Rampart Ponds campsite
After doing our last long run for Berlin Marathon on the Saturday of the long weekend, we had planned a one night backpack to Rampart Ponds. This is the new campground beyond the busy Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Park, 20 km from the Diamond Head.
We were joined for a day hike to Elfin Lakes by lots of the Fourth Avenue Forerunners crew. The hike up to Elfin was quick and easy as usual, unfortunately the weather was a bit cloudy so the dayhikers missed the stellar views of Garibaldi and Atwell Peak from Elfin Lakes.
After lunch, Gill, Dan, and I headed towards Ring Creek and started the climb up to col below Opal Cone. The path upgrades are a big improvement compared to the slog through the boulder field we had on a Mamquam Lake trip in 2013. As we crossed the glacial plateau of the receded Garibaldi Glacier we had a heavy rain shower. We quickly dropped down to and crossed Zig Zag Creek and up to Rampart Ponds.
We pitched our tent just in time as a really heavy downpour started and lasted for a few hours. But when the rain stopped the clouds cleared and the view for dinner and sunset was superb.
We woke up early for sunrise and enjoyed the view from the ridge just above the campground and Mamquam Lake. After breakfast we hiked the return trip to Elfin and then down to the trailhead. The return hike also has a lot of elevation gain as we dropped back down to the Ring Creek and up to the ridge above Elfin Lakes.
We ended the trip with the usual Howe Sound Brewing pint and dinner.
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