Sunshine Coast Trail – day 3

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Tin Hat Mountain to Elk Lake

day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Sunshine Coast Trail information page

… the Tin Hat hut is an epic 360-degree mountain-top lookout that provides the quintessential view of the rugged mountains, valleys, and lakes that define the Powell River back country experience. This hut is a fully winterized cabin with pellet stove and is located in, arguably, one of the most beautiful spots on the Sunshine Coast Trail. Although it is a climb to get there, the experience is well worth the effort. Summitting this mountain will make you feel like you are, indeed, on top of the world!

It’s the highest elevation point and the biggest attraction of the SCT. I was impressed.

Still early morning, I chatted with Lisa from Calgary in the hut. Then dashed on back down the logging road to where I’d stashed my pack. A savvy hiker like myself doesn’t haul his gear up the mountain unless absolutely necessary. My guidebook hinted at an alternative SCT route that would be easier than the normal steep up and down. 🙂

I was soon lost. 😦

Views were terrific.

But I found myself on a maze of logging road switchbacks. If you don’t like clear cut, you might not like the Sunshine Coast Trail.

Here you can see an old growth survivor. Secondary growth. And the war zone that is clear cut logging.

Worse than forest devastation, the bugs.

By day 3 I wore my bug shirt non-stop. Flying pests are a very good argument why you should NOT hike the Sunshine Coast Trail. All of the other major B.C. coastal hikes have virtually no bugs

Eventually I found my way back to the SCT.