Joffre Lakes and Matier Glacier,

Joffre Lakes and Matier Glacier,
# Joffre Lakes and Matier Glacier, Pemberton, BC, Date changed to SUNDAY.

PLEASE READ:
We will approach the glacier and we will admire it from a safe distance. How far we can safely approach the glacier? It depends on the temperature, response to my ongoing inquiries from the park, and assessment at the site. Melting glacier and possibility of falling through the ice is a clear and present reality. Team leader will determine where the endpoint for hike and approaching the glacier will be. Last year, in November, we went all the way to the tip of the glacier.
Micro spikes or crampons as well as snow shoes are mandatory.

Details
Hike Distance: 10 km round trip
Hike Duration: 3-4 hours to Upper Lake; an extra 1.5 hours to Matier glacier
Elevation Gain/Loss: 400 m to upper lake; an extra 380 m to glacier
Difficulty: Hard

What makes it difficult? Though the trail to the third lake is easy to follow, the steepness of the trail from lower lake may take some by surprise.
The hike up to the glacier is more of a scramble across fairly steep terrain, but expected to be packed with snow (weather dependent).

Park website: Click here

Please feel free to go on the waiting list. Priority goes to the drivers and folks with good hiking history.
*****Before pressing attend please be certain you'll attend. In the case of 3 "No-Shows" or 3 "Not Going", attendees may be removed from the group. For the same reason, please exercise common sense and common courtesy when using Event Chat
*****Carpool fee is $8 cash per hour x 6 hours of travel: approximate total = $50 cash
*****End time doesn't include the time to drive back
*****This event could take longer, as the hike time is 5-6 hours depending on who you ask.
*****If Joffre Lakes ends up being closed we'll change this to a different event.
Initially Meeting at St. Davids United Church located at 1525 Taylor Way, West Vancouver, BC, V7S 1N5 at 6:00 AM to consolidate our rides.

Day Pass: there is no need for day pass for the month of November.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H4al_u0vaK_b2Zz3HjpGPHv-IG4_EK8C1SdOpH9TSRI/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Our Final Meeting point is at lower Joffre Lakes. Parking is located at the trail head not far from the parking lot, at 9:00 AM. Please remember there are two parking lots, where you can park your car, however, meeting point is at the lower parking lot:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lower+Joffre+Lake/@50.3664886,-122.5400229,13z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x5480c8c5211842dd:0x47212d5252cf7dcb!8m2!3d50.3659469!4d-122.4966378!16s%2Fg%2F11cjk3hdtv?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Carpool List:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10gf74pbNaUOb6RZ5QitZBaBc5MIXTI5mkxpWaK-WYP0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

mandatory & Recommended Hiking Clothing, Footwear and Gear:

1. MANDATORY Hiking boots or Hiking Shoes + Micro Spikes + Gaiters
2. Mandatory Small Day pack or Hiking backpack + 2 litres of water and Lunch + Snacks + 2nd Lunch + 2nd Snacks
3. Mandatory warm layers of clothing
4. Recommended Winter Coat/Parka or Puffer Jacket with hood
5. Mandatory Gloves or Mittens
6. Recommended Rain jacket (optional: if the sky is overcast or raining)
7. Recommended Snow shoes.
8. Recommended sun protection and sunglasses
9. Mandatory 10 essentials.
10. Recommended walking poles for snow.

Team leader keeps the right to choose to refuse attendance of individuals who are not equipped with mandatory items.
BC winter tire restrictions (chains) start Oct 1st and ends end of March. www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/about-winter-tires.

LEGAL INFORMATION, LIABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
We are a group of volunteers. We are NOT a professional organization or pro trail guides and/or pro event organizers. We will, however, look out for each other. The organizer and any/all assistant organizers and other attendees are in no way responsible and liable for your personal safety and health state, before, during and at anytime after this event. Risks of attending hiking events include bLegal Disclaimer, Assumption of Risk, Release of Liability, and Insurance Recommendation
Important: This event is organized informally by volunteers. The organizer, any assistant organizers, drivers, carpool participants, volunteers, and other attendees are not professional guides, outfitters, medical providers, rescue personnel, travel advisers, or paid event operators. Nothing in this event notice, any message, route description, gear recommendation, carpool arrangement, or verbal discussion should be treated as professional advice, a guarantee of safety, or an undertaking to supervise, rescue, guide, instruct, transport, or protect any participant.
By choosing to RSVP, travel to, attend, or participate in this hike, each participant acknowledges and agrees that hiking, border travel, carpooling, remote forest roads, and outdoor activities in remote alpine terrain involve inherent and unpredictable risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: getting lost; route-finding errors; slips, trips, and falls; snow, ice, snowfields, and steep terrain; rockfall; landslides; unstable ground; stream crossings; flooding; trail or road failure; falling trees or branches; wildfire or smoke; extreme cold or heat; dehydration; altitude, fatigue, illness, or medical emergencies; wildlife encounters; poor visibility; sudden weather changes; road, traffic, and border delays; vehicle incidents; and limited or delayed access to emergency assistance.
Each participant is solely responsible for deciding whether they are fit, skilled, equipped, insured, and prepared to participate. Each participant must make their own independent decisions before and during the event, including whether to start, continue, turn back, separate from the group, travel on snow or other hazardous terrain, or seek assistance. Participation is voluntary, and each participant accepts full responsibility for their own safety, health, conduct, decisions, property, transportation, border eligibility, and expenses before, during, and after the event.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Because this hike takes place in the United States, participants should confirm before departure that they have adequate travel medical, emergency medical, evacuation, rescue, repatriation, and trip-interruption coverage. Coverage may be available through an employer benefit plan, a credit card, or a privately purchased travel insurance policy, but each participant is solely responsible for verifying the terms, limits, exclusions, deductibles, pre-existing-condition rules, activity exclusions, and whether hiking, evacuation, rescue, ambulance, hospital, and cross-border medical costs are covered. Emergency medical treatment, ambulance transport, evacuation, rescue, and related services in the United States may not be free and can be extremely costly. The organizer does not provide, arrange, verify, recommend a specific provider, or guarantee any insurance coverage for any participant.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, each participant agrees to assume all risks and costs arising from participation in this event, including risks caused by ordinary negligence, errors in judgment, acts, omissions, route choices, weather decisions, communications, planning, transportation arrangements, or any alleged failure to warn, supervise, assist, organize, coordinate, or protect participants. Each participant releases, waives, discharges, indemnifies, and agrees to hold harmless the organizer, assistant organizers, volunteers, drivers, carpool participants, and other attendees from any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, expenses, injuries, death, property loss, rescue costs, evacuation costs, medical costs, legal fees, or any other liability arising directly or indirectly from the event, except where such release is prohibited by applicable law.
By RSVP’ing “Yes,” attending, or participating in any part of this event, each participant confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted this disclaimer and that they are participating voluntarily and at their own risk. If a participant does not accept these terms, they should not RSVP, attend, travel with the group, or participate in the hike.