Hiking Parkhurst Mountain in Garibaldi Provincial Park
Contents
Parkhurst Mountain Hike Information
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 17.10Km
Elevation Gain: 1,552m
Highest Elevation: 2,494m
Average Gradient: 18.15%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 12 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: No
Season: ~March to May
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None – But there is glacier travel.
Parkhurst Mountain Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 50°10’05.0″N 122°52’55.0″W
Disclaimer: Winter hiking (snowshoeing) involves significantly more risk than summer hiking. Hikers should be prepared with appropriate education, training and equipment for all possibilities, including but not limited to avalanches. A mistake such as going off trail, getting lost or injured can be far more dangerous in winter than summer. You are responsible for your own safety, and while I am happy to give my opinion on this website as to the avalanche risk of a specific hike, do not take this as fact and please do your own research. Everybody has different risk tolerances and mine might be different to yours.
Parkhurst Mountain Overview
Parkhurst Mountain is a summit located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, accessed from the Wedgemount Lake trailhead. It’s not a commonly hiked peak as the standard route crosses the large Wedgemount Glacier, which most parties are not equipped for. Obviously there is no trail to the summit either.
Most parties that want to summit Parkhurst Mountain will do so in late winter or spring when a healthy snowpack covers any crevasses. Ski tourers are common in the zone at this time of year, with a variety of lines accessed via the same route. Many parties will opt to rope up when crossing the glacier, however if going in early spring, plenty choose not to thanks to the deep snowpack. Of course, it is always recommended to be prepared with the necessary gear and knowledge of glacier travel anytime you travel on a glacier.
Besides the glacier travel, this route to Parkhurst is entirely non-technical, with a simple plod to the Wedge/Parkhurst col before following the ridge to the summit. There is no scrambling or exposure of any kind.
It is actually feasible to avoid any glacier travel if you follow the route described in Scrambles in SWBC. This route ascends a steep, very loose and hazardous northern slope to the Rethel/Parkhurst col that is often described as miserable by those that have done it, so it’s not that commonly tackled. If your goal is to tag both Rethel and Parkhurst in one trip, this may be the way to go though.
Either way you go, Parkhurst is a big day. The stats above actually begin from the end of Wedge North Mainline FSR, which is only suitable for those with appropriate vehicles to get there (4×4 preferred, SUV may manage). If you begin from the standard Wedgemount Lake trailhead, you can add another 350m of gain and several more kilometers of travel to the day.
The best time to do this route to Parkhurst is in the spring, with April and May likely the peak window when the snowpack is at its highest level at high elevations, but the snowline is high enough to allow for an easier approach. Winter ascents aren’t unheard of but are usually much more demanding days due to deep, fresh powder and a snowline likely all the way to the valley bottom. Of course, summer ascents are possible and likely easier for parties willing to cross the glacier at this time.
If you prefer to split this hike into two days it’s entirely possible by camping at Wedgemount Lake. Dogs are of course not allowed on this hike given it is in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Maintaining this website requires a significant investment of both time and money, if you find this website a useful resource, please consider making a donation using this button.
Is Parkhurst Mountain worthwhile?
All the peaks around Wedgemount Lake are stunning, and Parkhurst is no different. This is actually one of the easier peaks if you time it well, as it’s lower than all the others in the zone (exc. Rethel) and the route is entirely non-technical and simple if the glacier is well filled in. Of course, for parties with the necessary experience and equipment, crossing the glacier in the summer is fine as well.
The views from the top are outstanding, with the nearby giants of Wedge, Weart, Cook, Rethel and plenty others on full display.
How difficult is the hike to Parkhurst Mountain?
All the peaks in the Wedgemount zone are difficult days due to having to start at the bottom of the valley. Even reaching Wedgemount Lake is a challenge for most parties, and Parkhurst is an additional 600m of gain from there. If you have the necessary vehicle to begin from Wedge North Mainline FSR you can make things a bit easier, if not this hike be nearing 2,000m of gain round trip.
As noted, other than the glacier this hike is non-technical. Timing is really everything. Time it well and it will be a largely non-technical ascent, time it poorly and the glacier crossing could be difficult if not dangerous. Beyond Tupper Lake there is no trail, so you will also need to be comfortable navigating yourself to the summit, though that shouldn’t be too challenging with a downloaded GPX.
