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BC Coast :: Sea to Sky :: Skyline Ridge

GPS Track

Two main landmarks of Shannon basin: Mt. Habrich left and Sky Pilot group right from upper part of Skyline Ridge

Two main landmarks of Shannon basin - Habrich (L) and Copilot (R) from moderately angled ascent slopes in upper Skyline Ridge

July 14, 2014

Best and most scenic day-hike from upper terminal of Sea-to-Sky gondola.  Approach is walk on network of logging roads to logging clearcut at west end of Skyline ridge.  Pretty sub-alpine forest with many tarns and meadows leads to treeline with many options for further exploration.  Views of entire Shannon basin and Sky-Pilot group are fantastic!  Trip is feasible both in summer and winter conditions, but keep note of Gondola hours in order to catch last download.  Stats are given from upper gondola terminal; trip becomes much longer and more difficult if hiking from/back to Sea-to-Sky corridor.

Follow back-country access road for about 25 minutes from upper terminal and go right at junction with Sky Pilot Valley trail; Skyline marker #1 is here. Cross Shannon creek on somewhat iffy foot bridge (March 7 '15), then loopback around west side of forested Skyline ridge keeping left at junction with Shannon Basin trail. Road gets more rough and steeper here and ends at logging clearcut ~1.5 hr into the hike. End of marked trail is at open rise with good views of Habrich ridge. From there narrow, but brushed trail with occasional flagging climbs towards treeline passing many lovely tarns along the way.  Trail peters out in meadows at treeline - make mental note of this spot in order to pick it up on return. From there it is well worth continuing up moderately angled talus slope then hiking towards base of Co-pilot across "Lake district" below Goat Ridge. This would be perfect overnight spot as well.  Return the same way.

It is possible to do full traverse of Shannon basin by connecting Skyline Ridge and Sky Pilot trail via 3rd class terrain on NW flanks of Copilot mountain.  Capable scramblers have also ascended Goat Ridge from upper Skyline ridge, but this is very difficult (low 5th class) and can not be recommended.

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