Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge Backpacking

Date: September 4 - 5, 2004

Place: Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge

Location: Squamish, Garibaldi Provincial Park

Round Trip: 35 km, includes the ridge on Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge; 2 days

Elevation gain: 2450 M total

Black Tusk is a distinctive volcanic peak that stands out from all the other mountain peaks in the area due to its isolation and unique appearance.

Panorama Ridge is a plateau that treat you to dazzling views of the Helm Glacier, Garibaldi Lake, Cinder Flats, Castle Towers Mountain, Phyllis Engine, and Black Tusk. It lets you get close-up views of areas of the park that are normally only visible from higher elevations.

Camping is available at Garibaldi Lake. Day shelters are also located at the campsites. Camp fire is not allowed.

We arrived Garibaldi Lake at noon. Then we climbed up Panorama Ridge after pitching the tent. We climbed Black Tusk in the next morning.

The campsite was clean, well maintained, and private. Each of us had to carry 30~40 lbs.
You bet. We were well prepared.

This 3-season tent is good for 3 persons so it is spacious for two. The pot she was holding was made of titanium. It is very light-weighted (but expensive - over $100).

The tent was set up after we put on the rain-fly

Luckily it drizzled just right after we put on the rain-fly. See, the platform was wet.

Now we were ready to hike.

Where did we cook. We cooked at the shelter. But remember to bring your fuel and stove - food as well. Water is free (no hot water).

This photo was taken at the Garibaldi Lake outlet when we were back from Panorama Ridge.

The golden glacier was so gorgeous. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Even the reflection is so colourful.

A close-up.

The backdrop is Sphinx Glacier. It looks slightly reddish at sunset.

Another view of Sphnix Glacier at sunset.

Battleship after rain. Did it really looked like a battle ship?

A glimpse of Garibaldi lake when we were on the way up to Panorama Ridge.

Panorama Ridge behind bright-red Indian Paintbrush. In between are Black Tusk and Mimulus lakes.

Black Tusk lake. Panorama ridge at the right hand corner.

Black Tusk Lake (front) and Mimulus Lake (back).

This photo was taken on the way up Panorama Ridge. Black Tusk lake at the right hand side and Mimulus at the left. Black Tusk at the backdrop.

Zoom in view of Black Tusk.

This is Helm Glacier which is only half way to Panorama Ridge. Time was not enough to carry on our journey. So we decided to turn back to our camp site.

We will be back next Summer.

A panoramic view. Black Tusk at the left. (the Black Tusk and Mimulus lakes at the left are out of sight.) Instead you are looking at the Helm lake, Helm Galcier (no ice now) and Cinder Cone..

Sign post. It was guarded by a Grey Jay - not kidding (it was standing on top of the sign post). From here we hiked up to Black Tusk.

After 2 and a half hours we arrived at the Black Tusk view point. The sign said "Climbing the Black Tusk is not recommended due to loose and falling rock"
Who cares?

The heading of the sign is "From Lava Flow to Ice and Snow".

Interesting geological information.

Posted in front of Black Tusk. A baby tusk at the left (not an official name).

How big is the Tusk? See the scale below.

You climb up at the right hand side and walk across the side the volcanic rock to the left-hand side. Then you can climb up the rock there because it is shorter over there. See how small are the people at the far left-hand side.

We climbed up at the ridge (of the right-hand side). We had not hiked to the other side. Why? It was windy, cold (we didn't have enough clothing), dangerous (because of the loose rock), and running out of time. Anyway this was what it looked at the other side of Black Tusk. This side of ridge was covered with ice. The ice itself was covered with dirts. The Empetrum Peak was at your right.