Seven Volcanoes and a Barrier: The Story of Garibaldi Lake

The view of Garibaldi Lake from Panorama Ridge. Photo credit: Bob Turner

Living in the Sea to Sky corridor means being constantly confronted by a landscape of superlatives. Between the towering peaks and glacial lakes, the region’s dramatic geology is effectively "smacking" us in the face while on Highway 99 and on our trails. But it is easy to overlook the powerful forces—sometimes glacial and slow, other times volcanic and violent—taking place beneath our skis and boots. We are fortunate to live in a community blessed with dedicated geoscientists who continue to translate these ancient stories for us. In recent years, the Whistler Naturalists have shared the voices of experts like Steven Carney, Bill Tupper, Karl Ricker, Jack Souther, and Steve Quane. We’d like to welcome back another distinguished voice to help us decode the geologic mysteries of our favorite viewpoints.

Dr. Bob Turner is a long-time resident of Nexw̱lélexw̱em/Bowen Island, its former mayor, a retired federal geoscientist, and author of several books on the geology of the Vancouver and Sea to Sky region. He is also a filmmaker with over 50 short movies about wildlife and wild places around the Salish Sea that are posted on his Bob Turner YouTube channel and website (OurSalishSea.ca). Additionally, he was part of the team that achieved a UNESCO Biosphere Region designation for Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound in 2021 and currently leads the Bowen Island Conservancy’s biodiversity conservation initiative.

In Bob’s own words: “Garibaldi Lake is magical. For a century, hikers have been drawn by its stunning colour, by the alpine meadows that surround it, and by the views from the ridges that rise above it. Other than Garibaldi Lake itself, Panorama Ridge is the leading destination in the park, for good reason. Not only does it have gorgeous views, but embedded in those scenic landscapes are a host of geological stories that have no equal anywhere else in Canada.

To start, you stand amid Canada’s most famous volcanic field, surrounded by seven volcanoes large and small. These include giant N’chay/Mt Garibaldi, the enigmatic and flat-topped Table, and Clinker Peak, source of the lava flow that dams Garibaldi Lake. In addition, from the ridge you can visualize the retreat of three separate glaciers over the past century and a half; from trimlines that mark their maximum advance, to moraine ridges and rubble fields that follow their collapse. As well, there are other puzzles.”

On the hike up to the lake, what formed that great wall called The Barrier? What creates the lake’s gorgeous turquoise colour? Why is the lake so deep? – deeper in fact than most parts of Howe Sound. Why are some nearby ridges craggy and accessible only to climbers yet others like Panorama Ridge are soft-topped and easy walking for hikers? So there is lots to talk about!”

If learning more about the Garibaldi Lake and the surrounding area intrigues you, Bob will be giving a talk titled “When Mountains Talk: The Geological Intrigues of the Garibaldi Lake area” on May 14th at the Millar Room at Myrtle Philip from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. The Whistler Naturalists will hold a short AGM prior to from 6:30 - 6:45 PM. Tickets for the talk will be available at WhistlerNaturalists.ca or at the door for $10 for adults and $5 for under 18.

Written by Chloe Van Loon

#geology