Photos & Trip Report by: Lauren L (@lolo.explores)
Garibaldi lake holds a special place in my heart as it is the first location I ever did a backpack trip to, almost 15 years ago. Known for its beauty and with photos of the lake posted and raved about all over the internet, it has gained in popularity over the years. In the summer months it is now extremely busy, even with the day pass system implemented in the park.
To beat the crowds, I have found that visiting the lake at other times of the year to be much more enjoyable. While still a regularly visited destination for winter hiking enthusiasts and for ski touring, the number of visitors in the snowy months is drastically less compared to the summer. It makes it a perfect spot for a spring overnight backpack trip to enjoy the surrounding views with peace and quiet, since those staying the night can easily disperse around the lake to make it feel like you are the only one there.
Don’t get me wrong though, snow camping is not for everyone, and you are still in the mountains at higher elevation so it’s extra important to ensure you have the right gear, clothing and equipment for the conditions.
I set off for my backpack trip to test out my new Icebreaker layers from Valhalla Pure Outfitters. Merino wool is always my go to clothing choice for any weather condition because it helps me regulate my body temperate. It keeps me warm without overheating but also cool enough on those hotter days. The material wicks away moisture and can be damp without making me feel cold. It can be worn multiple days in a row on a backpack trip without smelling and merino socks help prevents blisters on my feet.
Considering the temperature differences, you can usually experience from a trailhead to a summit, or lake in this case, and with what you typically observe for colder evenings in the spring compared to the day, it is also important to know that having multiple layers is appropriate to adjust as you go throughout the day. Below is what I had packed, with a detailed recap of how it felt on the trail.
Cool Lite Sphere III T-Shirt
When leaving the trailhead, it was 17 degrees Celsius out and I knew that I would be gaining the 800m+ of elevation on a gradual steady switchback climb up to the lake. I opted for the Cool Lite T-shirt because it is super light weight, and I was going to get hot very early on while hiking. The shirt has a slightly loose fit that doesn’t restrict movement but also doesn’t bunch up under a backpack. It almost felt like I wasn’t even wearing a shirt, that’s how little I noticed its presences.
While I didn’t overheat while hiking, I did however get a really sweaty back against my pack, something that any backpacker can probably relate to. The shirt was completely wet on my back when I got to the lake, but the thin material dried so quickly that despite packing an extra shirt to change into at camp, it wasn’t actually needed. The shirt dried completely in the time that it took me to set up my tent, so I was able to keep the shirt on for the duration of my trip and it made a great base layer for at camp.
This is a shirt I can see myself taking on any multi-day trip, single day hike or trail run. I could even even used as a base layer on a ski trip or pair it with casual shorts for a summer day around town.
Quantum Long Sleeve Zip Hoody
This hoody is quickly becoming my new favorite. I had it packed in the top of my bag for easy access in case I needed to pull it out part way up the trail when I hit the snow line. It’s thick enough to be super warm and cozy but it’s not bulky the way a fleece is, so it makes it a perfect packable mid layer. Its slim fit is super flattering, and the hoody provides an extra layer of warmth for over the head and could easily be placed under a helmet for skiing as well. The Quantum LS Zip Hoodie has 2 side pockets and a chest pocket, all with zippers.
If you are anything like me and randomly putting things in your pockets while out on the trail or at camp, it’s nice to know nothing will ever fall out and get lost. There are also two thumb holes allowing you to pull the sleeves down and cover a portion of your hand, a feature I tend to use when it’s colder outside. I wore the hoody all night, it fit nicely under a down jacket when it dropped to about zero degrees at night, and it was super comfortable sleeping in it overnight.
This hoody will be joining me on all my future ski touring days and for my backpack trips. It’s also such a great staple item that I can see myself wearing it around town without looking or feeling like I’m in hiking gear on the city streets.
Fastray II Tights
A backpacking rule I live by is to always have one set of “camp clothes” safely stored in your pack to wear only at camp. I opted to hike up to the lake in thin tights I already owned to ensure the Fastray Tights I was going to test out would for sure be dry for me at camp overnight. While the sweat from hiking up in them would have likely dried quickly based on the temperature that day, I didn’t know that at the time when I set off on the trail, and I never want to take the risk of having wet clothes to sleep in.
Upon getting to camp, I quickly changed into these tights, and I wore them for over 15 hours at camp. They were soft and warm and did not restrict any movement and were honestly so comfortable to wear and sleep in them. Having that merino legging layer is just so perfect for colder overnights in the mountains and these tights were the only layer I needed on my legs after the sun went down and I was hanging out making meals at camp.
The Fastray tights are high waisted leggings, and I found they fit me really well. I did opt to size down in them because I had read a few reviews that mentioned how they stretch out a bit. The smaller size was perfect for me, and they did not ever feel too tight or dig in at the waistband which is always my concern when going with a smaller size. They come with a side pocked on the right leg which is such an added bonus for tights so that you can easily store your phone. I had never seen merino tights with the pocket before so if this is a feature you like in your leggings, then these tights are for you.
The back of the tights is double panelled which I think is great for hikers that tends to sit down anywhere on a trail. I have all too often made a hole in the backside of my tights, so this just adds an extra layer of protection. The tights are however a little sheer in the single layers zones which only posed a problem at certain angles when the sun was shining directly on them in the front. For that reason, my personal preference is that these tights will be worn mainly as evening overnight camp pants over ones I would wear outside during the day.
Cool Lite Flexi Headband
Anyone that knows me, knows that I always have a buff on the go during the winter and shoulder seasons. I overheat in hats and toques but have long thick hair that requires it being lifted off my neck while on the go. Having a layer that can easily cover my ears makes it easy for me to keep my hair up and not have those ears get too cold. It also helps wick away moisture on the forehead. This was my first time wearing a headband over a buff and I honestly liked that the width of the headband just had less material and fabric to deal with. It was less bulky on my head while still serving the same purpose of keeping my ears warm. This Cool Lite Flexi Headband is going to become a staple in my wardrobe for winter running and it’s thin enough that it can easily be worn under a headlamp or ski helmet.
Hike+ and Run+ Socks
I opted for a pair of my old Icebreaker Hike+ Medium Crew socks to hike in for this trip because I was going to be hitting snow and wanted socks that went up higher than my hiking boots. I find merino socks, even when they get wet from snow or sweat, help keep my feet from getting blisters. I packed a second pair in my “camp clothes” bag to also swap out for the night since there was no doubt in my mind that my feet wouldn’t be wet when getting to camp.
The trail itself had packed snow as it usually does without a recent snowfall, but post holing around the lake is quite common and I prefer to go without gaiters unless absolutely necessary. Changing your socks at camp just allows the one pair you hike in to hang and dry overnight so that they can be worn again the next day. These socks can definitely go a few days on the trail without needing a wash and the fabric does help prevent them from smelling. I’ve been wearing them for years and probably own way too many pair. My preference is the medium thickness option in these socks since they are most often used in colder weather months for me and they helps keep my feet warm.
Nothing however beats getting back to the car after a hike and having a change of shoes and socks waiting for you. The Run+ Ultralight Mini socks are my go-to everyday socks and are perfect to wear in all my casual sneakers. These are the socks I always wear when running in the city or on the trails and the ones I use when hiking during those summer months when I practically live in trail shoes. The thinner material just lets my feet breath and not overheat on those warmer summer days.