In the 1960s, Bjorn Norheim wrote in his book ‘Viking to Canuck’ regarding his trip with Olga Coltman, Bob Weinard, and Thea Koppe, making a long cross-country trip from Goat River to Hawk Lake (near Tumuch Lake). They mostly bushwhacked on this trip and crossed two glaciers that were not yet on the maps of the day. Dave King and Mike Nash also recall this early exploration of the area.
In 2012, Travis Stringer’s first attempt towards Zig Zag Ridge was on April 8, 2012, after a conversation on the phone with his friend Tim Antill, after Tim had flown over Snowshoe Lake. Travis thought that the best way to the ridge was a straight line from the highway, but as you will see (video below), that didn’t go so well! Travis finally made it to the ridge on his 6th attempt on May 28, 2016. Here is a summary of his earlier attempts to the ridge: https://www.flickr.com/photos/twscanada/albums/72157666521351603/with/26736443313
It took many more trips to find the current route, and Travis just kept plugging away at it until he had what he thought was “the” route. He didn’t have the final route until 2025, but he thinks it’s good now. There will be more minor tweaking to do, but the trail is in pretty good shape!
Travis and Tim also hiked up Snowshoe Creek on snowshoes one March several years ago.
Travis writings from his Flickr album:
I finally made it!
May 28th marked my sixth attempt to get to the top of Zig Zag Ridge. Tim and I made it to the ridge in 5 hours from the highway. Total trip time: 10 hours. Total elevation gain (including a short walk along the ridge): 1500 metres
My first attempt was four years ago on April 8, 2012, when my wife and daughter, and I headed out on snowshoes. We didn’t make it halfway.
In the summer of 2013, I made two tries for the ridge. You can see what they looked like here: vimeo.com/125228409
Last March, Tim and I had a go on snowshoes. We made it just over halfway before bad weather closed in on us. If the weather had been better, it would have been a very long day if we had continued to the ridge.
In March of 2016, Naz and Travis made another attempt on snowshoes. They weren’t really expecting to get to the ridge, but they stumbled upon the key to attaining the ridge.
Tim and I used that key yesterday to get to the top.
Photos:
