07.10.2012
Terrific hike and if you want solitude after the crowds at Garibaldi Lake, this is the place to find it. We saw no one else on the trail that day (just one set of footprints that turned around before the climb to Clinker Peak).
We had no issues finding the trailhead and following the trail. In short, take the flagged and overgrown trail that turns away from the lake shore just after the ranger cabin. If you need another clue, follow the trail along the lake, above the water line, and when it runs out, back track a couple of metres to see the orange flagging tape. When the trail returns to the lake, take an obvious path up to the right over some slippery rocks. Again, flagging tape is your friend.
While on the subject of flagging, I feel that this route was flagged on the outward journey and not on the return. In a few places on our return we had to work harder to spot the next piece of tape as it wasn't always obvious, and there are a few minor side trails to view points and dead-ends. But in reality route-finding was not an issue - except maybe in poor visibility.
Once we ran out of trail, we followed Matt Gunn's description of taking the left-side of an obvious treed rib. It's steep in places and required careful foot placement on the way down as the surface is covered in loose material. (It's fine while you can kick or grind a step into the dirt, but in a couple of places the ground is hard so it's a bit like walking over ball-bearings.) From the top of Clinker Peak, the route over to Price is obvious - take a shallow diagonal line down to a large boulder in the col to avoid the worst of the loose rocks. (And there are many loose rocks.)
The surface on Clinker and Price is old lava of all colours - red, yellow (sulphur-stained), grey, white. You could spend a day exploring the area, photographing nothing but rocks. The summit of Price is broader and not as flat as I expected so you have to wander round to get the best views in all directions. But it's well worth it: the views are stunning. Garibaldi and the Table feel close enough to touch, and Table Meadows looks ever so inviting... Plus you get a feel for the descent to Sentinel Bay and the lake from the neve traverse. Fantastic stuff.
I recently read a discussion on Club Tread about why this trail wasn't more widely advertised, such as on the BC Parks web page. Having hiked it now I think BC Parks is correct in not listing it as a destination. Here's why I think that. The trail involves crossing several boulder fields - but not your average boulder fields. These require taking large steps over big, deep and dark gaps between huge lava blocks. One mis-step could result in an unpleasant end to your hike. And then there's the steep ascent of Clinker - more importantly, there's the steep *descent* from Clinker which requires careful foot placement if you don't want to end up on your tail bone. I cannot believe for one second that the average hiker who makes it to Garibaldi Lake has the experience to tackle this trail. If BC Parks listed this route, I can only imagine the hordes that would attempt it and get into trouble. So I am fine with this destination remaining a little bit below the radar. It's in the Scrambles book - that's good enough for me.
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