 as it is not as steep and may offer less debris. There are a series of stone terraces to climb. Some challenging hand-holds and footholds. If you survive the first bit, you will most likely live to bag the peak, but don't forget you have to come back down!
the peak offers views in 360-degrees. Get your peak shot next to the cairn and don't forget to sign the guest book!
return via same route... and good luck

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Brunswick Mountain, Fat Ass Peak, Hat Peak and Wettin Peak are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

trip report from Club Tread

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Mount Harvey

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What: 1652m. A good climb with breathtaking views.

Where: Mount Harvey is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail between Porteau Cove and Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	4/5	Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Some light scrambling in the alpine
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	2/5	Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs:	3/5	Some steep bits on the last push

Route overview: Mount Harvey approached from the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) from either the north (Porteau Exit off #1) or the south (Lions Bay). From the HSCT, the dogleg to Harvey follows a wide ridge then climbs steeply up to the peak from the south. .

Trip distance: From Porteau exit parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 25 km. From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 13 km.

Trip time: From the Porteau parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-8 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead at Porteau Exit. From Lions Bay, anticipate 3-5 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Magnesia Meadows. Firehall in Lions Bay.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Named about 1859 by Captain Richard of the HMS Plumper, after Captain John Harvey (1740 - 1794), captain of HMS Brunswick, 98 guns, in the battle of the "Glorious First of June", 1794, and died soon thereafter of wounds incurred.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the north: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead. From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: The HSCT to the base of Mount Harvey is well traveled. Few people take the relatively-short detour to the peak of Harvey.

Lions Bay to Harvey Ridge (3-4 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to Magnesia Meadows shelter is clearly marked. At Harvey ridge, look for small trail uphill to left

Harvey Ridge to Peak (1- 1.5 hours)

Small side trail to Harvey is marked, but easy to miss.
follow wide saddle down then climb steeply uphill to the peak
magnificent 360-degree view of Howe Sound peaks and islands
return via same side trail to HSCT

Porteau Exit to Harvey Ridge (3-5 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
continue uphill along HCST to Brunswick Ridge then down through Magnesia Meadows to red-roofed shelter
continue south along HCST next to a small lake then up to a ridge.
Harvey Ridge to Peak as above

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Fat Ass Peak, Hat Mountain, Wettin Peak, St. David Peak and St. James Peak are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread
description from Trail Peak

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Mount Killam

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What: 844m. A good adventure with decent views of the Howe Sound peaks.

Where: Mount Killam is located near the middle of Gambier Island in Howe Sound.

Difficulty:	3/5	Seldom traveled. Good trail marking. Some good singletrack.
Runnability:	3/5	Dirt road to trailhead. Some overgrown logging roads and small stretches of singletrack to peak.
Peak view:	1/5	No views at peak. Decent views of Howe Sound peaks to west from lookout below peak
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth forests. Creeks.
Children:	3/5	Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	4/5	Minimal water on trail.

Route overview: The Mt. Killam trailhead is best approached from the public ferry landing at New Brighton. Take the dirt road inland past a few homes and small logging operations to a quarry. Trail to peak is well marked on old logging road and singletrack.

Trip distance: From New Brighton, roughly 10 km out and back.

Trip time: From New Brighton, budget 3-5 hours out and back.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Permanent homes in New Brighton. Some cabins closer to trailhead.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Gambier Island is accessible by private boat or water taxi. The trailhead to Mt. Killam is a rock quarry several kilometers from the water.

Route Details: The road to the trailhead is seldom traveled. The trail to Mt. Liddell is well marked, but seldom traveled.

From the public dock in New Brighton, take the main paved road steeply uphill. It soon turns to dirt and homes give way to small logging operations. After about 4 kilometers, watch for a gravel pit to your right
trail is along a narrow ridge to left of quarry. Stay left as you pass through a clearcut block. At the end of the clearcut, stay right and follow an old, moss-covered road
after crossing a creek, be careful to look for flagging on your left. Follow good trail uphill through an open forest.
after a scramble up a steep bit, look right to several rocky terraces. This is your best view
very thin trail continues for about 15 minutes to pea. Look for small rock cairn as a reward.
trace your steps back down the same route to the gravel pit

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Liddell and Mount Artaban are also on Gambier Island.

