British Columbia Parks page<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhile the huts are a nice amenity, they can be noisy and full, so it\u2019s a very good idea to have a tent along. Other factors like weather, getting off-track and conditions, as well as enjoying other attractions better-accessed from an established camp on the glaciers, are all great reasons for bringing a tent.<\/p>\n
When to Go<\/h4>\n
The best time to go is as soon as there is a solid snowpack and until the waters of Garibaldi Lake begin to melt. The most optimal time is between January and May.<\/p>\n
Permits<\/h4>\n
You can pre-order permits ahead of time. They are $10 [Canadian?]per day, per person, for Garibaldi Provincial Park. You can also pay at the Elfin Lakes Trailhead.<\/p>\n
How to Get There<\/h4>\n
Parking for the Garibaldi Lake Trailhead is at the Rubble Creek parking area, located 20.5 miles north of the town of Squamish. Most parties end their traverse here. In the winter, the road is not plowed, so you aren\u2019t often able to drive to the parking area.<\/p>\n
Getting to the Elfin Lakes Trailhead is by a steep gravel road from the town of Squamish. Go east on the Mamquam Road and when you reach a fork, turn left and drive to the trailhead. Having a four-wheel-drive vehicle and chains is recommended, especially when your car is going to be there for more than a day and may be covered by snow. Try not to leave valuables in your car. Thefts aren\u2019t common, but they occur more often here than at other trailheads.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0062.jpg?resize=600%2C400\")
<\/p>\n
Amar Andalkar leaving the Elfin Hut and ascending Mount Garibaldi.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0083.jpg?resize=600%2C402\")
<\/p>\n
Amar\u00a0Andalkar with Mount Garibaldi looming overhead.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0171.jpg?resize=600%2C400\")
<\/p>\n
Amar\u00a0Andalkar stands on the summit of Mount Garibaldi, looking back at the way we had come.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0177.jpg?resize=600%2C400\")
<\/p>\n
Garibaldi Lake, which is frozen over half the year, is crossed on your final day back to Rubble Creek Trailhead and your second vehicle.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0250.jpg?resize=600%2C402\")
<\/p>\n
In the distance, Amar skis across to a pass that will bring us to the shores of Garibaldi Lake.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0276.jpg?resize=600%2C402\")
<\/p>\n
Mount Garibaldi.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0335.jpg?resize=600%2C402\")
<\/p>\n
Garibaldi Lake at sunset from the Burton Hut.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090501-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0448.jpg?resize=600%2C402\")
<\/p>\n
Hannah Carrigan ascends the Parapet on a day trip from the Burton Hut.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090501-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0467.jpg?resize=600%2C400\")
<\/p>\n
Hannah Carrigan and Sky Sjue ascend the Parapet with Mount Carr behind.<\/p>\n
![\"Garibaldi](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090501-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0589.jpg?resize=600%2C402\")
<\/p>\n
Sky Sjue milks a long day in the mountains, just before the final climb and descent to Garibaldi Lake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Whether you are from Canada or not, the Spearhead Traverse, located near Whistler, B.C., is likely the most popular traverse in the entire province. Of similar distance and vertical gain is another option, only a few miles south. While still popular, the Garibaldi Neve Traverse offers you a good chance of finding solitude on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[187,324,53,59,364],"internal-tag":[501,500,1683],"class_list":["post-2765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-snowsports","tag-british-columbia","tag-jason-hummel","tag-photography","tag-ski","tag-snowsports","internal-tag-british-columbia","internal-tag-canada","internal-tag-pre-redirect-snowsports"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/perfect-alternative-spearhead-traverse-british-columbia","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The Perfect Alternative to the Spearhead Traverse in British Columbia","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/perfect-alternative-spearhead-traverse-british-columbia","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/perfect-alternative-spearhead-traverse-british-columbia"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0276.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/12\/JLH-090430-GaribaldiTraverseEtc-0276.jpg?fit=1500%2C1004"},"articleSection":"Snowsports","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Angela Crampton"}],"creator":["Angela Crampton"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["british columbia","jason hummel","photography","ski","snowsports"],"dateCreated":"2015-01-08T14:45:09Z","datePublished":"2015-01-08T14:45:09Z","dateModified":"2018-11-12T06:28:40Z"},"rendered":"