MicroSpikes/Snowshoe Trip to Cypress' Black Mountain Peak w Czarina for UBCVOC PreTrip Meeting Weds 11/29/23 at 7pm Plan Details

Map of UBCVOC PreTrip Meeting Space

For Future Cypress Black Mountain Trail DayTrips

December/January 2024

Location: circled in blue below
Cascading Cement Sitting Area
Outside the doors of West Facing AMS Nest exit/entrance
UBC AMS Student Nest
Future PreTrip Meetings TBA



"Pending Status" of our trip page and agenda is due to uncertainty about current snow and weather conditions for snowshoeing; for this reason, we might have to opt for microspikes if you prefer them as less awkward and more nimble than snowshoes which are designed for deeper snow!

Level of Experience for Black Mountain Peak Trail:   Beginner-Intermediate 

Amenities open 9am - 6pm at this time of year include:  The Gold Medal Cafe and Cypress Creek Lodge with Public Washrooms and some sitting areas situated up from the upper parking lot at the base of the chair lifts.  The Main Gate and Cypress Provincial Park and Cypress Ski Resort Amenities are open from 9am to 6pm as of today November 28, 2023; THEREFORE

WE MUST ADJUST OUR DEPARTURE TIME TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF DAYLIGHT!

We will depart from NE Corner of  the VanArtGallery where the white enamelled iron trellis is situated;

It is also the SE corner of Howe & W Georgia Streets Intersection; facing Northshore Mtns, TD Bank is on the right; Apple Store diagonally across; and Hotel Georgia on Northside across W Georgia.  

Gear & Essentials CheckList:

  • Sturdy & Comfortable Warm Socks & Boots
  • Gaiters (for keeping dampness/water out of warm cozy boots and socks)
  • MicroSpikes (available for purchase at UBCVOC Swag Shoppe in AMS Nest Ground Level beside Fast Food Noodle Outlet - ONLY $15 while supplies last!)
  • Pack a BENTO lunch!  Warm Foods Quite Comforting! (ie warm/hot fluides, like a thermos of cocoa, chai, coffee, soup and/or stew) and high energy snacks!
  • warm gloves (waterproof is ideal), toque, and/or headscarf with an extra change of clothing for "apres-neige"
  • Warm base layers of non-cotton wool or synthetic insulating longjohns or "long underwear"
  • Warm mid layers of non-cotton insulating wool sweaters or synthetics if that's all you have left like "polar fleece"
  • Water Resistant or Waterproof Breathable Protective "Shell" or "Outer Layer" Coat/Jacket and Waterproof Pants
  • $35 cash for Return Trip to Cypress Provincial Park VIA Cypress Coach Lines Shuttle Bus departing from NE Corner of VanArtGallery near the enamelled iron benches and trellis at the SE intersection of Howe & W Georgia Streets
  • We will make a stop to&from Blk Mtn Trl at the public washrooms at Blk Mtn Lodge or Gold Medal Cafe to free us from toileting needs as much as possible while on the day's journey ascending Blk Mtn Peak for the spectacular views!
  • Bring as much hot non-alcoholic bevies or water as you need or can share, depending on your willing and able carrying capacity
Extras that might enhance your experience or your options:
  • Extra Cash is good for incidental or food purchases available at the Restaurant, but those of us going hiking on the Blk Mtn Trl we will be eating "Al Fres'Co" just before or after reaching the peak for the beautiful views!
  • Waterproof/water resistant camera/phone to record good memories!
  • Chocolate and Favourite High Energy Snacks or Drinks for our "Show'n'Tell Sample Swap"!  Share as much as you can reasonably carry!  We'll put it in the "pot" and do a "taste test" of new or old reliable favourite high energy snack foods!  It's like a hallowe'en swap shoppe for Candy and Treats! IF we have a luxury of available time and resources to do some "care and share" sometime throughout the day
  • "hot shots" are neat little pkgs of heat for your gloves and feet!  CAVEAT hot shots can create litter or trash the environment, but with this in mind, you might be interested to "give it a shot!" if you are truly suffering from freezing hands and feet - these are carried for emergency relief from freezing temperatures only in contingencies
Speaking of Contingencies, Would Anyone like to buy & carry parts of the "emergency preparedness" kit on behalf of our group?
  • First Aid Kit
  • MSR Whisper Lite Stove & matches
  • MSR Stainless Steel Cookware
  • One Very Warm Emergency or Space Blanket Lightweight for Survival Huddles
  • [OK, maybe a tarp and some lightweight rope if windy/snowy/rainy/inclement weather system approaches]
  • Does anyone have mobile cellular capacity for a strong telecom signal from Telus?
  • Does anyone know how to operate a VHF radio?
  • Dry Sealed Soup & Noodles
  • Chocolate, Granola and Chips (the greasy foil plastic bags can make good "flame thrower" when & where a bonfire is absolutely safe & necessary - most likely not on a daytrip to Cypress, but for preparedness' sake, we can practice carrying what we can manage for "being prepared" and even compare notes::)
  • Contingency Water or Hot Drink Supply
Hopefully, we won't have to break into our contingency preparedness supplies!  WE don't want to trash Cypress Mtn Prov Park, afterall!  We'll try to save "about to expire" contingency supplies for:
 
Brianna Ragsdale who is One Of Our UBCVOC Leading Members; 
And
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Co-Chair
UBC Science Undergraduate Society
T: (236) 412-0116
edi@sus.ubc.ca | sus.ubc.ca

If you have concerns, questions, suggestions, comments, anything, please feel free to contact trip organizer Czarina Gutierrez at:
778-893-7414

Signed, November 29, 2023 by Czarina M Gutierrez

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