I have portaged into Murtle Lake several times. on this paddle camp trip, I camped on Leo Island on the west arm. The next morning I paddled to the north shore of the arm and landed at the trailhead for Central Mountain. On a solo hike to this remote spot, I traversed the top of the mountain and looked down at the island from above, 3325 vertical feet below and 1.89 miles distant. I continued on to loop down into the north arm, then hiked back, a long route, before paddling back to Leo Island. Few people hike this route and the trail is overgrown and hard to follow. A once-only hike.
Yearly Archives: 2024
Strawberry Hill Fire
On August 1st, 2003, we were driving backroads from Green Lake to Kamloops. We came over a hill and spotted the smoke plume. We weren’t sure where it was but as we came into Kamloops it was clearly in the Dome Hills and on Strawberry Hill. There were two fires in the area, one caused by careless human activity. We have seen many fires since, but this one was clearly visible from town and was a frightening sight.
Mt. Balfour
An older photo taken with a throw-away camera. The image was taken from Balfour Hut on the Wapta Traverse, looking up at Balfour Mountain. We had skied across the icefields from Peyto Lake to Peyto Hut. We skied down Vulture Col to the hut. The next day we were bearing south and climbing through Balfour High Col. Note the recent avalanche below the icefall. On our way up to the col, I triggered a slide and fortunately no one was caught in it. We spent the next night in a tent on the glacier.
Today we can take much better images with compact cameras and mobile phones, but the old images still bring up vivid memories/
Green-Armed
We were hiking on the Galiano Mountain Trail in the Gulf Islands when we passed by this tree. Many of the cedars and fir trees had lichen covering the lower branches, below the canopy. This tree looked alien, with green arms outstretched.
Cwem Cwem Lake
Nestled under the highest peak of the Trophy Mountains is Cwem Cwem Lake, an alpine tarn. It is hard to get to, requiring off-trail navigation and scrambling from the Trophy Mountain Trail. I have hiked to the lake above a dozen times and have promised myself to camp there some day. It is a great destination in itself but it has mostly been visited as part of a long traverse over ridges and mountains. One day we even hiked out the last miles in the dark. It is a jewel in the Trophy Mountains, the source of Silvertip Falls, and located with access to multiple peaks, ridges, and mountain tarns. Go to kamloopstrails.ca to view posts on hiking to Cwem Cwem Lake.
A Condor Encounter
On a solo hike on the Grandview Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, i was on the steep climb back to the rim. Above the uranium mine area, the trail followed a ridge with steep drop-offs. Perched on a ledge right by the drop-off was a California condor. It seemed unconcerned by my close presence and it was kind enough to post for a photo.
The condors are tagged for tracking purposes. this was a spectacular hike (link), but the condor encounter topped it off. From this hike, I continued east to the Lake Powell in Utah, all part of a hiking trip in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.
Asulkan Brook
We hiked from the Illecillewaet Campground in Glacier National Park up the Asulkan Trail, upriver, through the giant trees, then up the Asulkan Brook Valley. the trail emerges into a wide cirque below Asulkan Pass, with glaciers hanging off the mountainsides. We hiked up to the Asulkan Cabin, then above onto the moraine ridges for views through the pass. We have done this hike a few times and hope to return.
The Narrows
This was the first time we hiked The Narrows in Zion National Park, wading upstream in the Virgin River up to Orderville Canyon. The water was warm for this adventure. We have since done this route 3 more times, including once from the top down (15.4 miles, mostly in the water). Memorable moments!
Mt. Temple
We hiked and scrambled up Temple on a September day. We started in the dark from Moraine Lake and hiked into Sentinel Pass. From the top of the pass the rest of the way was very steep. We managed to get over the 3 rock faces on the way to the summit ridge. The peak stands at 11 726 feet. A hanging glacier covers the north side of the mountain so caution is needed, but the last kilometer is just a step ridge hike. It is a long day to hike the mountain (more info).
Mt. Assiniboine
We have backpacked into Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park three times and have enjoyed good weather, good hiking and running, and have been very impressed with the scenery of this part of the Rocky Mountains.
This photo shows lake Magog and Mt. Assiniboine from the trails, on our way to Wonder Pass.