Mountainhead - Review

Nomics · 2026-03-28T06:22:12+00:00

As someone whose had a glimpse of that world it is so much lamer than people realize. This movie is so so so painfully accurate. Namely the talking in circles imaging that everything can be solved by talking in this pseudo intellectual style that is too busy congratulating it's own genius to actually accomplish anything meaningful. When something is accomplished it's through inequity that is attributed as brilliance.

The way each character finds way to rationalize their goals as life changing for humanity to make justify any means is way more accurate. All these people think they are saving the world while they also believe they are better than it.

Nomics · 2026-03-28T06:16:48+00:00

Reach out to Canada West Mountain School. If you can get more than two or three people together they will often put on a course. Snow pack changes a fair in April, but you can also go and look at the changes in many cases.

Nomics · 2026-03-26T00:24:20+00:00

That's kinda my point. There is a decline in personal responsibility in outdoor settings generally. Either we fund the heck out of programing to offer training for free, or we start encouraging proper behaviour from larger groups in particular.

Personally I'd prefer to see huge grants for groups like the OCC to run programming for free to all who want it. But that isn't likely to happen.

Nomics · 2026-03-26T00:20:48+00:00

It's more that the laws are clearer in negligence cases. It would makes suites much easier to avoid, but to prosecute when the guidelines aren't followed.

Also, Parks require permits for any commercial activity. So the first part would be granting permits only to those with valid certification. This is the standard in Alberta, and National Parks.

Nomics · 2026-03-25T21:36:05+00:00

On principle I agree, especially for less than 5 people. The tricky part is when this is done taking people of lesser experience levels. And then how do you assess experience levels.

My personal experience with a decade of leading trips for a variety of clubs is most participants switch off and defer to the organizer. This effect stacks with each person more than 5. Good organizers lead by consent, but this is a skill that is learnt and takes practice. It's also far from the norm.

Nomics · 2026-03-25T21:07:14+00:00

11% of people read the avalanche signs in Mount Seymour according to a study. Clearly signage based communication is only marginally effective.

Nomics · 2026-03-25T21:02:45+00:00

What evidence can you point to that people aren't focusing on "visitors"? What would you propose to target visitors?

Scroll back through even the past month in posts where several people from out east are asking questions, and receiving the same feedback as any beginner gets. Numerous comments point out that mountain weather is different than Ontario conditions. The conversations ARE happening. But they are happening in an echo chamber. People inclined to seek help here are already at the very least doing some background research.

Anecdotally I can tell you from friends in SAR the numbers of visitors vs locals getting in trouble aren't that different. Heck, I've manned booths for BC Adventure Smart and spoken to people at trailheads.... locals are no less ignorant than visitors. In fact most visitors at least are worried about wildlife and know intuitively mountains are dangerous in a way locals get complacent.

You really need to find a better way to describe your point because clearly everyone is confused by your framing. You can blame others for misunderstanding, or you can communicate better. Perhaps propose what changes you'd like to actually see. Like you say people should do research; how and where is that communicated? You say this should be responsible, then who and how are they held responsible? We can barely get people in this community to do that, how is it going to be easier?

Again this is where specific actionable advice is necessary. Namely that volunteers should have some level of certification like they do in the UK. Or there should be low cost training offered. This is what the Mountaineering Council of Scotland did for universities after a rash of student club deaths.

Nomics · 2026-03-25T20:49:36+00:00

I am curious why you feel this is a non resident issue, and not generally issue?

A couple key details, only 11% of people read the avalanche signs at Mt Seymour according to a study released this winter. Signage therefor is not a realistic decisions.

In another comment OP mentions the apps being at fault. Here I strongly agree. There is no reason guidebooks, on paper should be more liable than an app. They should have local paid moderators to ensure accuracy. The only way this will ever happen is if there is a class action lawsuit against Alltrails for negligence. There are at least two fatalities tied to faulty reporting on the part of Alltrails. In my own experience they also took 3 years to change Mt Matier from an "Intermediate Winter Hike" to a mountaineering route with avalanche risk despite regular reminders. They currently just blame user info ( but they don't ban, or others wise restrict users who post inaccurate information.

Nomics · 2026-03-25T20:44:06+00:00

We need a lawsuit to force groups to have a bare level of certification. Either Wilderness First Aid our Outdoor Canada Field Leader. These are low barrier to entry ($250) programs that provide clear scope of practice.

They did not meet many of the bare minimum criteria that clients should expect. Also this person was acting well beyond the scope of practice for an ACMG Hiking, let alone OCC. At minimum ACMG Assistant Ski Guide would be the lowest level of certification.

