What should have been my fifth mountain climbed for My Peak Challenge (why can't I hyperlink anymore?) was thwarted by too much snow, but I'm not complaining. I had a fabulous hike.
One of the benefits of moving to Chilliwack (I still really miss Vancouver!) is I'm within an hour of four fabulous hiking destinations--the North Shore of Vancouver, Manning Park, the Coquihalla summit, and the Chilliwack River valley. Today I attempted to summit Frosty Mt. in Manning, as it was too darned hot to stay close to home. It was exactly what I needed.
The first 7 km rises through the forest, keeping me cool and giving the occasional view of Lightning and Flash Lakes, where the trail began.
One of the benefits of moving to Chilliwack (I still really miss Vancouver!) is I'm within an hour of four fabulous hiking destinations--the North Shore of Vancouver, Manning Park, the Coquihalla summit, and the Chilliwack River valley. Today I attempted to summit Frosty Mt. in Manning, as it was too darned hot to stay close to home. It was exactly what I needed.
The first 7 km rises through the forest, keeping me cool and giving the occasional view of Lightning and Flash Lakes, where the trail began.
The trail is surprisingly well-groomed, despite its back country status. It made climbing so much elevation seemingly easy(ish). The only obstacles were the victims of winter blow-downs, especially the ones affected by the mountain pine beetle. But, I just threw a nimble leg over and gently hopped down (you can be anything you want on the internet. Even graceful. I will not show you the holes in my leggings).
The terrain evens out in a meadow of alders, which are some of the oldest trees in British Columbia (some estimated to be almost 2,000 years old). According to the trip reports, early October is the season to go, when the leaves are changing. Something to think about, since it was a few kilometers past there that I had to turn around.
I lost the trail several times in the snow. I am a confident solo hiker, but I am not prepared for trail-finding, and a few times I had to choke down my fear and calm my shaking. I do NOT want to be that person who ends up in the news having to be rescued because of lack of preparedness. Kudos to Daryl from Kelowna, the only other hiker I saw that day, who happened upon me, turned me the right way, and blazed the trail with footprints to follow.
I lost the trail several times in the snow. I am a confident solo hiker, but I am not prepared for trail-finding, and a few times I had to choke down my fear and calm my shaking. I do NOT want to be that person who ends up in the news having to be rescued because of lack of preparedness. Kudos to Daryl from Kelowna, the only other hiker I saw that day, who happened upon me, turned me the right way, and blazed the trail with footprints to follow.
The trail was still visible here, but I soon lost Daryl's footprints.
I figured I only had about a kilometer to go before the promised exposed ridge with (hopefully) no snow to the summit, but I just couldn't do it.
I stopped for lunch at the nicest viewpoint thus far, congratulated myself for a hike well done, and descended back to soak my feet in the lake.
I stopped for lunch at the nicest viewpoint thus far, congratulated myself for a hike well done, and descended back to soak my feet in the lake.
There are already a lot of wildflowers blooming. And a weird fungus that looks like coral or a sponge.
I am a sucker for Fitbit's flashing lights and badges at the end of a good day. I'm not fond of how it calculates active minutes. I was slowed down by the fallen trees and all the snow. With lunch, stops and the lot, I was seven hours on the trail.
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