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

map from Gambier Island Conservancy

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Mount Liddell

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What: A bushwhack with no view for the effort.

Where: Mount Liddell is located on the north-west end of Gambier Island in Howe Sound.

Difficulty:	3/5	Seldom traveled. Infrequent trail marking. Bushwhack near top.
Runnability:	2/5	Decent trail to lake. Some small stretches of singletrack to peak.
Peak view:	1/5	Partially obstructed views of Port Mellon pulp mill
Scenery:	3/5	Second growth forests. Lake.
Children:	2/5	Aggressive distance. Unrewarding summit
Dogs:	4/5	Minimal water on trail.

Route overview: The trail to Mt. Liddell begins at Gambier Lake. There are trails to Gambier Lake from all ferry landing points, the nearest being Douglas Bay. The trail starts at the far eastern end of Gambier Lake near the campground, contours the lake, then follows an overgrown road before heading steeply upward. Near the top, you will reach an overgrown road. Go left to the end, then bushwhack to the peak.

Trip distance: From Gambier Lake, roughly 5 km out and back.

Trip time: From Gambier Lake, budget 3-5 hours out and back.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Weekend cabins on waterfront. RVYC out-station near Center Bay. Permanent homes in New Brighton.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Not applicable, as this is a steep ridge.

Getting there: Gambier Island is accessible by private boat or water taxi. The trailhead to Mt. Liddell is on Gambier Lake, which is several kilometers from the water.

Route Details: The trail to Gambier Lake is relatively well traveled. The trail to Mt. Liddell is poorly marked or not marked at all.

From the campground at the eastern end of the lake, contour the lake heading north-west. Look for tape parallel to and about 5m above the lake
follow an overgrown road for about 1 kilometer and look for tape and an old trail sign on the left
go steeply uphill through a valley of blowdown then through an open area under tall trees. Cross a gully on a fallen log
continue uphill along a decent trail. You will eventually drop down to an overgrown gravel road. Go left and uphill to where the road heads downhill and ends
bushwhack right and uphill through seemingly impenetrable pines. When the forest opens-up, stay left and head uphill. You may find traces of orange tape
the peak is a scrubby knob surrounded by trees. Be sure to put a stone on the tiny cairn so the next person knows they can scratch Liddell off the list and head home!
trace your steps back down the same route to the lake

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Killam and Mount Artaban are also on Gambier Island.

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there!

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Mount Strachan

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What: 1454m. A rewarding bag with excellent views.

Where: Mount Strachan is located on the north-east side of Cypress Provincial Park above West Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	2/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	4/5	Popular access trails offer many opportunities to open it up
Peak view:	5/5	Panoramic views of surrounding peaks and valleys. Partial city views
Scenery:	4/5	Mostly second growth forests. Creeks.
Children:	5/5	Child friendly
Dogs:	1/5	On leash. Check for other potential restrictions in BC Parks.

Route overview: Mount Strachan can be approached from 3 directions. All approaches offer a great deal of variety for the novice bagger. Note that the more distant of the 2 peaks is the highest, and therefore the "money" peak!

Trip distance: From the Cypress parking lot, roughly 3 km.

Trip time: From Cypress parking lot, plan for 1 - 3 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent, but usually available.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Ski lodge at Cypress.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Named after Admiral Sir Richard John Strachan of the British Navy who captured 4 French warships in the Battle of Trafalgar.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to Cypress Provincial Park. Paid parking at trailhead.