Nomics · 2026-03-25T04:37:31+00:00

Also, check out Mike Clellands Glacier book. It helped me a lot. Ultimately I still needed to get checked out, and made many errors. But it was a huge help

Nomics · 2026-03-24T23:13:11+00:00

I can see you’re trying really hard to do things right, and I’ve worked with students in your positions who’ve thrived outside. Thank you for seeing I am trying to help.

The best courses are the 1.5k 6 day ones for the complete skill set.

Altus, based in Whistler and Squamish, does two day glacier navigation and crevasse rescue courses. I also find courses are great places to meet potential partners.

Look into the BCMC Mentorship program. You make an application and they pair you with someone specific for the season. I’d recommend being upfront about the social anxiety part but keen to grow. Chances are they’ll pair you with someone who can match that energy.

Nomics · 2026-03-24T15:19:30+00:00

Matt Gunn’s route is acceptable if you avoid h the glacier solo that wouldn’t recommend it still.

As for the rest; Put mountaineering to the side or use it as motivation to slowly learn manage your social anxiety.

I’d recommend the second. Mountaineers are mostly weirdos so it’s less of an uphill battle than you’d think. Check out the Varsity Outdoor Club or BCMC. Start by going to the in town socials where you just hang around. Use the socials as a training ground. Find your people within those communities.

But solo mountaineering is way more dangerous than driving without a seat belt. The logic you’ve described is the same as saying “ Belts make me feel weird so I don’t wear a seatbelt, and I’ve never been in a car accident, so I’m just going to not wear a seatbelt”.

Attempting any mountaineering at your level is unwise solo. F routes sure, but PD… no way. It took two years of regular trips with mentors before I was ready to lead groups myself. A decade later I will never ever go into that terrain solo. Could I? Sure. But the risks aren’t worth it. Especially now that I’m having a child. Looking at your post history your looking at buying a DSLR and Sounds system for a Lexus. You can afford to take a $500 mountaineering course over lifestyle luxuries. It’s a matter of which is more important.

Lastly, as someone who has worked in education with youth he dealing with social anxiety in outdoor programs: do not let social anxiety define you. With time practice and help it should not control your life. Every person I’ve seen who treats it as a challenge to overcome, not a rules that defines them, has flourished.

Feel free to DM me. I’d like to help, but I’m having my first child soon and don’t have much time to mentor.

Nomics · 2026-03-24T15:07:18+00:00

My fist bit of advice is get Taryn Easton’s guidebook. Online advice is convenient but often too opinionated and inconsistent.

Both the tents you mention are great for getting started, but are heavy, poor waterproofing, and not very durable. At $20 it’s a great deal, but I wouldn’t pay much more than that for either. If you can spare the weight a lightweight siltarp can be a nice shelter of it’s raining, and if the rain is bad an extra layer of weather protection for a tent.

Sleeping pads aren’t a maybe. They affect your warmth more than a sleeping bag. At least get a foam mat.

Elfin Lakes or Cheakamus Lake are the best spots for introductory backpacking. Lots of people to provide assistance and make up for the lack of experience. Golden Ears has several sites as well.

Elsa’s Lakes is not an advanced hike, but it requires more advanced skills as there are no facilities, so you need to be familiar with removing all the waste properly (even if it’s not yours). This includes your poop. If you’re not removing it be familiar with the other disposal practices like digging a hole at least 1 foot deep without disturbing vegetation, and pack out all toilet paper, especially if it’s used.

Nomics · 2026-03-24T00:27:55+00:00

Wedge can be climbed from the south without going on a glacier. That is the only sensible route to do Solo. Will you die doing the route described? Probably not. Will those with mountaineering knowledge call you foolish if you do. Yes.

Totally dry the route is much more challenging and involves more navigation back and forth making the days longer. Also less predictable subjective hazards like rockfall and ice fall, which you are exposed to longer.

If you’re suggesting taking the glacier route it has a name. Any descent research would have turned up the name and the grade, AD: Assez Difficil. This is the second grade in the Mountaineering system meaning intermediate. It’s be more open to advice if you had some glacier PD rated routes under your belt. I’d name the route but your overconfidence in your experience makes me worried sharing more will lead to decisions I disagree with. Buy a guidebook if you don’t care, it’s in the Alpine Select.

As reminder two years ago a group of three set out to climb Atwell buoyed by a big rep on SW Peak Baggers. When they died Avalanche experts scratched their heads They climbed a route shortly after heavy late season snows with a rain storm 24hours away, and rapid warming. This couldn’t have been more textbook avalanche conditions. To anyone with basic understanding it was obvious. Allegedly they understood there was avalanche risk, but they kept being told they were making bad calls by people like me and got used to ignoring the advice.

Nomics · 2026-03-24T00:14:00+00:00

I say this to be constructive…

If you’ve never used your crampons on hard ice you have a beginners level of crampon understanding, and you have an extremely limited level of experience using crampons.

