Cypress Peak/North Ridge

getting there

Drive 2 hours north from Vancouver on Highway 99 past Squamish.  Approximately 14 miles beyond the turn off for Brackendale turn left on "Chance Creek Forest Road. Stay left avoiding spur roads for the first 1.8 miles. Turn right on Roe Main.  Go left at the first junction and then go right at the 2nd junction ignoring the sign "R500" on the left. Continue on the main road and cross Roe Creek going left at the next intersection.  Approximately 1 mile further water bars make this road impassible for all but very high clearance vehicles.  Park here. 

APPROACH & ASCENT

Hike 1.5 miles on the road staying left at the next road fork and continue to the road washout. Hike the road an additional 1.5 miles and head west into the trees descending to Roe creek. Cross Roe creek (note in early summer this may not be possible due to heavy run off from snow melt). Continue up the left side of the creek to a long boulder slope. Take this boulder field up to a basin at 5,249 ft below a small glacier.  Follow talus to the ridge skirting the glacier.  At 5,840 ft ascend through steeper scree to continue to skirt the glacier and attain the ridge crest.  Turn left and follow the ridge crest to the summit.  Note the crux is an easy, but exposed 60 foot Class 3 step at the start of the ridge. To avoid this step bear left and find easier rock on the east side of the ridge and then traverse back left to the ridge above the step.  Class 2 to the summit.

notes

• Reference: Scrambles in Southwest British Columbia page by Matt Gunn (Cairn Publishing 2005).

information for leaders

• Considerations for travel to Canada

  • Start by reviewing the latest regulations. Look for information on border crossing and travel to Canada on these websites:
    
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation)
    • Government of Canada
  • Everyone must have a passport or other valid ID like a NEXUS card.
  • NEXUS cards can save a lot of time but only work if everyone in the car has one.
  • Make sure your vehicle insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Make sure your health insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Border crossing regulations are strict in both directions. Know what you’re allowed to take and declare everything to avoid problems.
  • You may be able to save time by checking alternate border crossings.
  • See the Travel Industry Council of Ontario's 9 Travel Tips for Crossing the Canadian/U.S. Land Border blog post for some good tips on traveling to Canada.

• Suitable Activities: Scrambling
• Seasons: July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Technical 4, Strenuous 3
• Length: 9.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 4,000 ft
• High Point: 6,834 ft

• Land Manager: Garibaldi Provincial Park
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 20
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12