June 22, 2003, Brohm Ridge, Squamish, BC, Canada

After optimistically reviewing the weather reports, Karen, Nick, myself and Doug headed out early on a Sunday morning to try and climb Garibaldi (the chicken head part of the big massif that dominates the Squamish skyline) via the Brohm Ridge roads that are marked by the Cat Lake turnoff just after Squamish proper on Highway 99.  After some rather arduous 4wd travel (the road is passable but in very rough and rocky shape for 4wd and good tires only), we were stopped by snow at 4000 feet.  Sheltering in our vehicles at around 8am, while it drizzled endlessly around us, we put on our gear, divvied up ropes and things and started skiinning up.  We immediately hit about a 15 minute stretch of dry road but finally got back on the skis again around 4500 feet.  The gate was open (probably due to the snow) but will likely be locked at this elevation all summer (to protect the alpine against 4wd folks).

Whiteout and drizzle predominated.  After taking a wrong turn up to the snowmobile cabin, we finally found the correct route and made the ridge-top just after 9am or so.  There was lots of snow but, in visibility as poor as 30ft, it did not make for easy routefinding.  After an extra heavy belting of rain at just above 6000 feet, now mixed with some sleet/snow as well, we cut short our lunch break at around 11am, pulled the skins, and fled back to the vehicles.  The skiing was a tad slow but not horrendous and I guess we must have got at least 1500 feet of vertical although we weren't really thinking about it at the time.

Not a very productive day, to be honest.

Jonathan.

>:( ???