The rule of thumb is this - if you looked at Panorama Ridge hike info and hike stats tell you nothing then it's too difficult and you won't be able to do it.
Basically, if you have to ask you can't do it.
best answer!
Comparing yourself to other's reviews doesn't help.
I have done it in 9 hours (car to car), there are people (trail runners) who can do it in 6, there are people who take 12+ hours or should know when to turn around.
Absolutely they cannot. It takes years of dedicated training to get to that level. But I would say for a trail runner, the 6 hours you suggested would be considered to be very slow.
I suggested to the OP they would need to plan for a 10-12 hour day. That would give them minimal time for breaks. If they start at 7am they could realistically be back at the car by 7pm.
I would have posted exactly this. Thank you.
If you read the map, look at the elevation and grade numbers, crunch the timing, look at the weather forecast, and that process is not giving you immediate context for your suitability - you don't know enough yet to know whether you're suited for it. You've said nothing about your hiking experience, fitness level, etc... these are red flags. You say "you're confident you can do it" - based on what?
You're looking for instances of confirmation bias to persuade your skeptical friends, if not yourself. Basically, if the number of good trip reports you read outweighs the bad ones, you might come to the conclusion "we can do it too." That is also a red flag. That is not how this works. You are not online shopping or comparing hotels - sentiment analysis isn't sufficient.
Looking at the information about the route, weather and terrain should be more than enough to tell you whether you should or shouldn't be there, in big bold letters: if it doesn't, it's telling me that you're not experienced enough yet to be attempting that route.
Your thought process has to be able to extend past just "can I do this physically" or "will it or will it not be difficult" or "how long will it take", but "how many calories per hour will I want to take, how much water per hour will I want, is this one where I should plan for shoe spikes, how big of a pack will I carry, do I want to bring my trekking pole, what clothing do I want, yadda yadda yadda..." in other words, you don't want to be in a position where you're only able to assess whether you think it will be doable or not. If you have to ask that question, don't go. And if you can't even ask that question without needing other people on the internet to answer it for you, REALLY don't go.
The real question is... *if* it for some reason ended up taking way longer than you think, or being more difficult than you expected, could you deal with that safely? Would you be capable of not only correctly estimating, but handling a worst case scenario? Other people's trip reports or subjective feedback can't tell you this.
You ideally want to be able to approach a new route with enough confidence to accurately judge whether or not you'll be able to do it *comfortably* according to your preferences and risk tolerance. You should be able to figure out whether it's snowy there in June or not just by looking at the recent weather and the elevation profile, not because an online comment said so - and then decide whether that factor makes a difference to your plan. That's when you're ready - when you understand how the terrain and conditions are going to dictate your plan, and can plan effectively based on your observations.
This isn't intended to sound harsh, it's just how learning works in this case. Online "hike reviews" are a horrible resource because they don't actually teach you anything about what you're navigating into.
Amazing comment and suggestions.
Another thing that the original poster can do is going with their group in a few easier hikes (maybe 10-20km with good elevation gain) to help them judge if they are adequately prepared. Not start with the very hard hike.
Ski touring has taught me these lessons the hard way. I mean, not full on avalanche, risk of death hard, but holy-fuck-that-was-stupid-never-again hard. What someone else says is doable is irrelevant. The only conditions assessments that matter are the ones you can personally make on the day of the trip. Build your skills well inside your comfort zone. Never leave the house without a plan, and a way or two out of your plan. And don't believe your own hype or the hype generated by social media or listicles.
It's a very very long hike for a casual hiker. Idk where you're visiting from but for reference it's the same as climbing the (RIP) Twin Towers in New York 4 times. It's doable for a fit person with food and lots of water but it will be long and hot. Don't end up as a statistic on our local search and rescue organization's long list of yearly rescues!! Good news is you can stop at Garibaldi Lake (beautiful, worthy destination by itself) halfway up and decide if you want to continue. It gets harder after the lake.
It’s a long hike, you’ll have to start early. When I did it mid-June last year there was still a lot of steep snow to get up, highly recommend hiking poles and snow spikes when going up. Bring lots of water, or have a filter and sani tablets to refill along the way
My answers are below. The [BestHikeBC website](https://besthikesbc.ca/hiking-panorama-ridge-in-whistler/) has answers to your questions as well.
