Route: The Chief, Stawamus Chief First Peak
Area: British Columbia, Canada
Date of walk: 3rd October 2024
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly and James
Distance: 2.5 miles
Ascent: 1,700 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
Our final walk with James in Canada was marked by a grand adventure. From our base in Vancouver we drove north along the Pacific coast towards the town of Squamish. Just before the town there’s a signed parking area for Stawamus Chief, which is more commonly known as The Chief
The Chief is a gigantic rock dome which towers over 700m above the waters of nearby Howe Sound. It is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. There are three recognised summits – First, Second and Third. It’s possible to plan a walk which visits all three, but our ambition was limited to the First Peak today. A walk which is only 2.5 miles long may seem a simple affair, but this is a tough route for walkers, and ended up taking us 3-4 hours
After leaving the car park we entered into the woods and followed a track for a short distance (the only flat section of the entire route). There then followed a relentlessly steep ascent, assisted by rock steps and wooden staircases. Eventually we arrived below the summit area, a massive slab of bare rock with the occasional pine tree clinging on for dear life, rather like us! The lower branches of some of the trees had been polished to a fine sheen by walkers who had clung onto them as they fought their way uphill and down. There was still some way to go and the final section involved clambering up the rock, where chains are provided in two places to assist the ascent (and the descent). Between the chain sections there’s also a fixed ladder up a particularly steep section. We emerged at the top to be greeted by a wonderful view over the Howe Sound towards the Pacific Ocean and Squamish far below. Snow clad Mount Garibaldi was an imposing sight in the distance. There are sheer drops at the top, but not so close as to induce feelings of vertigo
We lingered at the summit for a while watching a group of base jumpers on the Second Peak who were perched on the edge of a precipice. One by one they leapt into the void. It’s a quick way down, but not a route for ordinary mortals, so we retraced our steps back to the start. It had been a memorable walk and a fitting climax to our time with James in British Columbia
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From the car park, looking up the sheer cliff face of The Chief, a popular place for climbers. Our route lies to the right
An easy start, but not for long
Warning sign at the start of the climb. Deep breaths...
...here we go, the start of a relentless steep climb of 1,700 feet
A combination of wooden and rock steps assist at times
Looking back down the path
We pass by a rock boulder perched on the edge of a cliff
We pass under a large slab of rock
So far the climbing had been steep but straightforward
We arrive below the summit area and use the chains provided to haul ourselves up
Pine trees help here, their bark polished to a fine sheen by other walkers
A metal ladder
A second chain section
Looking back to Howe Sound
Last part of the climb to the summit...
Howe Sound again
Summit of Stawamus Chief First Peak, the Second Peak is beyond and is not on our route today
Howe Sound. The Pacific Ocean lies beyond
Stawamus Chief Second Peak
Mount Garibaldi in the distance
Squamish below
We notice five people on the edge of a precipice below the Second Peak...
...base jumpers
Preparing to jump...
I thought that our climb had been quite adventurous until I saw this
A quick way down, but not for us and we retrace our steps
We descend back down the chains and ladder (which is harder than ascending), then back down the way we came...
A Douglas squirrel, sometimes known as the chickaree or pine squirrel
The last flight of stairs before we can give our knees a rest. It had been a tiring but fantastic walk and a great way to end our time in Canada with James
On the way back, a photo through the car windscreen showing the formidable rock face of The Chief, which dominates the town of Squamish
