Garibaldi Neve Traverse

Country	Canada
Province/State	BC

Access

The Garibaldi Neve is a ski traverse from Diamond Head, near Squamish, to Garibaldi Lake. Access to Diamond Head is via the Ring Creek Road and Garibaldi Park Road. Access to the Garibaldi Lake trail head at Rubble Creek is via the Garibaldi Lake access road. Most parties arrange a shuttle to leave cars at both ends. Note that it is not advisable to leave valuables in either lot.

Route

The traverse is described from South to North, beginning at Diamond Head, although it is regularly done from both directions. Going South to North results in slightly less elevation gain, but requires skiing down the Garibaldi Lake trail (or bypassing it via the Barrier), which is often challenging. Going North to South requires more elevation gain, but has a much easier ski out.

This is an extremely popular ski traverse that is mostly done as a fairly moderate 2 day trip, but is regularly done anywhere from 1-3 days, depending on fitness and motivation. Good weather and visibility are extremely helpful.

The route follows the standard Winter access to the Elfin Lakes cabin. From the cabin, you travel North along an old jeep road (often difficult to discern). The objective is to cross Ring Creek where the slopes are least steep (92G15 010174). Ring Creek is steep and the sides of the Creek are prone to avalanching, especially with solar exposure. As an alternative, it is possible to bypass Ring Creek via the Columnar Peak/Gargoyles col, involving more elevation gain but less solar hazard.

Follow Ring Creek to the Garibaldi Glacier, which is followed onto the Garibaldi Neve. Travel North along the Garibaldi Neve past the Tent and the Sharkfin. There are some crevasses, usually easily avoided NE of the Sharkfin. Traverse the North Pitt Glacier then climb to the 1900m col W of Glacier Pikes. Descend the Sentinel Glacier to the Glaciology Huts at the SE end of Garibaldi Lake. These can be used as an emergency shelter, but a better bet would be the Burton Hut in Sphinx Bay.

Cross Garibaldi Lake (tedious but easy) and exit via the Garibaldi Lake trail to the Rubble Creek Parking Lot.

There are many chances for side trips along the way, chief among them the North face of Mount Garibaldi.