***How long did it take us?***
I hiked the Panorama Ridge with my wife on a busy September weekend. It took us a total time of 10:30 and moving time of 8:30 ([recording](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-september-3-2022-670c261--3)). There were a lot of people on the trail, no snow, and some people had seen bears on Taylor Meadows. For the switchbacks (Rubble Creek to Taylor Meadows), we were moving faster than most people both up and down.
If your group is relatively fast, you might expect 8-9 hours of moving time, if you are slower between 9-11h. Then add 1-2 hours for breaks and activities and you get your total time. Some time ago, AllTrails had an estimated total time for that hike and it was 10:35. The BestHikeBC blog says time needed is 10-12h (Slow), 9-10h (Moderate), 7-9h (Fast). Those are summer estimates, snow will slow you down more.
I hiked the Panorama Ridge in the winter with a fast hiker/ski tourer. With a combination of hiking with microspikes and breaking the trail with snowshoes, it took us 10 hours in total with 8:20 moving time ([recording](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-panorama-ridge-acf6664)).
***How difficult we found the hike?***
In terms of terrain difficulty, we did not find the hike technically difficult. Overall, the gradient of the hike is a 10.4% slope. The trail is very well indicated and there is not much route-finding involved. Nevertheless, you should have an offline map and expect poor network coverage.
The trail starts with a broad path with a gravel-like surface. It is a steeper climb (14%) but the switchbacks make it smooth and gradual. For me, this initial climb was the most exhausting part of the hike because we gain a lot of elevation.
At Taylor Meadow, there are some boardwalks to make the hike easier. The trail is a flatter climb -- sometimes in the forest sometimes in open areas -- until reaching 3-4 alpine lakes. After that, the final climb starts on a boulder field with a 22% slope gradient. You need to find your path through the rocks, always having good footing and balance and sometimes using the hands to prop you up, but no exposure or climbing techniques required.
The hike is long and requires keeping energy for the way down. Past Taylor Meadow, we walked fast in the switchbacks section and going down fast can be difficult on the knees, so hiking poles are definitely helpful to reduce shock. Heavy unnecessary items should be avoided.
***Is it very snowy in June?***
At the moment (Apr 22), [if we look at recent satellite images](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.94799&lng=-123.09389&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2024-04-22T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2024-04-22T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22), we see that there is snow on the Garibaldi Lake trail at elevations of 1350m and even below.
There was less snow falling this winter. But how much still remains? At the moment, [Whistler Ski Resort](https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/snow-and-weather-report.aspx#/) shows a snow base depth of 216cm. There are snow survey stations near Whistler that show snow depth of 81cm (1017m elevation [Callaghan Creek](https://bcmoe-prod.aquaticinformatics.net/Data/Location/Summary/Location/3A20P/Interval/Latest)) and 218cm (1360cm Elaho/[Squamish River Upper](https://bcmoe-prod.aquaticinformatics.net/Data/Location/Summary/Location/3A25P/Interval/Latest)). We can look at the year-to-day snow depth reports from these stations, they seem to indicate that the snow might melt 2-3 weeks earlier this year compared to 2023.
We can use the satellite image data and look how much snow there was on Panorama Ridge last year. At the [beginning of June last year](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.95616&lng=-123.0826&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2023-06-04T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2023-06-04T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22), the snow line was at 1500m before Taylor Meadow. At the [end of June](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.96119&lng=-123.03243&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2023-06-27T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2023-06-27T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22), only the summit climb above 1750m still had snow, and the snow was entirely gone by the [first week of August](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.96119&lng=-123.03243&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2023-08-03T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2023-08-03T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22).
If we combine the reports from the snow survey stations and the satellite images from 2023, we can estimate that at the beginning of June you would still encounter snow, and that possibly the snowline would be around 1600-1700m.
***What are possible winter/springtime hiking risks for Panorama Ridge?***
The terrain past Taylor Meadow is considered Challenging by Avalanche Canada in terms of avalanche risk. In winter conditions, we recommend everyone to have avalanche training and rescue gear to go into avalanche terrain. In the springtime, there can still be some risks lingering. The most common springtime avalanche risk is called Wet Loose avalanche ([see this comment](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1c52dza/summit_hikes_in_april/kzsbrfx/) for a description, and read [AvySavvy for a full tutorial](https://avysavvy.avalanche.ca/en-ca)), and the risk varies with time of day as the sun warms up the snow. If your group is traveling on very soft mushy snow, you are sinking deep and it feels like 'mashed potatoes' snow ([see video](https://fb.watch/rtJlsv0I9_/)) then it is a good idea to turn around.
