A range of rugged metamorphic marbles and diorites, the Adamants were named by frustrated gold seekers in the late 1800s who laboriously chipped away at their adamantine, or diamond-like, rock. The range is crowned by 3522-meter (11, 553 feet) Mount Sir Sanford, a peak of Denali-like majesty named for Sir Sanford Fleming, a pioneering official of “Canada’s National Dream,” the transcontinental railroad.

The Adamants abound with lovely ridge hikes and meadow walks beneath princely rock pinnacles. The Alpine Club of Canada calls the Adamants “a mini-Chamonix,” but cautions that “In this wilderness region, one of the most impressive in British Columbia, the difficulties of overland travel are considerable.” A problem our helicopters cheerfully erase.


These diamond-hard mountains offer a tremendous variety of hikes, long, short, easy, and nicely taxing. As always, it’s your choice. Here are 4 of the 45 routes that the Adamants’ guides and lodge manager choose from each day:

Pyrite Ridge. A lovely ridge walk, one of the finest in all of CMH’s territory, Pyrite can be enjoyed by hikers at any level of ability. Mountain goats are sometimes spotted in the Goldstream Valley just below the ridge, which is bordered by several glaciers to the northeast. As we amble along, high above the timberline, we’re treated to spectacular views of Mount Sir Sanford, Iconoclast Mountain, Pyrite, Argentine, and Folly peaks.

Serendipity Basin. A magnificent high alpine valley blanketed by a myriad of wildflowers, Serendipity is a geologic textbook, combining metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks. From this spot, we are treated to a rare, upward view of thrusting, vertical rock faces.

Unicorn Meadows. The base for a variety of hikes among the wildflowers, Unicorn is a great place to gaze up at the imposing walls of the western Adamants and to get a close look at Austerity Glacier. We occasionally spot moose in the distance, and even a grizzly or two, along with the ubiquitous marmot.

Brewster Creek. The valley, named for the creek, is a wondrous alpine experience. Ten little lakes ascend up-valley; each is a great place to wander and digress. The flowers here are stunning, the views are, as ever, booming.

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