Route Details: Mount Strachan is in the north-east part of the park not far from the top of the ski lifts. There are 3 primary routes.

via HCST

from ski area parking lot, take Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) to Strachan Meadows. This stretch of trail has been widened and improved significantly in recent years. Wide, rolling and great for running
exit the woods, cross a small creek and into a meadow. Go right and steeply uphill on a very narrow trail to the left (north) of the creek
scramble the last bit to the notch between the 2 Strachan peaks.
Go left and steeply up to the highest peak
either return the same way, or cross to the other peak and descend ski run or continue to Hollyburn Mountain

via ski run

not nearly as exciting, but makes for a faster round-trip
follow lower ski lift (Strachan Chair), then upper lift (Sky Chair) to the top. Continue north about 50m to gentle dropoff with flagging to higher peak
either return the same way, or drop down the gulley between the 2 peaks for a longer, but more scenic route back to the car. Alternatively, consider taking the back trail to Hollyburn (see Hollyburn Mountain)

from Hollyburn

shortcut from Hollyburn offers some rough trails and an airplane crash memorial.
see Hollyburn Mountain route description

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks St. Marks, Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread
map of Cypress Provincial Park

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Mount Windsor

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What: 1689m. A rewarding climb with great views.

Where: Mount Windsor is located just off the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	Sparsely-marked trail with some light scrambling
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warmup. Rock-hopping in the alpine
Peak view:	4/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes.
Children:	3/5	Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	4/5	Sharp rocks in alpine.

Route overview: The trail to Mount Windsor can be broken down into 4 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the alpine and lake to the summit. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second section is on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and is very well marked. The third section and final sections are less traveled and less well flagged.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 16 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 4-6 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Named after the House of Windsor, the current royal house of the commonwealth rhelms. (Queen Elizabeth II's family.)

Headwaters for: Some small streams..

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to Mount Windsor is relatively well traveled to Deeks Lake. The remaining section is less traveled and flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Alpine (1-2 hours)

follow trail along south end of the lake past a few campsites then across a small boulder field to base of a steep climb. Watch for sign to Windsor Peak.
nice singletrack takes you steeply uphill through tall trees with minimal undergrowth.
At Peak 5400 sign, stay left. You will eventually arrive at a small lake in the saddle between Deeks and Mount Windsor

Lake to Mount Windsor (1 - 2 hours)

the trail to the peak is poorly flagged, mostly with rock cairns through the open areas. It picks up directly across the lake
narrow trail goes up and over a ridge, then roughly follows the east side of the ridge to an alpine bowl at the foot of Mount Windsor
with Windsor directly in front, take the right side of the bowl up to a ridge with trees where you will find a narrow, flagged trail through the treed patches along the ridge
some light scrambling as you near the summit
rocky peak with small rock cairn.
return via same route

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Deeks Peak and Gotha Peak are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

Trail Peak

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St. Marks Summit

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What: 1355m. An intermediate climb with partial views.

Where: St. Marks Summit is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail between West Vancouver and Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	2/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	4/5	Popular HSCT offers a good warm-up from Cypress
Peak view:	4/5	Partial views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Ocean views.
Children:	4/5	Child friendly
Dogs:	5/5	Great opportunity to go walkies

Route overview: St. Marks Summit is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) between Lions Bay and Cypress Mountain.

Trip distance: From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 11 km. From Cypress parking lot, roughly 7 km.

Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2.5 - 5 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. From Cypress, plan for 2 - 4 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Firehall in Lions Bay. Ski lodge at Cypress.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Named in association with Camp Agwatilah in Lions Bay, operated for many years by St. Mark's Anglican Church. The name "Mount St. Marks" was originally applied to the next peak north (what is now known as Unnecessary Mtn).

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the north: Drive to Cypress Mountain Provincial Park. Park in paid lot. Take Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST). From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: Unnecessary Mountain is on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT). There are 3 routes: From the south (Cypress Park) or the north (Lions Bay) via the West Lion and HSCT.

Cypress (1 - 2.5 hours)

from the Cypress Mountain parking lot, follow wide and well-marked HSCT around the ski lodge to Strachan Meadows
trail narrows considerably and goes primarily uphill on rooty, well-traveled trails

Lions Bay (2.5 - 5 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked. Continue south along the ridge over Unnecessary Mountain

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Unnecessary Mountain and West Lion are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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The Needles - Middle

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What: A bushwhack with cliffy bits and nice views as a reward.

