May 20 - Stats: 13.1 km / 1072m gain / 957m high point / 4:40 hours MT
They can't say they weren't warned. A large group of 19 hikers showed up for what I promised to be a challenging hike. This is a hike we do every spring, it being a good break-in hike for the upcoming season. It is located in a totally different eco-system than our Fraser Valley. The trail takes you back into history, with ten large signs describing how the First Nations lived off of the land and guided the HBC traders through this rough terrain in order to bypass Black Canyon.
A few minutes from the parking lot, which is just past the old Alexandra Lodge on Hwy. 1.
1) Wild Strawberry 2) Fairy Slippers
We regrouped at the second sign which offered views of Black Canyon to the west. We were now 2.6 km in and had the steepest part of the trail behind us.
Mt. Spuzzum (1890m).
2) Red Currant
Old growth Douglas Firs.
1) Arnica 2) Fairy Slippers
We did the loop clock-wise, the Bluffs route providing an expansive view over Black Canyon and the Fraser River. We returned via the Lakes route which is a higher trail. Both routes give glimpse of tarns through the trees.
A bit more climbing from the junction and then we were on the ridge where Lodge Pole pines grow between black skeletal trees that testify to the 2004 forest fire.
Goat Peak -- north.
The Fraser River and Hwy 1. Just round the corner is Hell's Gate.
1) Indian Paintbrush. 2) Avanlanche Lilies
The China Bar tunnel is at the end of the Hwy.
Nipple Mt (2100m)
We dropped down a bit and regained the height before the campsite.
The campsite has an outhouse and plenty of seating.
It was so sweet of Allana to bring goodies in celebration of my birthday. She also got the group to sing "Happy Birthday" to me.
Ugh! Of all the shots for my camera to not focus, why the group shot?
Back row: Ted VA, Jan S, Jerry B, Mark S, Manfred H, Darcy G, John, Chris L, Allana W, Rob G, David
Front row: Don T, Cal F, Case T, Kim B, Sheri K, Terry B & me
I've never seen so many Avalanche lilies on this trail before. They're the first to bloom after the snow melts. We've had a colder than usual spring.
At the original site for the Lake House where miners could stop to refresh themselves. In 1860 the police were informed in a letter that a squatter named, Gibsons had been selling illegal whisky here. The local judge couldn't get anyone to testify against him so he sent an officer to burn the house down.
From the sign and site of the former Lake House, it was just a short walk to the lake.
Back into the burnt forest which opened up the view to the ridge we'd come up on.
The Black Canyon lookout is on the right side of the lower ridge.
Goat Peak -- north.
1) Chocolate Lily 2) Blue-eyed Mary
Sure enough, the last 2 km did not fail to get our knees grinding.
Star flowers.
Is that a smile or a grimace, Don? If it was the latter, I don't blame you. I think we were all in the same boat. Nine of us went to Ricky's in Hope for a well deserved dinner.
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