Red Heather Meadows to Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Provincial Park. Weather permittin

About the Hike:
PLEASE READ BEFORE CLICKING ATTEND.
This is a weather permitting event. If weather is not cooperative, event day will be changed to Sunday. If both Saturday and Sunday weather forecast remains uncooperative, we go to, with crampons, the Eagle Bluff. In that case, start time will be changed to 9:00 AM.
Alan and Monty are offering, Red Heather Meadows to Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Welcome to ice and snow season. It is a Snowshoes event. You may get-by having crampons, weather dependent. Therefore, this is a *4.6 Hard hike.
We will cover 20.1 km and gain 816 meters of elevation within a time estimate of 8 hours, in cold and on snow.
This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and cross-country skiing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
*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.
*If you are on the wait list and are not confirmed, please do not attend. We limit group size for some hikes for safety and logistical reasons.
Difficulty, Distance, and Elevation:
Hard, 20.1 km trail, 816 meters of elevation gain. However, hiking with Crampons and/or snowshoes are always more difficult and slower.
Meeting At: We ALL will meet at the St. Davis United Church Taylor Way, West Vancouver at 6:00 AM and consolidate our carpools, if needed, and head toward the trail, together.
Our second stop before heading to the trail head will at 6:30 AM and Squamish McDonald, for bathroom break and picking a coffee.
We will then continue as a caravan.
We need to travel together in case anybody experiences difficulty on the side road, in snow season.
We need to start early due to short daylight at this time of the year.
We will start the hike at 7:30 am.
Trail head address is: Diamond Head Trail Parking Lot, Garibaldi Park Rd, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0
Parking: Diamond Head Trail Parking Lot, Garibaldi Park Rd, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0
Transit Access: No
Carpool List:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FNa_pJyQX3UeNFFGmB53vjyjzP5Zy5zGUUmZ3rrUhww/edit?gid=0#gid=0

BC winter tire restrictions (chains) start Oct. 1st:
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/about-winter-tires.
However, we will be on side road at high elevation and therefore one may encounter steep road which may not have been cleaned or treated with salt and sand. Therefore, one must have snow tires or auto trac chains.
Recommended Hiking Clothing, Footwear and Gear:

1. Hiking Boots or Hiking Shoes.
2. Snowshoes. You maybe able to get by using crampons, however, at this time of the year, we may have a big dump of snow any time in the area. In that case, one must use Snowshoes.
3. Small Day pack or Hiking backpack + ample amount of water, + Lunch + Snacks
4. Sweater or a Hoodie
5. Sunglasses and a Hat, Sunscreen if required (all optional)
6. Warm Jacket
7. Warm layers and Rain Jacket
8. Bear Spray, we will be in bear country. Weather dependent, bears may still be awake, looking for more calories.
9. Gloves.
10. Hiking/Scrambling Gloves
11. Head lamps
12. Snow Poles
    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 but are not limited to: getting lost; slipping and falling; snow and ice; extreme cold; extreme heat; dangerous animals; falling trees or brush; falling rocks or landslides; flooding; bridge failure; and falling in fast moving water.
    As a condition of your participation in the event, you assume all risk of personal injury, death or property loss resulting from any cause whatsoever including NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF ANY DUTY OF CARE ON THE PART OF THE HOST. You agree that the host shall not be liable for any personal injury, death or property loss and release the host from all liability and waive all claims with respect thereto.
    Negligence includes failure on the part of the host to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from or warn you of the risks, dangers and hazards referred to above. You assume all cost of your own rescue or evacuation.
    By RSVP'ing "Yes", for this event, you acknowledge that you fully understand and accept the aforementioned conditions and following event attendance conditions and, you are solely responsible for your own health, safety and well-being before, during and at anytime after the event as stated previously.
    All attendees shall forever hold harmless the organizers and other attendees and unconditionally waive any liabilities resulting from attending and/or participating in this event.
    We hike together at a moderate pace, but if you cannot keep pace then you are responsible to safely hike your way back to the starting point.