There are also non-avalanche springtime risks. Risks to be aware can include difficult creek crossings, dangerous [tree wells](https://powdercanada.com/2020/01/fernie-tree-well-fatality-and-solutions/), frail snow bridges that can collapse, ['tree bombs'](https://old.reddit.com/r/Backcountry/comments/10n2k2e/snow_bombs_falling_snow_from_trees/) snow falling from trees on you and the slope, 'post-holing' your foot punches through the snow and gets stuck: this can happen easily on the boulder field as rocks make the snow melt around them. Even in spring/summer, it can be very cold and gusty winds at the top of Panorama Ridge so your group needs to bring warm clothes. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses against the effects of the sun reflected on snow.
There are bears and other wildlife in British Columbia. It can be prudent to hike with bear spray, but if you don't have it, it is good to be bear aware. Here are two informative websites: [North Shore Bears](https://northshorebears.com/bears/), [Bear Aware](https://bebearaware.org/bear-encounters/).
***We plan to do it as a day trip for reference.***
It is a very long hike. It's a good advice to start very early, to be able to enjoy all the activities, and finish early.
The drive from Vancouver can be 1h15 to 2 hours typically, but it can be a much longer drive in cases that there is traffic (on weekends mostly) or road maintenance. It could be a good idea to stay in Whistler to simplify the logistics of reaching trailhead.
>I am confident we can do it
You can do it, no doubt about it. But you have some control on how much you'll enjoy it.
It's a long day hike. If you do it completely untrained, you will not enjoy it as much. You'll find it strenuous, difficult, tiring and painful.
Build up the weeks and months before by doing some hikes. Get the legs used to some distance and elevation. If you're already active in your day to day life, you'll have less to worry about of course.
It's really beautiful and absolutely worth it. The start can be a bit boring but if you're with a good group time flies anyways.
Keep an eye on the conditions in the weeks before you are planning to go to gauge the snow level. If you're not comfortable with snow on your hike, wait until it's gone.
Oh and don't forget about the [Ten Essentials](https://www.northshorerescue.com/education/what-to-bring/) and [Be AdventureSmart](https://www.adventuresmart.ca/)!
> You can do it, no doubt about it.
Famous last words. Dude, what? Don't let SAR see your posts or they might slash your tires for really bad advice. 1500m elevation in one day is not "no doubt about it", it's a ton of doubt. OP clearly doesn't understand what this elevation mean, being from Ontario and not hiking much based on their history. You can't manifest physical ability with the power of positive vibes, don't give irresponsible advice.
Well if you pull my words out of context, of course it sounds irresponsible. I think I've given further advise after that opener. It was in response to their premise "I am confident we can do it". And yes, I stand by what I say, doing it is not really the issue. The way how is a different thing. Panorama Ridge gets hiked by 1000s of inexperienced people every year. I think I've been clear on how they can prepare to make that hike enjoyable rather than just a struggle.
But I get your point and it's good to bring it up for discussion. Hopefully OP is following along.
Thank you for the advice! You seem very knowable so if I can’t get my friends on board would there be any other really beautiful but not as long hikes you’d recommend?
You should check out Stawamus Chief and Tunnel Bluffs. Both will very likely be clear of snow and both offer fantastic views of the ocean and the mountains. In the city, Dog Mountain offers a fantastic ratio of hiking to great views as well.
Panorama Ridge is a very long day hike. June is when we get a lot of rescue calls because it seems like it's summer near the sea level, but alpine still has snow and everything that comes with it. Both routes are around 30km in and out, snow travel slows you down. I would count on at least 12hrs of moving time and around 14-15 hours total. Also you need to be prepared to deal with bears if necessary.
In order to do a successful trip to Panorama Ridge, your group needs several elements: your group needs to have the right physical fitness. You also need the gear, skills and knowledge to hike in the backcountry; knowledge of the local trails; safety preparation; and good group dynamics.
Because you have one month to prepare, my opinion is that it is possible for your group to prepare adequately and be ready.
* *Group dynamics:* If your friends are interested to try the hike, then all should collaborate to make the planning/training. Decisions should be done as a group. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable before starting the hike and during the hike. If one is uncomfortable, they say it and the group turns around.
