The Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) serves up a taste of incredible BC backcountry only minutes from downtown Vancouver!  For over 29 km the trail rapidly climbs and descends along the spine of the Howe Sound Crest past iconic peaks like the Lions, James Peak, Mt. Harvey, and Brunswick Mountain. Along this epic hike you’ll be inundated with stunning vistas of the Coast Mountain Range and the Howe Sound far below.  We will do this trail as an ambitious 1 night backpacking trip with several small scrambles, mild exposure, and a few precarious spots with chains/ropes.   If you’re expecting tent pads, bear lockers, toilets or anything that feels remotely similar to established backpacking trips like Elfin lakes, this isn’t the trip for you.  That said, the HSCT rewards intrepid backpackers with a trip unmatched by anything with this proximity to Vancouver. 

I have not done this route before, that being said, I expect the hike to be strenuous, so you need to be in-shape and experienced with a heavy overnight pack.

Day 1

Cypress Mountain to Magnesia Meadows. 

• Trail Map
• Distance: 14km
• Elevation gain: 1,468m
• Peaks: St Marks, Unnecessary Mountain, Little Brother, James Peak, David Peak.
• Optional Peak: West Lion. This is a class 4 scramble.

Day 2

• Trail Map
• Distance: 16.15 km
• Elevation gain: 688 m
• Peaks: Brunswick Lake, Deeks Lake.
• Optional peaks: Brunswick Mountain (class 3 scramble), Fat Ass Peak, Hat Mountain.

The HSCT is a point-to-point trail. This means we need to park half of the cars at Cypress Mountain and half at Porteau Cove Parking. The logistics will be the following:

1. Meet at St David's Church at 7:30 am.
2. Drive up to Porteau Cove Parking and leave half the cars there.
3. Drive in the remaining cars to Cypress Mountain.
4. On Day 2, we will need to drive again to Cypress Mountain to get the cars parked there on Day 1.

Trip report: https://www.outdoorvancouver.ca/featured-trail-howe-sound-crest-trail/

1. Ten essentials.
2. Backcountry camping gear.
3. At least 4 liters of water.
4. Rope to hang your food or bear canister or ursack.
5. Bear spray.
6. Funny jokes.