Parkhurst Mountain Route Information
The trailhead for Parkhurst Mountain is the same as that for Wedgemount Lake. It’s around 2km down a logging road that is bumpy but fine for most vehicles. The route linked above begins from the end of Wedge North Mainline FSR, which shaves off around 350m of gain from the standard trailhead. While the standard trailhead is suitable for most vehicles, the alternative FSR is incredibly steep and loose, with a few cross ditches here and there. Most parties will want to begin from the standard trailhead, but those with capable vehicles can begin from Wedge North Mainline FSR.
If beginning from the standard trailhead, you’ll follow the usual Wedgemount Lake trail up. If you begin from the end of Wedge North Mainline FSR, you’ll want to hike to the end of the road where you will find a hydro station, before crossing Wedgemount Creek (usually fine in spring, not sure about summer). On the other side of the creek you will find a faint trail through the forest, which you should follow until it connects to the standard Wedgemount Lake trail at ~1,260m elevation. From here, both trailheads follow the same route.
You’ll now continue along the Wedgemount Lake trail, with little of note until you reach the steep headwall that climbs up to the lake. In the summer this headwall is fairly straightforward, but with a spring snowpack it actually becomes quite tricky, especially coming down it. The headwall can often be icy and slick. If there’s a decent bootpack up you can likely manage fine, but coming down you quite likely will want an ice axe and potentially crampons. A slip in these conditions will mean sliding the whole way down, and unfortunately a lot of people climb this unprepared in the spring, only to struggle on the descent.
From the top of the headwall you will reach Wedgemount Lake in short order. Most parties will take a break at the hut, and of course if you’re doing this as an overnight you can set up camp here. You’ll be able to see Parkhurst Mountain towards the southeast end of the lake, in front of Wedge Mountain. Once ready to proceed, you now follow the usual route to Tupper Lake. Wedgemount Lake was frozen for us so we just walked across the lake, otherwise you’ll want to follow the perimeter of the lake. You’ll then climb up to Tupper Lake, which you will need to wrap around before attaining Wedgemount glacier at around 2,050m. If you are planning to rope up for the glacier travel, now is the time to do it.
The initial glacier travel is moderately but consistently steep, with ever improving views as you gain elevation. You’ll be surrounded by peaks now, with Weart, Cook, Wedge and Parkhurst enveloping you. We had no crevasse concerns when we went (April) and conditions could not have been better, with a supportive snowpack allowing for seamless travel. The glacier flattens out at around 2,200m, and your target now is the obvious Wedge / Parkhurst col.
From the col you’ll turn your attention to Parkhurst to the north. There will be one or two steep rolls on the way, but nothing technical nor exposed. Once on the SW ridge the terrain becomes wind scoured in spots, with bare rocks to navigate around. It’s all seamless stuff though, and in no time you will reach the broad summit, with a huge cairn adorned atop it. It’s difficult to tell if there is a cornice on the summit, so make sure to take care when walking around for photos. The views will be outstanding, of course, with Wedge, Weart, Cook and Rethel the obvious peaks nearby, and Castle Towers will be prominent in the distance as well.
Once finished on the summit you simply return back the way you came. Descending back to the col may allow a few nice glissades, but once back on the glacier it’s a simple hike back to the lake. As noted, descending the headwall before Wedgemount Lake can be very difficult. A thin layer of isothermal snow atop ice formed for our descent, and getting down required careful footing with an ice axe in case of any slip. Several ill prepared parties were coming up, with no traction or ice axe, and their descent must have been difficult.
When should I hike Parkhurst Mountain?
Your timing really depends on how you prefer to cross the glacier. Ideal timing would probably be early spring, so April or early to mid-May, when the snowpack will be thick and firm, easily covering crevasses and allowing for seamless travel. The shoulder seasons are the most risky time to go, with a thin layer of snow hiding crevasses along the route. In the summer the glacier can be pure ice, and while the crevasses might be obvious and easy to avoid, travel on the glacier could be slick and you’ll certainly want crampons.
Top Tip
Time this well and the day can actually be one of the more straightforward outings for any peak in the Wedgemount area. I certainly found Parkhurst much easier than Cook or Weart as our conditions were ideal.
As noted, you will certainly want an ice axe and at least microspikes in the spring for the headwall to the lake. Some parties use mountaineering crampons as well. Snowshoes may be necessary for any portions of the trip depending on the conditions when you go.
