This is a heart-shaped tarn that we found directly at the true summit of Cougar Mountain (1530m)!!! Distance: 15.5km, Elevation gain: 917m, Duration: 9 hours
Admiring the views at the summit viewpoint. Middle: Tremor Mountain (2691m), Right: Phalanx Mountain (2441m), and The Spearhead (2457m)
The hike first follows a biking trail named "Bears n' Ugliness". This section is easier with some lower viewpoints.
There is a large creek crossing at 900m, we have to walk on a giant fallen tree.
At 950m, there is an amazing viewpoint. We are still travelling on "Bears n' Ugliness" bike track.
Green Lake as seen from the viewpoint. Left: Whistler and the Black Tusk (2319m). Center: Mt Niobe (2021m), Alpha Mtn (2302m), and Mt Tantalus (2603m). Right: Mount Sproatt.
We left the bike path at 1000m as it crossed a large creek twice; that creek is not indicated on the map. Instead, we bushwack on the left and there is a smaller creek at 1070m.
Boulder field at 1110m.
We made a small mistake at 1145m just before merging again with the bike trail. We climbed a small rock formation (class 2 or 3 scramble) and downclimbed it a few meters later.
Another great viewpoint at 1210m. It looked like some people made a fire ring there.
Snow started at 1350m and I wore my microspikes and gaiters. We navigated above a lake at 1390m, partly frozen. From then on, there was no more trail and it was wayfinding in snow.
We were wary of weak snow bridges but found a sturdy log to cross the creek at 1420m. From 1440m to 1500m, we had to find the best way to navigate up some cliffs and bluffs.
Summit Southern viewpoint. Left: Hibachi Ridge (2572m), Center: 2 unnamed peaks (2420m, Mystery Glacier), Right: Mt Moe (2664m), Mt Cook (2676m), Mt Weart (2835m).
Zoom on Mount Curie (2591m, right) and Peak 2538m (left).
Zoom on the Spearhead Range, so many peaks! Left: Mt Charlie Chandler (2339m), Mt Philip (2355m), Center: Quiver Peak (2676m back), Shudder Mtn (2671m), Right: Tremor Mtn (2691m)
Zoom on the ski slopes of Blackcomb. Left: Mt Davidson (2516m), Center: Mt Carr (2590m), Right: Castle Towers (2676m) and Piccolo Summit (2043m)
Celebrating at the cairn. Rainbow Mountain (2314m) at the back.
Selfie at the true summit, a little bit to the North. We initially wanted to come back with a small loop, but the snow was too warm and we didn't want to do any more wayfinding.
The golden hour looking East from a lower viewpoint. Left: Mt Moe, Mt Cook, Mt Weart. Right: Rethel Mtn (2408m), Wedge Mtn (2903m).
Sunset on Whistler/Blackcomb, with the Black Tusk on the left, Green Lake in the middle, and the Tantalus range at the back right.
There's snow starting at 1350m, up until the summit at 1530m.
At the moment, you need to be comfortable hiking in snow but snowshoes are not necessary. I had leather mountain boots plus waterproof rain pants, waterproof gaiters, microspikes, and hiking poles so I was well protected against the snow. My wife had trail runners and non-waterproof gaiters, she was mostly fine but the shoes were humid at the end.
The upper creeks are not so easy to cross but not extremely difficult, just need to take the time to find the right place to cross. There is a band of cliffs near the top, you need a bit of time to find where to climb it but it is not a difficult climb.
We stayed under tree cover and the snow was supportive. If we went in an open area, the snow was much more exposed to the sun and much weaker and more prone to slide.
Wow 1350 is pretty high, I was expecting much lower. Sounds similar to when I went in June a few years ago - snow started near that little lake. Thanks for the trip report!
How much of the trail still had snow?? I was considering doing this soon but I hate hiking in the snow haha. I did it a couple years ago in June and it was still pretty snowy but I know this has been a pretty low snow year.