A nice lady we met on the trail had done it (with poles), and warned us that the toughest part was ahead of us, and she was right. However, the Baden Powell section between Whyte Lake and Eagle Bluffs was pretty tough going. The way to Whyte Lake was relatively simple and easy, and people were abundant. Hiked to Eagle Bluffs (then Cabin Lake) from the Whyte Lake trailhead, on an August afternoon. oh, wait, you can't do that because BC Parks has come up with a silly new policy that prevents people from letting others know when you are traveling. As always, be sure to let people know when/where you are traveling. So, do not give up hope if you try to book a hike at 6 am on a Sunday and it is sold out. After speaking to a Ranger at the parking lot, he said in his experience, many people are booking spots first thing in the morning, and then cancelling after they change their plans. In talking to visitors on the trail that afternoon, we found that a few people were able to book last-minute. It took about 10 minutes for our pass to arrive via email, during which time the Black Mountain pm trail was sold out.
We booked at 6 am for the Black Mountain pm on a Saturday, and by 6:05 the Howe Sound Trail was already sold out.
In our experience, it added about 10-15 min. The trail from Black Mountain to Eagle Bluffs has been re-routed (assuming it is because of muddy terrain), so expect a slightly different hike this year. Plenty of people on the difficult section of the trail going uphill did not look like they should be out there.Ī great hike up from Cypress Prov. If you're a beginner, work your way up to this one or choose a cooler day. If you're an intermediate level hiker with plenty of water, no problem. Really enjoyed this scenic hike and the views from Eagle Bluff are stunning. I took 1500 litres and came back with none. On a hot day like today at 30 C hydration before starting out (load up on water the day/night before you go), along with drinking plenty of water with electrolytes during the hike is essential.
I kept cool by keeping my hat wet in the alpine cold streams that run adjacent to the trails over much of it.
#Let me watch this now snow on the bluff full#
The hike has a lot of open to full sun uncovered by trees area so a good sunscreen is a must. I used a hiking pole but it's doable without one. Still a fair amount of snow & slush in parts that are in the forest and sheltered on a north slope, manageable as long as you've got waterproof hikers (proper footwear is a must for this hike!).