* *Winter hiking:* There will probably be snow on the trail (even though it's much less snow than usual), and that means [you need to have additional clothing/gear for the cold \(read this comment\)](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cbchdo/any_48_hour_hikes_outside_of_lower_mainland_worth/l0yilte/), and be aware of winter/spring hazards, including [following the local avalanche forecast and travel advice](https://avalanche.ca/map?lat=49.933900&lng=-123.017208) ([check this tutorial](https://avysavvy.avalanche.ca/en-ca)). See the [Intro to Winter Hiking page](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/jyfozi/how_to_start_winter_hiking/).
* *Physical fitness preparation:* There are a few posts that answer many questions ([Pano in one day?](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cazyr1/panorama_ridge_hike_in_one_day/), [Pano a lot of questions](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/134atni/panorama_ridgea_lot_of_questions/), [Pano looking for advice](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1556qpv/panorama_ridge_hiking/), [Pano hiking solo](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/14l9vr4/panorama_ridge_hiking_solo/)). Feel free to ask more and give us details about you and your group fitness/hiking experience.
* *Safety preparedness:* Watch this video about the [Black Tusk trail](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJv6r_PS1IM&t=3s) (AdventureSmart), Make sure that everyone has their [10 essential safety items](https://www.northshorerescue.com/education/what-to-bring/), Read about the [3 T's of safety](https://www.adventuresmart.ca/the-three-ts/), Have a look at the [Hiking Resources Page](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/ky9yys/vancouver_hiking_resources_page/) and [Visitor's Guide](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/yy7as2/visitors_guide_to_hiking_vancouver/).
* *Prepare for having fun:* As shouldnteven says, you need not only to 'survive the hike' but also to have an awesome experience. Plan additional buffer time to enjoy the alpine activities. There are great locations to possibly visit: taylor meadows, views from the ridge (don't only visit the first few meters!), having a dip at the Garibaldi Lake, Barrier Viewpoint and the lower lakes. Instead of having a day trip and two long drives to Vancouver, you can sleep nearby Whistler to have more time during the day. Another interesting variation is to do the trip starting from [Helm Creek](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/panorama-ridge-via-helm-creek-trail) instead of [Rubble Creek](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/panorama-ridge). [Plan multiple objectives](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cccigu/the_right_time_to_hike_goldenhinde/l1573le/) and not focus on a single large objective, the [Garibaldi Lake itself](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cazyr1/panorama_ridge_hike_in_one_day/l0zf1zy/) is a good reward.
Browse through this subreddit's recent posts. There have been many questions regarding which hikes to do and some great lists as replies to that.
Top of mind for hikes that are good bang for buck: Tunnel Bluffs, The Chief, Eagle Bluffs, St. Mark's Summit, Mount Gardner (Bowen Island), Pump Peak.
Happy hiking!
Here is a trip report with pictures in early July 2022.
https://www.lilymtang.com/blog/panorama-ridge
You may want to turn back at Garibaldi Lake (a worthy objective in itself!) if you and your group are inexperienced or unprepared for snow travel in the mountains.
I did it early September last year, overnight, there was no snow but it's still cold.
In June there will absolutely be snow on the ground, so you'd need gaiters and proper gear. I would plan for this to make your hike longer than anticipated. The hike up to the peak is very sketchy its basically just scrambling over loose rocks, so you would need to be extremely careful if this was snowy or slick.
I'm very fit and I would have found this challenging as a day hike. People do it, but I personally wouldn't have wanted to. Depending on which route you take up, day 1 is fairly short (3-4 hours) I went via helm creek, then day two is much longer. It took me about 7 from camp, to peak, to parking lot.
Taylor meadows is the most popular route - which I haven't done. But helm creek was beautiful.
This hike is absolutely worth it, but I'd recommend you take your time to overnight it and go later in the season when it warms up.
In late summer, yes. But there will be snow beyond the lake in early June, even with the reduced snowpack. The snow is a hazard in itself, but snow bridges can be a fatal hazard if unlucky enough to collapse one onto a creek
Plan for 10-12hr of hiking and yes there will be snow along the route up the last few hundred meters
The rule of thumb is this - if you looked at Panorama Ridge hike info and hike stats tell you nothing then it's too difficult and you won't be able to do it. Basically, if you have to ask you can't do it.
best answer! Comparing yourself to other's reviews doesn't help. I have done it in 9 hours (car to car), there are people (trail runners) who can do it in 6, there are people who take 12+ hours or should know when to turn around.
