Went to Burke's south summit yesterday. Snow for more than half the way. Still appeared to be relatively packed with little post holing. Can be done (and was) without snowshoes, however gaiters are recommended.

Anyone know the snow level on the way to watersprite lake? When should this be snow free?

Does anyone know what the current trail conditions are like for the Rainbow Lake trail/area in Whistler?

Thanks in advance

NOTE ... last Sunday (MAY 22/16) * hike up Whatcom Trail from the parking lot to Snass Pass, we encountered close to 40 blow down; many of these were trees knocked down across the trail during the last winter storm. A lot of stepping over.

The worst is a broken tree with lots of huge branches making walking through difficult. just after the bridge beyond the Whatcom/Dewdney trail fork...

Trail is snowfree almost all the way to the creek crossing at 1550 meters elevation; beyond that one encounters significant snow, and all the way to PUNCH Bowl Lake.

Here are a few pictures:


Lots of SLIDE ALDER along the trail.



VIEW towards the mountains to the south, good open area ...



At 1550 meter level, meadow area after we crossed a bridge just 1 km west of Snass Pass.





VIEW OF PUNCHBOWL LAKE from SNASS PASS, where we had lunch before turning around...




VIEW Towards the peak adjacent and east of Snass Mountain

Snow levels down to 1200m in the Whistler area this morning and likely to remain reasonably low until this system passes through later Sunday. Regular snow varies according to aspect, but we found snowlevels from 1200m to 1400m yesterday evening, with the transition to full snow coverage quite sudden.

Lower portions of some trails quite wet and gooey at the moment, including 19 Mile Creek Trails. Steady precip today will not improve that situation, but we need the rain/snow for our forests at the moment.

Bear activity most notable at 900-1000m currently, following spring bloom up the mountain sides. Surprised a lone goat at 1400m near major fault by Screaming Cat Lake last evening...

In addition, when does the lake become ice free?

Lots of new snow in the Sky Pilot group today. Avalanches from the Sky Pilot NF washing into Gunsight Gap Couloir. ~20-30cm fresh snow on the Stadium Glacier. Prior to this storm though, conditions in the area were excellent. Probably the best time of year to get up Sky Pilot. It won't take long for the new snow to settle and burn off but then it will be back to good to go.

we went up on Victoria long-weekend. The snow started close to the Gin and Tonic bridge (lots of it). They did not put up the bridge so you will need to cross the creek on foot. There's more snow on the other side. We chose to turn around at the missing bridge.

How would the conditions compare in a month, if right now (excluding the snow) is ideal? Less snow and more loose rock? Thanks

By ideal, I just mean for easy/fast travel. In a month, much of the snow below the glacier will be melted out, so instead of easy snow slopes on the approach, you will follow a well defined path in the scree from the treeline to the glacier (no glissading on the way down). The glacier may also start to develop a shrund so rather than going directly to the Col on the West Ridge, it might be necessary to go slightly climbers right to get off the glacier.

I wonder if anyone has an idea of when Gunsight Gap typically becomes impassable. Thinking of going that way late-June as some other trips are higher priority right now.

Was in the Deeks valley on Sunday. The Porteau road is in good 4x4 condition although getting a bit bushy in spots. Lower lake is melted, middle half melted and upper is quite frozen. Patchy snow starts around the middle lake, 1m on the ground at the shelter and 2m at the Hat Pass level. Snow is supportive for hiking. I was going for the NE ridge of Hanover but took the wrong gully from the upper lake and got cliffed out. Should have gone up fron the middle lake. Walked up to the Hanover/Brunswick col but the snow was too soft for any feats of mountaineering. Still a nice day out.

Was up towards Williams (Chilliwack) today. Trail up to the ridge is clear, hit a few patches of snow along the upper part of the ridge, nothing more than 10 or 15m stretches up to the know west of Williams proper. Few bits of blowdown here and there, but nothing you can't hop over easily. The boulder field / bowl across from there to the SW ridge still has a fair bit of snow in it, but other than a few rare holes, was able to walk it in fivefingers and wasn't sinking more than 4-5 inches. Went up to ~1850m on the ridge with progressively more snow as we went. There was a layer of fresh stuff that was melting fast over the day, but made it a bit miserable with the fresh pine needles underneath or on the heather. Discretion was the better part of valour with the 2 dogs and called it a day on a nice dry flat boulder for lunch. Bugs are coming in the forest... Ridge was pretty good with a nice little breeze.

Callaghan Lake Road is blocked by snow at km 5.5, 3km from the lake (up to a foot deep). Report on Bivouac says the blockade on Roe Creek Branch 200 (new Brew Lake/Hut Trail) has been removed. Not sure on status of ditch blockade further up Roe to Cypress Peak trailhead.

Ah yes thank you for clarifying