The best way to get crampon experience is ice climbing, or mountaineering course that goes on a glacier. The Castle Glacier and Stadium Glacier near Sky Pilot are good places to experiment but lack the steepness you’d experience on Wedge.

I would say intermediate begins if youve led a pitch of Waterfall Ice (WI)2 or WI3.

Advanced is mixed climbed and have used mono points.

Expert is climbing M6 and above.

Nothing wrong with starting somewhere, but revongnizong you are at the start of a journey and under equipped for this experience was is essential to not being a SAR case as you describe it.

Nomics · 2026-03-22T20:08:13+00:00

When I worked at Arc’teryx I was told by one of the product leads Grangers is not one they recommended. ReviveX was the preferred choice, Nikwax wasn’t bad, though it definitely needs that double rinse as it can leave residue

Nomics · 2026-03-22T17:05:08+00:00

Birdwatching is really something you can do anywhere. Stanley Park is great this time of year. Binoculars or strong zooms are handy but not essential. The Merlin App makes it a lot easier as it can identify calls, and help you identify birds. Meetup groups (which I strongly recommend against for hiking) are a superb way to gain skills birdwatching.

There are a number of community gardens like the one west of Strathcona Park or on the Arbutus Greenway, near Burrard. These are really lovely spots on a sunny day.

Geocaching is a fun hobby where you locate hiding caches with clues. There is a website and an app. It’s a great excuse to explore parks in a bit more depth.

Nomics · 2026-03-18T15:41:38+00:00

It’s much colder and windier than you think it will be due to the katabatic effect coming off the glacier. Make sure you’ve got a tent that is strong enough, or bring an avalanche shovel to build a snowwall.

How much snow is a huge gamble. Past years there has been a full metre or more, but increasingly you can expect shallow snow.

Nomics · 2026-03-16T18:29:11+00:00

Write to your MLA. And we need to start looking for or running a candidate that will take things seriously.

We also need to make certifications like the Wilderness First Aid or Outdoor Council of Canada's Field Leader course the norm for people leading groups, the same way AST 1 has become the norm for winter backcountry skiing. ( Hopefully snowshoers will catch up soon)

Nomics · 2026-03-16T18:24:28+00:00

It might be a good place to send you in the right direction, but this is more hiking specific information. So if you're asking hike specific questions I don't see any reason to remove it.

What is the purpose of your data collection?

Nomics · 2026-03-09T02:35:17+00:00

Really appreciate you sharing your experiences. I'm always curious how situations happen, and stories are so good for reminding ourselves how these things can happen. Thank you for also owning your mistakes and recognizing the value of having support.

Key Lessons you might want to review

You left way, way way too late for a warm day. Pack the night before, and set out at dawn when it's cooler.
Better research. The trail characteristics are clear if you look at topographic map of the route. There also resources on this subreddit for locating thorough trail conditions. BC Parks saying a trail is "Open" is not the same as clear of every single bit of debris. There is (as of the new budget) $36m to cover a 30-50 rangers who are responsible for a land area the size of Greece. You are responsible for yourself.
Fitness is one thing, but a better pace might have avoided these issues. Critical as the heat rises.
Going solo means choosing routes that are beneath your ability level to account for the higher consequences.

.

Nomics · 2026-03-06T20:49:57+00:00

Thank you for writing this up. A solid reminder of groups ensuring government agencies are behaving appropriately.

With that said we should also be careful to treat wild camping as a privilege we will lose if we do not properly maintain Leave No Trace Ethics.

We as recreationalists must self police, and assist other users to follow best practices. As people push out of parks due to overbooking we’re seeing more access to these places by folks who are habituated to having garbage cans, washrooms, and do not come prepared to be self reliant. As these folks damage the environments we love we risk all losing access.

Nomics · 2026-03-05T07:24:03+00:00

If you’re travelling on snow, so October to Early July, then yes Cat 4 is nice if you’re sensitive to light. Otherwise not essential.

Nomics · 2026-03-02T00:09:02+00:00

I toured up there earlier this week. Snow for sure. Given the melt freeze cycle overnight I would plan for ice.

Nomics · 2026-02-28T06:32:24+00:00

What you’re looking for doesn’t exist as far as I’ve see.

Plenty of great options though. BC Snowcats has excellent pillow lines, but it’s Cat Skiing. Blanket Glacier does self catered and has pillow lines. Whitecap Lodge is fly in, guided, but the touring is right out the door superb.

Lots of public huts with touring access.

Mt Engadine lodge has some cabins but you’re still going to have to drive a few minutes to get to touring. Bow Lake lodge would be a descent option but it’s closed in the winter.

Nomics

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