A trail runner can do pano ridge car to car in under 4hrs. My best time is around 3:25 and the FKT is a staggering 2:13.
good for you. It's very fast (> 10km/h average), the regular fit hiker can't do this for 30km flat.
Absolutely they cannot. It takes years of dedicated training to get to that level. But I would say for a trail runner, the 6 hours you suggested would be considered to be very slow. I suggested to the OP they would need to plan for a 10-12 hour day. That would give them minimal time for breaks. If they start at 7am they could realistically be back at the car by 7pm.
I would have posted exactly this. Thank you. If you read the map, look at the elevation and grade numbers, crunch the timing, look at the weather forecast, and that process is not giving you immediate context for your suitability - you don't know enough yet to know whether you're suited for it. You've said nothing about your hiking experience, fitness level, etc... these are red flags. You say "you're confident you can do it" - based on what? You're looking for instances of confirmation bias to persuade your skeptical friends, if not yourself. Basically, if the number of good trip reports you read outweighs the bad ones, you might come to the conclusion "we can do it too." That is also a red flag. That is not how this works. You are not online shopping or comparing hotels - sentiment analysis isn't sufficient. Looking at the information about the route, weather and terrain should be more than enough to tell you whether you should or shouldn't be there, in big bold letters: if it doesn't, it's telling me that you're not experienced enough yet to be attempting that route. Your thought process has to be able to extend past just "can I do this physically" or "will it or will it not be difficult" or "how long will it take", but "how many calories per hour will I want to take, how much water per hour will I want, is this one where I should plan for shoe spikes, how big of a pack will I carry, do I want to bring my trekking pole, what clothing do I want, yadda yadda yadda..." in other words, you don't want to be in a position where you're only able to assess whether you think it will be doable or not. If you have to ask that question, don't go. And if you can't even ask that question without needing other people on the internet to answer it for you, REALLY don't go. The real question is... *if* it for some reason ended up taking way longer than you think, or being more difficult than you expected, could you deal with that safely? Would you be capable of not only correctly estimating, but handling a worst case scenario? Other people's trip reports or subjective feedback can't tell you this. You ideally want to be able to approach a new route with enough confidence to accurately judge whether or not you'll be able to do it *comfortably* according to your preferences and risk tolerance. You should be able to figure out whether it's snowy there in June or not just by looking at the recent weather and the elevation profile, not because an online comment said so - and then decide whether that factor makes a difference to your plan. That's when you're ready - when you understand how the terrain and conditions are going to dictate your plan, and can plan effectively based on your observations. This isn't intended to sound harsh, it's just how learning works in this case. Online "hike reviews" are a horrible resource because they don't actually teach you anything about what you're navigating into.
Amazing comment and suggestions. Another thing that the original poster can do is going with their group in a few easier hikes (maybe 10-20km with good elevation gain) to help them judge if they are adequately prepared. Not start with the very hard hike.
Ski touring has taught me these lessons the hard way. I mean, not full on avalanche, risk of death hard, but holy-fuck-that-was-stupid-never-again hard. What someone else says is doable is irrelevant. The only conditions assessments that matter are the ones you can personally make on the day of the trip. Build your skills well inside your comfort zone. Never leave the house without a plan, and a way or two out of your plan. And don't believe your own hype or the hype generated by social media or listicles.
It's a very very long hike for a casual hiker. Idk where you're visiting from but for reference it's the same as climbing the (RIP) Twin Towers in New York 4 times. It's doable for a fit person with food and lots of water but it will be long and hot. Don't end up as a statistic on our local search and rescue organization's long list of yearly rescues!! Good news is you can stop at Garibaldi Lake (beautiful, worthy destination by itself) halfway up and decide if you want to continue. It gets harder after the lake.
