Black Tusk from Empetrum Ridge

If you ever needed a reason to visit the inconspicuous Empetrum Ridge - here it is! The two prominent parts of the Tusk are exactly aligned, creating an incredibly dramatic appearance of the mountain from this angle.

Subject Mountain: The Black Tusk
    Photo Value: 11 *R
Date: 04 September 1994
Vantage Point: From the south end of Empetrum Ridge, 1.6 km NE of The Black Tusk   49:59:12 123:01:42
  Google Map
 Photographer: Marek Labecki

During a 3-day Labour Day camping trip to Garibaldi Park, I had the pleasure of hiking Black Tusk twice, with completely different weather on two consecutive days. The first time (also first in my life) was a solo ascent in rain and fog, in a mysterious, almost unearthly atmosphere. The second time was in sunny weather, with hordes of people on trail and on the summit. Denis, Robin, and I took a variation on descent and went down the snow field on Tusk's NE side, across the slushy mud of moraines to Empetrum Ridge, as this unforgettable view of the Tusk unfolded.

Access: Access of Empetrum Ridge is fastest from Cheakamus Creek and the Helm Creek meadows, but is relatively easy from any side

Technical: Canon Elan, 75-300 mm/f4.5-5.6 lens