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BC Coast :: Sea to Sky :: Mt. Brunswick

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Panoramic View South from Summit of Mt. Brunswick, looking down HSCT spine.  Lions just right of center, Mt. Harvey to its right. 

October 8, 2012

Mt. Brunswick is classic Sea-to-Sky scramble.  Just like for the other targets radiating from Lions Bay price must be paid in form of substantial elevation gain starting from near sea level.  But outstanding views from the summit are more than adequate reward;  in particular sweeping views of Howe Sound Crest spine.  Alternate return option includes loop via backside of Mt. Harvey making it one of most rewarding day-trips in Sea-to-Sky area. Overnight is possible in Magnesia Meadows, but please avoid using NSR shelter except in case of real emergency.

Park at Lions Bay, same as for Lions or Mt. Harvey.  Small parking lot fills fast and you are likely to have to leave your vehicle lower in the village, probably by proverbial school.  Hike up the logging road, keeping straight in about 40min (right fork is Binkert trail).  Cross Magnesia creek soon after;  in time of spring runoffs this can be bit challenging in the afternoon.  This is also last reliable water source, so make sure you top up water bottle as real elevation gain is yet to start.  Churn up stony road, keeping right at next junction (left fork is for Tunnel / Logger bluffs).   In about 2 hours from Lions Bay this road finally comes to an end in bushy overlook.  This is good spot for a break as trail becomes quite steep rising sharply towards junction with Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT), reached in another hour of steep hiking.  Continue up even more steeply and finally exit to alpine shoulder between west and east summits. West summit is lower, but wrongly labelled as "Mt. Brunswick" on some topo maps.  Fantastic panorama unfolds, including beautiful Howe Sound behind you and spell-binding "Lake District" -- Deeks, Brunswick and Hannover trio of pater-noster lakes in north portion of HSCT.  Directly ahead is final summit ridge and it probably looks more difficult than it really is.  It should be dry though.   Scramble easily to first highpoint, then carefully drop to the notch.  Final part looks problematic (see gallery), but hidden on the other side of exposed ridge is nice ledge than can be scrambled easily to the summit, which had remains of old helipad in 2012.   This is normal turnaround point, although next bump east can also be visited without much trouble.   Summit is wide on a sunny day views are simply breathtaking!

For return there are several options.  Most people descend the same way, and it should be twice as fast (but also punishing on the knees due to steepness and overall elevation).  More adventurous, but longer alternative is to turn left (south) on HSCT junction and hike over Magnesia Meadows to Harvey Pass (~1hr).  Mt. Harvey can be scrambled from there, and although brutally steep this ascent is without real problems.  Finally descend via normal Mt. Harvey trail back to trailhead. Magnesia Meadows can also be reached by continuing east from Brunswick summit, then carefully scrambling down when it becomes feasible. I have not tried this last part, but apparently it is only moderate scrambling.

Gallery