Pitching Boulders in the Howson Range

Author Kathie Wagar (telkwa)
 Pitching boulders
Pitching boulders, tugging out blueberry bushes and raking gravel are only but a part of how I spent my weekend. After flying into the remote and beautiful Bernie Lake located between Smithers and Terrace, BC in the Howson Range, I first had to trudge along a 5 kilometer stretch of trail through luxurious old growth forest, past the rushing, sparkling Bernie River headwaters and along the moraine that I became more intimate with later. Did I mention the 60-pound pack?
 
Pitching boulders, tugging out blueberry bushes and raking gravel are only but a part of how I spent my weekend. After flying into the remote and beautiful Bernie Lake located between Smithers and Terrace, BC in the Howson Range, I first had to trudge along a 5 kilometer stretch of trail through luxurious old growth forest, past the rushing, sparkling Bernie River headwaters and along the moraine that I became more intimate with later. Did I mention the 60-pound pack?

Bernie Glacier

Christophe Dietzfelbinger of Bear Mountaineering offered a group of us a trip of a lifetime. In exchange for some trail building we were flown into his lodge, escorted through the magnificent glaciers and peaks of the Howson Range and ended with a rock-climbing extravaganza.
 

Kym heaving boulders to make trail

 Although we are a group of 50 something
(+/-) we were hard at work, grubbing trails, cutting timber and rolling boulders. There were also two young men working along with us who I think were amazed at our fortitude. (Later in bed, we secretly nursed our various aches and pains with a bit of Advil.) But the various hikes can now be accomplished a little easier. Bushwhacking in this country is not a trivial matter. Devil’s Club, alders and the dreaded sub alpine fir (shintangle) make the steep slopes a nightmare! But now it is becoming a hiker and skier’s dream.
 
Christophe is a certified mountain guide with a vast amount of patience and knowledge. He volunteered to take us up through the Bernie glacier, over the Ptolemaic Pass and down the Loft glacier making a circumnavigation of Loft Peak.

Loft Peak with Bernie glacier forefront
 

Through the icefields to the Ptolemaic Pass

 It was a thrilling experience of dancing through icefalls, following a fixed line up rock and steep snow faces and gazing over the numerous peaks and chutes and valleys that make up the Howsons. I could almost believe I was the first person to see this vista. Christophe pointed out the various lines that are skied during the winter and plans for a bivy box for some first class mountaineering adventures that could be staged on the pass. I was busy adding up my bank account to see how many of these adventures I could afford in the future.
 
After another full workday, we then were shown a secret jewel of rock. Christophe has put up 6 routes so far but the possibilities were endless. Unfortunately we only had time for two routes – Hobgoblin – 5.9 and Weekend getaway – 5.7. Again, Christophe was tireless with his encouragement and suggestions. Even Ted who was wearing his stiff mountaineering boots and had just come down from a hike up the new trail to Solitaire Pass couldn’t pass up the chance to try the easier climb.

Christophe leading Weekend Getaway

The Otter leaving Bernie Lake

 As we flew away from the dazzling blue waters of Bernie Lake, I vowed I would return either by skiing the steeps or climbing one of the peaks (or maybe just renting the cabin, read a book and look out at those amazing handmade trails).