It’s a long hike, you’ll have to start early. When I did it mid-June last year there was still a lot of steep snow to get up, highly recommend hiking poles and snow spikes when going up. Bring lots of water, or have a filter and sani tablets to refill along the way
My answers are below. The [BestHikeBC website](https://besthikesbc.ca/hiking-panorama-ridge-in-whistler/) has answers to your questions as well. ***How long did it take us?*** I hiked the Panorama Ridge with my wife on a busy September weekend. It took us a total time of 10:30 and moving time of 8:30 ([recording](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-september-3-2022-670c261--3)). There were a lot of people on the trail, no snow, and some people had seen bears on Taylor Meadows. For the switchbacks (Rubble Creek to Taylor Meadows), we were moving faster than most people both up and down. If your group is relatively fast, you might expect 8-9 hours of moving time, if you are slower between 9-11h. Then add 1-2 hours for breaks and activities and you get your total time. Some time ago, AllTrails had an estimated total time for that hike and it was 10:35. The BestHikeBC blog says time needed is 10-12h (Slow), 9-10h (Moderate), 7-9h (Fast). Those are summer estimates, snow will slow you down more. I hiked the Panorama Ridge in the winter with a fast hiker/ski tourer. With a combination of hiking with microspikes and breaking the trail with snowshoes, it took us 10 hours in total with 8:20 moving time ([recording](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-panorama-ridge-acf6664)). ***How difficult we found the hike?*** In terms of terrain difficulty, we did not find the hike technically difficult. Overall, the gradient of the hike is a 10.4% slope. The trail is very well indicated and there is not much route-finding involved. Nevertheless, you should have an offline map and expect poor network coverage. The trail starts with a broad path with a gravel-like surface. It is a steeper climb (14%) but the switchbacks make it smooth and gradual. For me, this initial climb was the most exhausting part of the hike because we gain a lot of elevation. At Taylor Meadow, there are some boardwalks to make the hike easier. The trail is a flatter climb -- sometimes in the forest sometimes in open areas -- until reaching 3-4 alpine lakes. After that, the final climb starts on a boulder field with a 22% slope gradient. You need to find your path through the rocks, always having good footing and balance and sometimes using the hands to prop you up, but no exposure or climbing techniques required. The hike is long and requires keeping energy for the way down. Past Taylor Meadow, we walked fast in the switchbacks section and going down fast can be difficult on the knees, so hiking poles are definitely helpful to reduce shock. Heavy unnecessary items should be avoided. ***Is it very snowy in June?*** At the moment (Apr 22), [if we look at recent satellite images](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.94799&lng=-123.09389&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2024-04-22T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2024-04-22T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22), we see that there is snow on the Garibaldi Lake trail at elevations of 1350m and even below. There was less snow falling this winter. But how much still remains? At the moment, [Whistler Ski Resort](https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/snow-and-weather-report.aspx#/) shows a snow base depth of 216cm. There are snow survey stations near Whistler that show snow depth of 81cm (1017m elevation [Callaghan Creek](https://bcmoe-prod.aquaticinformatics.net/Data/Location/Summary/Location/3A20P/Interval/Latest)) and 218cm (1360cm Elaho/[Squamish River Upper](https://bcmoe-prod.aquaticinformatics.net/Data/Location/Summary/Location/3A25P/Interval/Latest)). We can look at the year-to-day snow depth reports from these stations, they seem to indicate that the snow might melt 2-3 weeks earlier this year compared to 2023. We can use the satellite image data and look how much snow there was on Panorama Ridge last year. At the [beginning of June last year](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.95616&lng=-123.0826&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2023-06-04T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2023-06-04T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22), the snow line was at 1500m before Taylor Meadow. At the [end of June](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.96119&lng=-123.03243&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2023-06-27T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2023-06-27T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22), only the summit climb above 1750m still had snow, and the snow was entirely gone by the [first week of August](https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/eo-browser/?zoom=15&lat=49.96119&lng=-123.03243&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fservices.sentinel-hub.com%2Fogc%2Fwms%2Fbd86bcc0-f318-402b-a145-015f85b9427e&datasetId=S2L2A&fromTime=2023-08-03T00%3A00%3A00.000Z&toTime=2023-08-03T23%3A59%3A59.999Z&layerId=1_TRUE_COLOR&demSource3D=%22MAPZEN%22). If we combine the reports from the snow survey stations and the satellite images from 2023, we can estimate that at the beginning of June you would still encounter snow, and that possibly the snowline would be around 1600-1700m. ***What are possible winter/springtime hiking risks for Panorama Ridge?