Wonk Peak
Length: 10 km
Elevation gain: 980 m
Difficulty Level: Hard
Wonk Peak (aka Rohr W2) is near Pemberton, British Columbia. The trailhead is 3 km from the famous Joffre Lakes trailhead. Parking is on the other side of a green building on Highway 99.
I went on this trail in late winter/early spring; therefore, there was still quite a bit of snow on the trail. You will definitely need snowshoes if you hike in winter or early spring.
If you look at the trail maps online, you’ll notice that most of them show two different trails — one for going in and another for coming out. In hindsight, I would recommend using the coming-out trail for both directions. The trees along the coming-out trail are less dense, making it easier to follow ski or snowshoe tracks.
Speaking of tracks, there are almost no trail markers along the route — maybe one or two at most — so it’s essential to bring an offline map. There is no cell signal either.
The trail has no steep sections, and you are never exposed to dangerous drops. However, it’s important to stay on the tracks since there are some cornices at the upper levels.
At the peak, you’ll enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding scenery. It’s especially breathtaking in winter.
Once you’ve taken in the views, retrace your footsteps back to the parking lot. Again, I recommend following the coming-out trail shown on the online maps — it’ll make your return much smoother. The 3-hour drive back to Vancouver after a hard trail is really taking a toll.