Where: The Needles (South, Middle and North) are located along a ridge between the Lynn and Seymour Rivers in North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	5/5	route is not marked. Bushwhack.
Runnability:	1/5	Some runnable sections on LSCR trail.
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks, city, ocean
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Rivers.
Children:	0/5	Not recommended
Dogs:	3/5	Minimal water on access trails.

Route overview: The Middle Needle is best approached from the South Needle. Rough. Little to no flagging. Several sections where folks with a fear of heights will feel uncomfortable

Trip distance: From the South Needle, roughly 3 kilometers.

Trip time: From the South Needle, budget 3-6 hours out and back. This assumes some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Help at the entrance to LSCR near gazebo.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Not applicable, as this is a steep ridge.

Getting there: The Middle Needle can be reached from North Needle via Patton Peak and South Needle. Both routes are very difficult. Access from South is recommended as less difficult.

Route Details: The route to the Middle Needle is seldom traveled.

The descent to the col between the South and Middle Needles is not at all obvious from the South Needle. Head straight north (not east, as some Internet reports state). Although it looks steep, it is less steep than the sheer drops to the west and east. It is essentially a slow descent along a series of ledges -- hold tight to the scraggly pines and blueberry bushes and gingerly lower yourself down ledge-by-ledge. It is mossy and slippery and you could do yourself harm without care. The terrain changes to a mere slope, and then you bushwhack down through blueberry bushes to the base of the col.

Then the climb up Middle Needle. One hits a rocky bluff pretty soon. A careful choice of hand-holds and branches makes the ascent not so bad. Some more bushwhacking up through blueberry bushes to the false summit, and then across a short ridge to the true summit.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Lynn Peak, South Needle and North Needle are relatively close

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

David's trip report from 2009

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The Needles - North

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What: A bushwhack with cliffy bits and nice views as a reward.

Where: The Needles (South, Middle and North) are located along a ridge between the Lynn and Seymour Rivers in North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	5/5	route is not marked. Bushwhack.
Runnability:	1/5	Some runnable sections on LSCR trail.
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks, city, ocean
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Rivers.
Children:	0/5	Not recommended
Dogs:	3/5	Minimal water on access trails.

Route overview: The North Needle is best approached from the South Needle. Rough. Little to no flagging. Several sections where folks with a fear of heights will feel uncomfortable

Trip distance: From the South Needle, roughly 5 kilometers.

Trip time: From the South Needle, budget 5-8 hours out and back. This assumes some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Help at the entrance to LSCR near gazebo.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Not applicable, as this is a steep ridge.

Getting there: The North Needle can be reached from Patton Peak and South/Middle Needle. Both routes are very difficult. Access from South is recommended as less difficult.

Route Details: The route to the North Needle is seldom traveled.

The description needs to be updated.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Lynn Peak, South Needle, Middle Needle and Patton Peak are relatively close

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

Ryan Conroy's account (traverse from south to north)
From ClubTread (traverse from north to south)
From ClubTread (similar traverse 6 years later)

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The Needles - South

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What: A steep climb through tall trees with great views as a reward.

Where: The Needles (South, Middle and North) are located along a ridge between the Lynn and Seymour Rivers in North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty:	3/5	2 well-marked routes
Runnability:	2/5	Paved access road. Singletrack.
Peak view:	5/5	Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks, city, ocean
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Rivers.
Children:	3/5	Aggressive distance.
Dogs:	4/5	Minimal water on access trails.

Route overview: There are 2 popular routes on rough single track that approach the peak from different valleys. One very small section near the peak where folks with a fear of heights might feel uncomfortable.

Trip distance: From the dam at Lynn Headwaters, roughly 14 km via Lynn Peak. From the gazebo at start of LSCR trail, roughly 17 km return via paved LSCR trail.

Trip time: From the dam at Lynn Headwaters, budget 6-8 hours out and back from the parking lot. From the gazebo at start of LSCR trail, budget 3-4 hours assuming you bike to the trailhead, at least 1.5 hours more if you run to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
No emergency shelters in the area. Help at the entrance to LSCR near gazebo.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion.

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for: Not applicable, as this is a steep ridge.

