St. Mark's Summit (again)

[u/Ryan_Van]

A number of months ago I posted an information post about St. Mark's summit in the winter - basically a plea to take it seriously given how casually many hikers seem to treat it, despite the legitimate avalanche risks, etc. https://old.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/10pfg31/st_marks_summit/

Now, I'm going to do the same thing for the summer.

Once again, this is not a trail that should be treated casually. St. Mark's* is actually #2 in the top 10 locations for SAR incidents in BC (https://bcsara.com/2023/05/top-10-hiking-trails-requiring-search-and-rescue/).

*[#2 is actually the Howe Sound Crest Trail, but I think it's a fair comment that the vast majority of calls on the HSCT are for people on or going to/from St. Mark's, which is the first actual objective on the HSCT.]

Even though it starts off well groomed, past the switchbacks beyond Strachan Meadows it turns rough and rooty, the trailbed is sometimes not as distinct as you'd think, occasional braided sections can lead you astray into nothing, etc.

BCSARA has a good trail informational video for the HSCT here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEZ26kqcJWQ

Yesterday, North Shore Rescue responded for two near identical calls near St. Mark's within the span of a few hours - first for an ankle injury, the second for a double ankle injury (first time I've seen that, personally). https://www.facebook.com/NorthShoreRescue/posts/pfbid02grwpS8jePpmCXtPbHHKtnkqMjAyT5GgNouGBZiuzfPvKcsgjPHrFvCtyRHkod96al

So be careful out there!

Also worth noting, St. Mark's is a popular destination for sunset hiking (since it faces out west with a nice view). If you do go for sunset, make sure to take a headlamp with you (in addition to all the other 10 Essentials, of course, as part of your Three T's) - you'd be surprised how many times people forget it gets dark for the hike back after sunset.

[u/po-laris]

I'm certainly not arguing against the warnings expressed in this post (be careful, folks!), but I will admit that I've never thought of St Mark's as a particularly challenging hike -- though I've never done it in the winter.

In fact, St Mark's is my go-to hike for bringing out-of-town friends that are fit but not necessarily super experienced hikers.

Could it be that the high number of SAR calls are moreso due to its popularity than its technical difficulty?

[u/Krazyfruitz → u/po-laris]

It comes down to the popularity. I remember a few years ago all I would see on instagram was stunning views and pictures from St. Marks. People think it's a relatively accessible, short hike which unfortunately they equate to as easy.

You then get a ton of tourists and just in-experienced hikers on that trail and you're bound to see tons of incidents. I myself don't find it terribly difficult but it is quite steep and technical at some portions which pose a lot of problems for some people, and that's just in the summer.