Hiking vs Gondola to reach Habrich routes, etc.

[dray2009]

Weighing the time/energy/cost pros and cons of hiking the sea-to-summit trail versus taking the gondola, in order to do some climbing on Habrich and other areas.

Can anyone provide feedback on:

1) How long (from the Chief) the sea-to-summit (top of Gondola) trail takes (time) for a reasonably fit climber. I've seen everything from 2.5 for 4.5 hours; and

2) How "challenging" it is compared to the Chief trail (Peak 1) as a point of reference?

Thanks.

Dave

[marc_leclerc]

Hi Dave, hiking up sky pilot from the valley isn't as epic as people sometimes make it out to be. I'd say 2.5 hours is definitely on the slow side of things for a climber with a pack full of gear. The trail is not at continuously steep as the first peak, there are lots of flat rambling sections and slight up hills. For reference, Consider that the trail gains about 800 meters in 9km, while the lake lovely water trail into the Tantalus gains more than1000m in 6km.

Without a rope/gear, but only the stuff for a scramble up Sky pilot, it probably only adds 2.5 hours total hiking car to car. It's much nicer than riding the gondola too.