Getting there: There are two (2) recommended bagger routes to the South Needle: One starts at Lynn Headwaters and is 100% hiking/running. The other route starts in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (LSCR) and can be completed partially by bicycle.

Route Details: The trail to the South Needle is relatively well-traveled to Lynn Peak, less from Lynn peak or via Hydraulic Creek.

1. Lynn Headwaters

From the parking lot, go over the old dam then take the wide, well-traveled trail on the east side of Lynn Creek toward Norvan Falls. After about 3K, take well-marked Lynn Peak trail to Lynn Lookout. Continue north to the true Lynn Peak.
About 500m north of Lynn Peak, watch for flagging on a trail that drops steeply downhill along the ridge. There is a series of 3 or 4 steep ridges. You will eventually pass the Hydraulic Creek trail from the LSCR (see #2).
Continue steeply uphill to a flat, open area with views on all sides.

2. LSCR

From the Gazebo, run or ride your bike roughly 6K along the paved trail to the Hydraulic Creek picnic area. The trailhead is right of the creek opposite the picnic area. Climb steeply uphill on a relatively well-marked trail to the saddle and trail to Lynn Peak.
Continue steeply uphill to a flat, open area with views on all sides.

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Lynn Peak, Middle Needle and North Needle are relatively close

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

not much out there!

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Unnecessary Mountain

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What: 1548m. An intermediate climb with good partial views.

Where: Unnecessary Mountain is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail above Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	2/5	Well-marked trail
Runnability:	3/5	Popular HSCT offers a good warm-up.
Peak view:	4/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Ocean views.
Children:	3/5	Challenging from distance perspective
Dogs:	4/5	Not much water

Route overview: Unnecessary Mountain is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) between Lions Bay and Cypress Mountain.

Trip distance: From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 9 km. From Cypress parking lot, roughly 7 km.

Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2.5 - 5 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. From Cypress, plan for 2 - 4 hours. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Firehall in Lions Bay. Ski lodge at Cypress.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Named by climbers in the 1920s who found it to be an obstacle in their route to the West Lion.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the north: Drive to Cypress Mountain Provincial Park. Park in paid lot. Take Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST). From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: Unnecessary Mountain is on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT). There are 2 routes: From the south (Cypress Park) or the north (Porteau Exit) on the HSCT.

Cypress (1.5 - 3 hours)

from the Cypress Mountain parking lot, follow wide and well-marked HSCT around the ski lodge to Strachan Meadows
trail narrows considerably and goes over St. Mark's peak

Lions Bay (2 - 4 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked. Continue south along the ridge to Unnecessary

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks St. Marks Mountain and West Lion are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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West Lion

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What: 1654m. A very challenging climb that offers outstanding views to those who dare.

Where: The West Lion is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail above Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty:	5/5	The last bit to the peak is not for those who are apprehensive about heights!
Runnability:	1/5	Popular HSCT section of trail offers a good warm-up.
Peak view:	5/5	Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	1/5	Only if you don't love them
Dogs:	1/5	As above

Route overview: The West Lion, and its neighbor the East Lion, are Vancouver landmarks. Both are located just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST). The closest trailhead is Lions Bay.

Trip distance: From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 7.5 km.

Trip time: From Lions Bay, anticipate 2-4 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Firehall in Lions Bay.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Called "The Sisters" by first nations peoples, the peaks were renamed The Lions in the 1890s by Judge John Hamilton Gray. Made official in 1924.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details: The West Lion is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT). There are 3 popular routes to the West Lion. From the south (Cypress Park) or the north (Porteau Exit) on the HSCT or from Lions Bay. Note, while it looks appealing, the East Lion is located in the watershed and is a very technical climb for well-equipped experts only.

