Have successfully recc'ed a 'higher' route (1300m) around base of Little Ring Peak to the Pemberton Icefield. This Canada Day weekend trip will travel all the way to the icefield!

PLAN:

FRIDAY: 10am meetup. Drive-up Squamish river valley to trailhead at 850m. Friday afternoon, day trip in to try out alternate lower route as far as Western buttress (1200m) of Little Ring Peak (views of icefield from there, and easy terrain going forward). Probably five hours hiking/scrambling/route-finding, there and back. Car camp at trailhead with views of (big) Ring Mountain.

SATURDAY: Overnight packs. Head in again on better of the two possible routes (higher or lower). Probably five hours through to the glacier edge (1300m). Waterfalls along the way, and ice caves in the glacier. Climb up to subalpine area (1550m) above toe of glacier to camp in meadows (lakes, views of Little Ring Peak and icefield).

SUNDAY: Head out through Grizzly Gully and up around east shoulder of Little Ring Peak (can check out if feasible to summit Little Ring Peak (2147m), but probably not suitable conditions - likely need rope, axes and crampons). Descend south side of Little Ring Peak back to trailhead.

EXTRA DAY: If the group has the time, could do an extra day Monday and extend trip along subalpine benches (1600m) to (big) Ring Mountain (2192m) and descend to trailhead from there. Would likely need snowshoes for this section.

PHOTOS ATTACHED ON BCMC WEBSITE: to show route and terrain (though will be a bit snowier in parts)