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On a sunny, early September day, a group of friends and I ventured off the beaten path to a location in Garibaldi Provincial Park, near Whistler Canada, that gets far fewer visits than nearby popular hikes such as Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge. While those trails would have likely had well over 100 hikers, our group only saw five on the trail to the summit of Mount Price. Actually, Mount Price is accessible enough but the trail is not on the park map, nor is the trailhead marked. This results in far fewer visits, but if you’re able, a hike to the summit of Mount Price is sure worth your time and energy.

If you plan to hike from the Black Tusk parking lot (19 km south of Whistler), it could result in a long and strenuous day, depending on your fitness ability. The elevation gain is 1,475 meters over 26 kilometers return. I would guess though, the accumulated gain is closer to 1,600 due to some ups and downs. If hiking from the Garibaldi Lake campsite, the elevation gain is 600 meters over 7.5 kilometers return. To find the Mount Price “trailhead,” walk to the end of the Garibaldi Lake campground trail near the boat dock. Look for some flagging tape on the shrubs to your right. The early part of the trail is the most difficult to follow. Although I mentioned it’s “off the beaten path,” there is a the trail for the most part. Be careful with your footing in the boulder field and always check to make sure that you’re on the trail.

This was taken from the Garibaldi Lake campsite. Mount Price is at the center-left but our hike will first take us up Clinker Peak in the center. Mount Price has had a few names over the years. Originally, It was called Red Mountain due to its appearance. Not to be confused with another Red Mountain near Whistler, the name was changed to Clinker Mountain, and finally to Mount Price after mountaineer Thomas E. Price, who also worked as an engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Here, our group is climbing Clinker Peak, which along with Mount Price, are dormant volcanos. The last known eruption is estimated to be about 10,000 years ago. The Black Tusk is in the center and the Garibaldi Lake campground is at the end of the bay, on the left.

This cairn was at the col between Mount Price and Clinker Peak.

Looking toward the opposite direction are beautiful views of Culliton Creek on the right and the formation known as The Table is in the center. Mount Garibaldi is obscured by clouds on the right.

Taken from the summit of Mount Price: Probably the most recognizable feature of Garibaldi Provincial Park is the Black Tusk, itself a former volcano. For a closer view of the Tusk, please check out my post, Views From Panorama Ridge On A Clear Summer’s Day.

 Still waiting for Mount Garibaldi to appear.

Here is The Table. It had been climbed in early years but none are known to be recent. The sides are steep, with crumbling volcanic rock, making climbing treacherous. The Table has been featured in TV shows, a movie, and a video by the Canadian rock band Glass Tiger. One day, hopefully later this year, I would like to venture into this area, not to climb The Table, but only to touch The Table.

Guard Mountain rises to the west of the Sphinx Glacier. For views of the Sphinx Glacier from Garibaldi Lake, please look at my post Garibaldi Lake Through The Seasons.

A closer look at Guard Mountain.

The summit of Mount Price is not one peak necessarily but a ridge between two high points. Here, one of my hiking partners is leading the way to the true summit overlooking Garibaldi Lake.

Sentinal Bay forms at the south end of Garibaldi Lake. Clouds always make for wonderful and interesting shadows on the brilliant turquoise waters.

Another view of the Tusk and surrounding area.

Much of the hike has large magma boulders that were strewn during the last eruption.

Back to the col and we finally got a clear view of The Table and Mount Garibaldi. Named for the Italian political and military leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, Mount Garibaldi is also a volcano, but has been long dormant. It was first climbed in 1907 by a group of Vancouver mountaineers, and was likely the first true mountaineering expedition in the Coast Mountains.

Brilliant, contrasting colors as our group descends Clinker Peak and back to Garibaldi Lake.

Here’s me in a thought-provoking pose. I don’t remember what I was actually thinking but most likely, just enjoying the view.

After a long break at Garibaldi Lake, our group arrived at the parking lot in the dark. We were exhausted but are also very happy after a rewarding day in nature.  I look forward to more visits in Garibaldi Park and on the mountains around Vancouver. I hope you enjoyed this post and please visit my Facebook page for larger-sized photos.

If you have my book, Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, or have ordered it, I really appreciate your support. It’s also out on Kindle and Kobo. My Goodreads and Amazon pages have reviews and more information. Please share this post, and thanks for your time.

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About Randall St. Germain

Randall St. Germain, author of Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, is a middle-aged Canadian Boy who is passionate about nature, photography, hiking, music, and self-improvement. After the death of his mother, he chose to walk the famous pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago, across the north of Spain, despite knowing little about it. He certainly didn’t plan to write a book until the latter days of his Camino. Similar to walking the Camino, writing and publishing a book was a learning experience. It was also very rewarding, and part of his ongoing journey. Please join him as he takes you along on his journey in Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, and on his blog Camino My Way.

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