Lions Bay to West Lion (1.5 - 3 hours)

park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked. Most people are happy to enjoy the views from the lunch rocks below the final ascent

Cypress to West Lion (2.5 - 5 hours)

from the Cypress Mountain parking lot, follow wide and well-marked HSCT around the ski lodge to Strachan Meadows
trail narrows considerably and goes over Unnecessary and St. Mark's peaks
ridge to West Lion is open and rocky, but trail well marked with flagging and rock cairns to lunch rocks

Porteau Exit to West Lion (3.5 - 6 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow HSCT markers along well used trail. Consider bagging some of the other Bagger Challenge peaks that are on or near the trail
from James Peak, follow the scrambly route along a ridge between East and West Lions. Drop down into the Capilano valley below the West Lion and cross a boulder field under the cliffs. Climb steeply up to the lunch rocks

Final Ascent of West Lion (1/4 - 1 hour)

So near, yet so far away... the section between the lunch rocks and the peak of the West Lion should only be attempted by experienced baggers with solid climbing skills!
climb down the ropes from lunch rocks to the razor ridge. Be sure to test the ropes!
route to the peak is marked with painted red dots.
the first 50m are the most challenging. Smooth rock. Narrow hand-holds and footholds. Precipitous drop to jagged rocks below. Work your way around to the east side of the peak
steep climb up a narrow section with some roots as hand-holds, then a short scramble to the peak
savor the view and be sure to get a peak shot next to the cairn

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks David Peak, James Peak, St. Marks Mountain and Unnecessary Mountain are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

description from Club Tread

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Wettin Peak

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What: 1538m. A bushwhack with a partial view.

Where: Wettin Peak is located toward the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty:	4/5	Some bushwhacking and some serious scrambling
Runnability:	2/5	Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Bushwhacking and some scrambling in the alpine
Peak view:	3/5	Partially-obstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery:	4/5	Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children:	1/5	Not appropriate.
Dogs:	3/5	Some sharp rocks and steep bits in alpine.

Route overview: The trail to Wettin Peak can be broken down into 5 sections: Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the ridge, the ridge to Hat and Hat to the peak. The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The second and third sections are on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and are very well marked. The section to Hat Peak is marked with the occasional bit of flagging and there is a thin trail. The final section is very infrequently traveled and not flagged.

Trip distance: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 20 km.

Trip time: From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-7 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety:

Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
GPS spotty under tree cover
Emergency shelter at Brunswick Lake.
Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion and lots of water

Name Origin: Named after the House of Wettin, a German royal dynasty. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, belonged to this family.

Headwaters for: Some small streams.

Getting there: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead.

Route Details: The trail to the Brunswick shelter is relatively well traveled. The remaining section is far less traveled and not flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 hours)

From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows. Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Brunswick ridge (30-min - 1- hour)

follow well-marked HSCT trail to the right along south end of the lake, then around west side of Deeks Lake.
cross the creek and continue on east side of small lake. Trail winds uphill to a red-roofed shelter just above the magnificent Brunswick Lake
continue on HSCT steeply uphill past a little tarn. Watch for small trail and orange flagging to the right

Ridge to Hat Peak (1/2 - 1 hour)

thin trail to Hat passes a smaller peak (called Fat Ass for the Bagger Challenge). Look for tape on western side of Fat Ass and a short scramble down to saddle
Hat is characterized by tall, green cell tower. Stop to sign the guest book!

Hat to Peak (1-2 hours)

bushwhack down the north face of Hat and down a steep bit, then across an open ridge of heather.
climb up and over the first, lower peak along the ridge
Wettin peak offers partial views of Anvil Island
return via same route

Neighboring peaks:

Bagger Challenge peaks Brunswick Mountain, Fat Ass Peak, Hat Peak are en route or relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information:

trip report from Club Tread (David Crerar)

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Peak List

Black Mountain

Brunswick Mountain

Capilano Mountain

Coburg Peak

David Peak

DePencier Bluffs

Deeks Peak

Fat Ass Peak

Gotha Peak

Grouse Mountain

Hat Mountain

Hollyburn Mountain

James Peak

Leading Peak

Lynn Peak

Mount Artaban

Mount Collins

Mount Fromme

Mount Gardner

Mount Hanover

Mount Harvey

Mount Killam

Mount Liddell

Mount Strachan

Mount Windsor

St. Marks Summit

The Needles - Middle

The Needles - North

The Needles - South

Unnecessary Mountain

West Lion

Wettin Peak