Description

A scenic route that climbs from the Mamquam FSR to the saddle between Slhanay and the third Chief, through the terrain behind these two peaks and up to the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. Descent will be via the gondola. We won’t summit any of the three Chiefs on this hike (hence the name), but there will be no crowds, lots of scenic views and some easy, fun scrambling on low angle granite.  There will also be some hiking on steep rough trails with some deadfall. This will be a moderately paced trip and we expect it to take 5-6 hours, including breaks. This route is best enjoyed wearing climbing approach shoes with sticky rubber soles, but it can be done in regular hiking boots as well.

Total distance: 7 km, total elevation gain: 850 m.

Itinerary: We’ll meet at the Sea to Sky Gondola parking lot at 8:00 am. We’ll leave at least one vehicle there and drive the rest of the vehicles approximately 1.5 km up the Mamquam FSR and park at the trailhead. The gondola parking lot is pay parking, but we have an annual parking pass so we’ll leave our vehicle there. The road to the trailhead can easily be driven in a 2WD vehicle. At the end of the day, we’ll take the gondola back down and use the vehicle(s) we left at the parking lot to return to the trailhead and retrieve the vehicles we left there. Estimated time to leave the trailhead at the end of the day is 4:00 pm.

Plan B: This is a fair weather hike, because we’ll be scrambling on some low angle slabs. If it’s wet, we can do a shorter hike in the area behind Valleycliffe and Crumpit Woods for anyone who still wants to get out and get some fresh air and exercise.

Carpooling: We live in Squamish so we can’t help anyone with carpooling. For those coming from metro Vancouver, we encourage you to get in touch with each other to carpool.

Gear: Bring the 10 essentials. Bug spray is also recommended. We’ll bring a medium sized first aid kit, a Garmin InReach and a track of our route.

Questions for you: Can you please briefly describe your recent hiking experience in the message box below.

Potential Hazards

Rockfall

What are the Risks: Rockfall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g.
climbing/scrambling/hiking)

Communication and Rescue
What are the Risks: Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be
available| Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field
If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow|

Terrain
What are the Risks: Cornices | Crevasses | Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps | Cliffs | Creeks | Rocks and Boulders
|Holes and depressions below the snow surface| Variable and difficult snow conditions |Snowcat
roads and road ranks | Fences and other man-made structures | Impact or collision with other
persons, vehicles or objects | Encounters with domestic or wild animals | Loss of balance or
control | Becoming lost or separated from the group | Slips, trips, and falls|

General Hazards
What are the Risks: Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor| Equipment failure| Infectious disease contracted through
viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact|
Negligence of other persons, including other guests| Negligent first aid| Negligence of the guide
Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities|