Hike Vantage Peak

This trip can be done as big day trip, or broken up over two days if you bring a tent. It makes for a great weekend trip from Vancouver. So good in fact Arc'teryx made a whole movie about it.

Just beyond the ever popular Joffre Lakes turn off by about 20km is a unmarked extended shoulder, with a large line of old growth trees that end. If you get to the corner with the marvelous view of the Anniversary Glacier on Joffree and Matier you've gone too far. 

A the eastern end of this turn off is a narrow trail that descends to a very stout log bridge that crossed the river.  The trail from here is quite strait forward.  It's works it's way up to a logging round, then back into the woods. 

The trail that goes through the woods is very rooted, often muddy, and goes up and down a great deal. With heavy packs it can be quite tricky. The trail curves to through a boulder field eventually pulling into the sub-alpine beside the Keith Flavelle Hut. 

The hut is a great place to stay with beautiful views. In past years firewood used to be available, but sadly in recent years selfish individuals have been lighting bonfires, or just simply burning wood unnecessarily. There is only one firewood flight per year, so if you come up in the winter, use it sparingly. 

If the hut feels a little crowded, then you can head down the hill, to the end of a towering moraine. There is a beautiful lake here situated beneath the Anniversary Glacier that makes for excellent camping. 

To get to vantage follow the little single track the ambles up the wide valley towards the Vantage Matier Col. From the col you head strait for the summit. The trail gets increasingly hard to follow as it dips between the Krumholtz trees, and approachs the narrowing ridge. You can break climbers right and traverse along the edge of ridge if you want to avoid the steep section, or take to the ridge for some fun exposure. 

Either way within a few minutes you're on top of a spectacular summit with incredible views in every direction.