28.10.2017
The Howe Sound Crest trail has a reputation for being a difficult hike. Stretching from Seymour Mountain to Porteau Cove, some people can do this long trail in a day while others split it into a multiday hike. We decided to only do a portion of it, making our turn-around point 2:30pm. On the drive up it looked like there was a car gathering of sorts, judging by the small collection of expensive parks strategically parked to resemble a movie poster. The main parking lot for the area, however, was fairly empty, with only a few early birds starting the trail before dawn, while we started shortly after the sun rose.
(The first 30 minutes of our hike was spent blindly going up a ski slope before deciding it was the wrong way and actually going the correct direction.)
The beginning of the Howe Sound Crest trail is a well-tread and marked path through the woods, eventually connecting to a service road. The walk along the service road was not terribly long, soon enough it narrows down into a wide trail through the woods, and eventually a well maintained gravel trail that switchbacks part way up to St. Mark’s Summit. This trail is clearly under active renovations, meaning in the future the gravel slope may extend higher up. Perhaps it was the day of year that we attempted this hike, but the stretch up to St. Mark’s was definitely holding up to its reputation of being a muddy hike.
Taking into account our turn-around time, we did not take pictures until the return trip but we did pause to admire the gorgeous view of the ocean below.
Between St. Mark’s and Unnecessary most of the elevation gain is lost going down into the valley, only to have to attempt to redeem it in addition to the extra altitude of Unnecessary’s peaks. The journey to the south peak is longer than one would expect-- if you take the post as the official marker of arrival, then many people stopped quite aways from the south peak (judging from the return trip). The walk from the south to north is most exposed. With warm, sunny weather this would be an ideal stroll through the part. However, I had anticipated snow, and packed accordingly for it. Wearing a wool base, with wind-resistant pants overtop, the sun was the ultimate enemy without wind. The trail across the open mountain top is unmarked, so I blindly wandered straight following an uncertain path. By the end, a few supporting ropes lead down into temporary, sparse woodlands.
It was also on this stretch that we met a friendly raven that hopped around us while we took a snack break. My hiking companion bribed its friendship with a portion of his sandwich, and from that point the sleek feathered friend ignored my existence entirely.
A view point nuzzled between the north and south peaks gives light to the sheer cliff face we had wandered by comfortably before. Funny how the harmless mountain features could really be the most disastrous. Shortly beyond the viewpoint the north peak’s sign is embedded into the surface. Before me the west and south lions loomed within walking distance. Similar to before, to get to the West Lions a good portion of elevation change would occur. At 1:30pm we called it a day, and perched on a rock in the shade admiring the view.
Very few hikers wandered this far, and our return trip made it clear that no one else was attempting to reach the north peak. Near the south peak I befriended my feathered friend: a gray jay. These birds have become so accustomed to humans that they will land on your hand-- making for some great photos.
By the time we returned to St. Mark’s Summit an abundance of people accumulated near the cliffs, making it difficult to find a good location to take a break and capture pictures of the view. Considering the expanse below varied very little from our views toward the end of the hike, we were not at a loss. We made our way back, weaving by the people taking care not to step in the mud.
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