Black Tusk from Helm Cinder Flats

The Black Tusk in Fall Light from the East.

Subject Mountain: The Black Tusk
    Photo Value: 12 *R
Date: 2003.10.05
Vantage Point: From Helm Flats, 1.8 km SE of The Black Tusk   49:58:08 123:01:08
  Google Map
 Photographer: Mitch Sulkers

On a perfect fall weekend, we had an excellent opportunity to view the Black Tusk from many different angles. This is one of my favourite views, from the Helm cinder flats, east of the peak.

The trail we used to access this site, the Helm Creek Trail, heads south from the Cheakamus Lake Trail and ascends gently through old growth forest into the Valley of Desolation and broad cinder flats. For several kilometres of travel, the Black Tusk dominates the western skyline across the alpine meadows and beckons one to climb it. This trail is a popular fall trail run as well, as the gradient is never too steep and the views tend to draw one strongly to the south.

On this afternoon, we debated whether to climb the Tusk or Panorama Ridge. In the end, for nostalgia's sake, Panorama won out, and we were treated to excellent views of Garibadi Lake and the mountains of southern Garibaldi Park. Having made the decision to ascend Panorama, we thought it only fitting to get a shot of the Tusk before heading further south.

A few hours later, we headed back north, again on the east flank of the peak. By that time, the tusk had become merely a silhouette on the horizon, hiding its eastern face.

Access: From the South: Helm Creek Crossover Trail to Helm Lake. From the North: Helm Creek Trail from Cheakamus Lake Trail.

Technical: Pentax Spotmatic F 50mm lens 400ASA Fuji Xtra print film. Scanned to a CD by 28 Minute Photo.