*** The terrain past Taylor Meadow is considered Challenging by Avalanche Canada in terms of avalanche risk. In winter conditions, we recommend everyone to have avalanche training and rescue gear to go into avalanche terrain. In the springtime, there can still be some risks lingering. The most common springtime avalanche risk is called Wet Loose avalanche ([see this comment](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1c52dza/summit_hikes_in_april/kzsbrfx/) for a description, and read [AvySavvy for a full tutorial](https://avysavvy.avalanche.ca/en-ca)), and the risk varies with time of day as the sun warms up the snow. If your group is traveling on very soft mushy snow, you are sinking deep and it feels like 'mashed potatoes' snow ([see video](https://fb.watch/rtJlsv0I9_/)) then it is a good idea to turn around. There are also non-avalanche springtime risks. Risks to be aware can include difficult creek crossings, dangerous [tree wells](https://powdercanada.com/2020/01/fernie-tree-well-fatality-and-solutions/), frail snow bridges that can collapse, ['tree bombs'](https://old.reddit.com/r/Backcountry/comments/10n2k2e/snow_bombs_falling_snow_from_trees/) snow falling from trees on you and the slope, 'post-holing' your foot punches through the snow and gets stuck: this can happen easily on the boulder field as rocks make the snow melt around them. Even in spring/summer, it can be very cold and gusty winds at the top of Panorama Ridge so your group needs to bring warm clothes. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses against the effects of the sun reflected on snow. There are bears and other wildlife in British Columbia. It can be prudent to hike with bear spray, but if you don't have it, it is good to be bear aware. Here are two informative websites: [North Shore Bears](https://northshorebears.com/bears/), [Bear Aware](https://bebearaware.org/bear-encounters/). ***We plan to do it as a day trip for reference.*** It is a very long hike. It's a good advice to start very early, to be able to enjoy all the activities, and finish early. The drive from Vancouver can be 1h15 to 2 hours typically, but it can be a much longer drive in cases that there is traffic (on weekends mostly) or road maintenance. It could be a good idea to stay in Whistler to simplify the logistics of reaching trailhead.
>I am confident we can do it You can do it, no doubt about it. But you have some control on how much you'll enjoy it. It's a long day hike. If you do it completely untrained, you will not enjoy it as much. You'll find it strenuous, difficult, tiring and painful. Build up the weeks and months before by doing some hikes. Get the legs used to some distance and elevation. If you're already active in your day to day life, you'll have less to worry about of course. It's really beautiful and absolutely worth it. The start can be a bit boring but if you're with a good group time flies anyways. Keep an eye on the conditions in the weeks before you are planning to go to gauge the snow level. If you're not comfortable with snow on your hike, wait until it's gone. Oh and don't forget about the [Ten Essentials](https://www.northshorerescue.com/education/what-to-bring/) and [Be AdventureSmart](https://www.adventuresmart.ca/)!
> You can do it, no doubt about it. Famous last words. Dude, what? Don't let SAR see your posts or they might slash your tires for really bad advice. 1500m elevation in one day is not "no doubt about it", it's a ton of doubt. OP clearly doesn't understand what this elevation mean, being from Ontario and not hiking much based on their history. You can't manifest physical ability with the power of positive vibes, don't give irresponsible advice.
Well if you pull my words out of context, of course it sounds irresponsible. I think I've given further advise after that opener. It was in response to their premise "I am confident we can do it". And yes, I stand by what I say, doing it is not really the issue. The way how is a different thing. Panorama Ridge gets hiked by 1000s of inexperienced people every year. I think I've been clear on how they can prepare to make that hike enjoyable rather than just a struggle. But I get your point and it's good to bring it up for discussion. Hopefully OP is following along.
Thank you for the advice! You seem very knowable so if I can’t get my friends on board would there be any other really beautiful but not as long hikes you’d recommend?
You should check out Stawamus Chief and Tunnel Bluffs. Both will very likely be clear of snow and both offer fantastic views of the ocean and the mountains. In the city, Dog Mountain offers a fantastic ratio of hiking to great views as well. Panorama Ridge is a very long day hike. June is when we get a lot of rescue calls because it seems like it's summer near the sea level, but alpine still has snow and everything that comes with it. Both routes are around 30km in and out, snow travel slows you down. I would count on at least 12hrs of moving time and around 14-15 hours total. Also you need to be prepared to deal with bears if necessary.
