View source for Archive:Geoff's August Long Weekend Tantalus Trip

==Synopsis==

Lake Lovelywater and the Tantalus Range is one of my favorite places to go! It's located northwest of Squamish and accessible by the Squamish Valley Road in Brackendale.

This is a beginner friendly trip and will be tailored to people's skill/comfort levels scrambling.

As with all my beginner friendly trips remember:

* '''Why is this Beginner Friendly?''' - this trip is beginner friendly in the sense that beginners to mountaineering are welcome and we will be happy to teach and wait for them, not in the sense that it is easy or safe. See the VOC definition of beginner friendly [[Glossary|Here]].
* I suggest reading (if you have it, or borrow it from the clubroom, a friend, whatever) Freedom of the Hills to brush up on your mountaineering know-how.

===Approach===

We'll drive to the trailhead early Friday morning (so sorry, 6:00am across the Lions Gate), park, and walk to the river. Make sure you bring $10 to pay Marty so he won't vandalize our cars. At the river we'll use the BC Water Survey cable to cross. I have the key to the tram so it should be pretty quick. If it's on the wrong side we'll send a couple people over on the cable. The trail starts right away and is about 6km long and very steep gaining 1200m of elevation. It should take about half a day. It ends at Lake Lovely Water.

===Lake Lovelywater and Route Options===

At Lake Lovelywater we can have a swim, lunch or snack, and maybe camp. There's an ACC cabin, but we won't be using it.

*Option 1 - Mostly Beginners to Scrambling: If the trip is mostly beginners to scrambling then we'll camp at Lake Lovelywater Friday night and scramble one of the easier peaks nearby, either Alpha, Niobe, or Phelops, on Saturday. On Sunday morning we can do another shorter scramble Niobe or steal the ACC canoe and paddle around or swim and relax. Then we'll hike back down.

*Option 2 - Mostly Non-Beginners to Scrambling: If the trip has more confident scramblers then we'll continue from Lake Lovelywater on Friday to Red Tit Col in one long day. We'll camp at the col and scramble the more difficult Tantalus, Serratus, or Dionne (or some combination) on Saturday. On Sunday we'll hike back to Lake Lovelywater, maybe swim and eat, then hike back down to the cars.

*Option 3 - Equal Mix Beginners/Non-Beginners: We can split the group in half with a non-beginner or two leading each group and the beginner group can attack option 1 and the non-beginner group option 2.

Descriptions of these routes can be found in Matt Gunn's Scrambles or Kevin McLean's Alpine Select.

==Skills Required==

Scrambling generally requires the use of your feet and hands to get up something. Expect scree and talus slopes, snow, steep and rocky bits, and exposure.

* Hiking/backpacking and camping experience
* Scrambling experience an asset
* General physical fitness and endurance
* A good attitude!

==Gear Required==

==== Clothes ====
* 1 set of non-cotton clothes (just the one set)
* 1 additional warm thing (fleece / down jacket)
* water proof pants and jacket (even if the weather is suppose to be good)
* toque (very important!!!)
* gloves
* boots
* sun hat
* gaiters

===Technical Gear===

Scrambling, especially up steep terrain, often requires rappelling to get back down safely. Also, to accomplish Option 2 we have to cross a glacier.

* harness
* locking carabiner with belay/rappel device
* extra locking or non-locking biners
* 3m of 1" webbing
* 2 prussiks for self rescue (if glacier)
* ice axe
* crampons (if glacier)
* helmet
* Trekking poles

===Other===

* headlamp
* food
* eating gear
* sleeping bag
* sleeping pad
* sun glasses (important!)
* sunscreen
* toilet paper
* camera

===Pack===

* a pack to put it all in

===Group Gear===

* tents
* stoves and fuel
* rope
* snow anchors (if glacier)
* some rock gear (just in case)

==Pre-Trip Meeting==

The Pre-Trip Meeting will be on '''Monday, July 26 at 7:00pm in the VOC Clubroom'''

*having it early in the week should give everyone enough time to get their gear

If you want to come on the trip you must be at the pre-trip meeting. If you can't come, please contact Geoff to let him know you're coming and a driver for a ride. You'll also need to arrange a tent with someone.

==Sign-Up==

Sign up here. Put your experience in brackets (beginner/non-beginner to scrambling), if you have a car or any useful group gear put that down too. If you have skills or experience that beginners can benefit from let us know too.

'''The trip limit will be 15'''

# Geoff Martin (non-beginner, tent, stove, rope, will teach/lead/help)
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==Cars==

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==Waiting List==

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