11.11.2017
TLDR - not many people on the hike, be prepared for all sorts of weather and trail conditions including slush, snow and ice. Bring crampons and snowshoes. Found a single crampon and a red/black glove (see picture).
We headed up for an overnight (sat-sun). We start the hike around 11am and got to the hut by 3:45, so just an hour before sundown. We took our sweet time but I would still budget 4h as the terrain can be tricky depending on snow/ice conditions. Crampons are a must for the slush and sticky snow at lower and middle section respectively. Though depending on the time of day that slush could turn to ice making hiking after dark much more technical. Hiking poles can help with balancing on those giant steps you frequently have to make onto rocks and roots (not so giant depending on your height...).
We ran into a big group who were coming down and they told us the 6 person BCMC hut was all ours. This was great news because after the steep boulder field at the end of the hike we were exhausted and weren't looking forward to setting up the tent in the cold and exposed area around the hut (very windy!). Another group of 3 arrived a bit later with their own tent. The windy was ferocious all night and the Whistler weather report told us the wind speed was around 30km/h with 60km/h gusts! Luckily being in the hut kept us warm all night (though there is no heater or any amenities except old extra sleeping bags and whatever people have left behind).
Sunday morning we went out to explore the frozen lake and glacier but the wind was still strong and visibility was so poor that after 10 min a cloud of snow dust covered our view of the glacier. Then one of us fell through a hole in the snow and got their boot and foot soaked from a layer of wet slush below the snow. We decided to cut our exploration short and head back down. We sent someone ahead with our one pair of snowshoes to help break the trail that morning as the snowfall had covered yesterday's tracks.
Despite poor visibility, we still had a blast, especially sliding down the boulder field and part of the trail on the way down (bringing magic carpets next time!). It's a gorgeous view if you are willing to trek the brutal 7km to get there!
If you are into backcountry skiingboarding, I would wait a bit as I don't think there is enough snow up there to cover the rocky terrain just yet.
FOUND: A SINGLE BLACK CRAMPON (see picture)
FOUND: A SINGLE RED AND BLACK GLOVE (see picture)
Comment to get them back.
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