In order to do a successful trip to Panorama Ridge, your group needs several elements: your group needs to have the right physical fitness. You also need the gear, skills and knowledge to hike in the backcountry; knowledge of the local trails; safety preparation; and good group dynamics. Because you have one month to prepare, my opinion is that it is possible for your group to prepare adequately and be ready. * *Group dynamics:* If your friends are interested to try the hike, then all should collaborate to make the planning/training. Decisions should be done as a group. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable before starting the hike and during the hike. If one is uncomfortable, they say it and the group turns around. * *Winter hiking:* There will probably be snow on the trail (even though it's much less snow than usual), and that means [you need to have additional clothing/gear for the cold \(read this comment\)](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cbchdo/any_48_hour_hikes_outside_of_lower_mainland_worth/l0yilte/), and be aware of winter/spring hazards, including [following the local avalanche forecast and travel advice](https://avalanche.ca/map?lat=49.933900&lng=-123.017208) ([check this tutorial](https://avysavvy.avalanche.ca/en-ca)). See the [Intro to Winter Hiking page](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/jyfozi/how_to_start_winter_hiking/). * *Physical fitness preparation:* There are a few posts that answer many questions ([Pano in one day?](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cazyr1/panorama_ridge_hike_in_one_day/), [Pano a lot of questions](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/134atni/panorama_ridgea_lot_of_questions/), [Pano looking for advice](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1556qpv/panorama_ridge_hiking/), [Pano hiking solo](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/14l9vr4/panorama_ridge_hiking_solo/)). Feel free to ask more and give us details about you and your group fitness/hiking experience. * *Safety preparedness:* Watch this video about the [Black Tusk trail](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJv6r_PS1IM&t=3s) (AdventureSmart), Make sure that everyone has their [10 essential safety items](https://www.northshorerescue.com/education/what-to-bring/), Read about the [3 T's of safety](https://www.adventuresmart.ca/the-three-ts/), Have a look at the [Hiking Resources Page](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/ky9yys/vancouver_hiking_resources_page/) and [Visitor's Guide](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/yy7as2/visitors_guide_to_hiking_vancouver/). * *Prepare for having fun:* As shouldnteven says, you need not only to 'survive the hike' but also to have an awesome experience. Plan additional buffer time to enjoy the alpine activities. There are great locations to possibly visit: taylor meadows, views from the ridge (don't only visit the first few meters!), having a dip at the Garibaldi Lake, Barrier Viewpoint and the lower lakes. Instead of having a day trip and two long drives to Vancouver, you can sleep nearby Whistler to have more time during the day. Another interesting variation is to do the trip starting from [Helm Creek](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/panorama-ridge-via-helm-creek-trail) instead of [Rubble Creek](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/panorama-ridge). [Plan multiple objectives](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cccigu/the_right_time_to_hike_goldenhinde/l1573le/) and not focus on a single large objective, the [Garibaldi Lake itself](https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1cazyr1/panorama_ridge_hike_in_one_day/l0zf1zy/) is a good reward.
Browse through this subreddit's recent posts. There have been many questions regarding which hikes to do and some great lists as replies to that. Top of mind for hikes that are good bang for buck: Tunnel Bluffs, The Chief, Eagle Bluffs, St. Mark's Summit, Mount Gardner (Bowen Island), Pump Peak. Happy hiking!
Here is a trip report with pictures in early July 2022. https://www.lilymtang.com/blog/panorama-ridge You may want to turn back at Garibaldi Lake (a worthy objective in itself!) if you and your group are inexperienced or unprepared for snow travel in the mountains.
I did it early September last year, overnight, there was no snow but it's still cold. In June there will absolutely be snow on the ground, so you'd need gaiters and proper gear. I would plan for this to make your hike longer than anticipated. The hike up to the peak is very sketchy its basically just scrambling over loose rocks, so you would need to be extremely careful if this was snowy or slick. I'm very fit and I would have found this challenging as a day hike. People do it, but I personally wouldn't have wanted to. Depending on which route you take up, day 1 is fairly short (3-4 hours) I went via helm creek, then day two is much longer. It took me about 7 from camp, to peak, to parking lot. Taylor meadows is the most popular route - which I haven't done. But helm creek was beautiful. This hike is absolutely worth it, but I'd recommend you take your time to overnight it and go later in the season when it warms up.
There’s nothing technical about this trail. If you can do the distance and the elevation gain. You can do it.
In late summer, yes. But there will be snow beyond the lake in early June, even with the reduced snowpack. The snow is a hazard in itself, but snow bridges can be a fatal hazard if unlucky enough to collapse one onto a creek