Ghostpass Trail

A severely neglected trail leading to a small lake below Mount Outram.

Statistics

Directions

Follow Highway #3 (Crowsnest Highway) 26km East of Hope to the West portal of {park:3}. Park in the large paved parking lot next to the marmot sign. The trailhead is located at the wooden footbridge near the outhouses.

Details

Created in 1860, the Ghostpass Lake trail was originally a pack trail that was restored to a maintained route running from the West portal of Manning Provincial Park to the Sowaqua Creek area. Perhaps due to government cutbacks or a lack of interest from community groups, the trail has been neglected since the early eighties and has been mostly reclaimed by the wilderness. Due to it's continued existance on almost all maps of the area, many unsuspecting souls have been turned back almost immediately in disappointment.

To reach what remains of the trail, follow the Mount Outram Trail from the parking area and along the old engineer's road. As the old road re-enters the forest, the Mount Outram trail will turn to the left with a series of trail markers and signs. Instead of turning left, continue straight on the now overgrown path that leads down the old road.

The overgrown road descends a slight hill with some blowdown before levelling out into small bog. Make your way across the small muddy swamp. The trail will turn to the left and begin leading along the base of Mount Outram to the lake. From here, the trail switchbacks steeply up the mountainside before turning into the Eighteen Mile Creek valley. The trail descends with more switchbacks before finally reaching the creek. After this point, the trail levels out and has a more moderate grade.

Approximately 1 to 2 hours later, the trail is intersected by a rocky avalanche chute, with thick brush and slide alder. Yellow flagging tape marks out a rough route through this section, but can be extremely difficult to spot. Recent trip reports mention the possibility of a better trail through the old growth forest on the opposite side of the valley from the chute. Given that the original trail crossed Eighteen Mile Creek and lead along it's eastern side for a distance, it's likely that the trail crossed the creek at some location prior to the avalanche chute. Given the effort required to bushwack forward, it may be worth investigating potential crossings over the creek and trying to pick up the original trail. The trail from here on has significant deadfall and overgrowth, and as a result is difficult to follow.

The original trail recrosses the creek to it's West side about 1.5 km later. At this point, some maps and guides show a trail named "ik-pa-te" branching off a short distance up the side of Mount Outram. Nothing is known about this trail or it's existence.

Given few people have reached the lake in decades, very little is known about this trail and it's final destination. Historical maps show the trail leading past the lake and connecting with the HBC Brigade Trail in the Sowaqua Creek Drainage. The route in that area is intersected by the "Rice Trail", leading from the Tulameen area to the base of Mount Outram.

The trail was supposedly cleared by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee in the summer of 2007. It's unclear how much of the trail has been cleared, or if any changes to the route have been put into place.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Trailhead	N49.25527 W121.18905	10U 631776 5457412
Engineers Loop Junction	N49.25602 W121.18776	10U 631868 5457497
Old Road Along Talus Slope	N49.25583 W121.18760	10U 631880 5457476
Ghostpass Lake / Mount Outram Trail Junction	N49.25258 W121.18091	10U 632375 5457127
Swamp Over Trail	N49.25127 W121.17839	10U 632562 5456986