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Search for the wild mountain whisky: a beginner-friendly, transit-encouraged, north shore romp · Saturday, November 30th, 2024
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Start: Saturday, Nov. 30th
Pre-trip meeting: Thursday, Nov. 28th, 7:00 pm
Pre-trip meeting location: Zoom
Description:
Description: Legend has it that there are hidden whisky caches speckled across the north shore mountains. I was looking into destinations for a transit-friendly shoulder-season hike and came across the appealing-looking west knob near cypress, which a few trip reports claim hides one of the famous whisky caches. I decided I wanted to check it out, then I decided I wanted to combine a couple routes to maximize the sight-seeing along the way.
The route is 14km round-trip with ~760m elevation gain, starting at the cypress falls trailhead and ending just past the nelson canyon trailhead. There will be some typical north-shore root scrambling and probably lots of mud. I will bring my jetboil to make some (optionally spiked) hot chocolate at the top.
This trip is beginner friendly, It will be a long day if you’ve never hiked before or haven’t been very active recently, but we will go as slow as is needed and turn back early if necessary. Shoot me an email if you have any questions/concerns.
Group size is technically unlimited but realistically if there are more than 10 people I’d like to have another trip leader on board, this would also make it possible for a faster group to split off if they wanted to.
The pre-trip will be on zoom and is mandatory if this is your first hike longer than 5km or your first hike in a cold climate. I'll mostly be going over essential gear and answering questions so it should be pretty quick.
The trail is easily accessible by bus so I’ve planned around that but those who would rather drive are welcome to.
If you want to drive, you’ll have to sort out rides between the start and end points (I’ll set up a spreadsheet if this is the case), or if your car group is on board you can hike back to cypress falls instead of ending in nelson canyon park. It’s only a 5 minute drive between the two trailheads so if there’s at least 2 cars shuttling shouldn’t be much of an issue, just be aware that parking at the nelson creek trailhead is ~5$/hr and you’ll have to download an app to pay.
If paying for gas/transportation costs for club trips is not usually a financial barrier for you and you take the bus, consider donating what you would have been willing to spend on gas for this trip to a mutual aid campaign.
My suggestions are the raven trust, a legal fund for indigenous land stewardship in canada. This trip is happening on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territory and so we are directly benefiting from historical and ongoing land stewardship by members of these nations. Alternatively, Distro Disco, is a local mutual aid organization that provides essential supplies to our unhoused neighbours in vancouver (if you’re a gear-head and have any outdoor/overnight gear you don’t need, check out their material donation guide)
Donating is not at all required to come on this trip, it’s just something I wanted to put out there. No one should feel pressured to disclose whether or not they donated anything.
Logistics:
Option a, transiting from ubc: meet at ubc exchange bay 10 (near Steve’s poke) at 7:10am to catch the 14 hastings at 7:18
Option b, transiting from somewhere else: meet at West Georgia street and Seymour street at 7:45 to link up with those coming from ubc and catch the 257 to horseshoe bay at 7:55
Option c, driving or already living on the north shore: be ready to go at the cypress falls trailhead by 8:40, to hopefully start hiking by 8:50
This is the morning bus route:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/UBC+Exchange+@+Bay+10,+University+Endowment+Lands,+BC/Cypress+Falls+Park+%7C+West+Vancouver,+Woodgreen+Place,+West+Vancouver,+BC/@49.307882,-123.2638548,12z/am=t/data=!4m18!4m17!1m5!1m1!1s0x548672b7cea304d7:0x55ecff169b7e418d!2m2!1d-123.248129!2d49.26581!1m5!1m1!1s0x54866c3b65ab36a9:0x9debe7b48ce8ac35!2m2!1d-123.2412561!2d49.3517383!2m3!6e1!7e2!8j1732958580!3e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExOS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
From there we’ll hike, check out cypress falls and the fancy outhouse at whyte lake (as well as the lake itself), and have lunch with a view and hopefully a nice drink at the knob. On the way back, we’ll pass by whyte lake again and continue down along nelson creek and eventually to cranley drive where we’ll catch the bus home. We should be on the bus well before 4.
Gear:
Compass card
boots/shoes that can get muddy and won’t give you blisters
Warm layers
Waterproof jacket
Gloves
Hat
Extra pair of socks
Lunch
Snacks
Water
Headlamp (a regular flashlight is ok, your phone doesn’t count, let me know if you need to borrow one)
Mug for hot chocolate