Also known as the Birdwood Traverse, this trip is a loop that travels over four passes. There are no lofty summits with 360 degree views; instead, it’s a journey through open landscapes.
We completed the car shuttle and were hiking by 8:45, and already there were quite a few parties ahead of us aiming for “Instagram Peak”, aka Smutwood. We passed all of them at the start of the steep climb to Smuts Pass and took a break at High Col. After that the traverse begins, dropping down through meadows and climbing back up into a land of scree, ridges, and occasional pockets of water and snow. And lots of fresh grizzly diggings! We sat down for lunch on the immense Birdwood Pass in sun but with an eye on dark clouds building. We found our own ways to the shoulder of Snow Peak, and from there down to Burstall Pass and the easy hike back to the trailhead.

I’ve wanted to do this hike for many years now, and was thrilled to have the company of Sim and Donna. Thanks for another beautiful day, from coordinator Ingrid.

Lots of varieties of flowers; particular standouts were many colours of paintbrush (included a totally white one) and thousands of grass-of-Parnassus.

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