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15 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 3:14 PM
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Between sessions at Grizfest, the local Tumbler Ridge music festival, we decided to head to Albright Ridge, one of the best destinations in the area. It's a 15 km long alpine ridge which is walkable along its whole length. Our new hiking partner Karl (KARVITK) had headed home for the weekend, so here is the trip report he might have posted:
We left Tumbler at 7 AM for a 1.5 hr drive west, up a logging road. The route follows a skid trail through chest high flowers and cow parsnip, then heads up a flagged route through the selectively logged block. After passing by a small canyon with some cascades, it breaks into the open for the rest of the day - only 1.5 km of easy walking to the alpine.
  
This is limestone country, so here this means fossils and caves. We found great examples of both.
  
Once up on the first spur ridge, we can see the first of three lakes at the foot of the range. We continued up the spur to the main ridge and headed SE. The views from the ridge are amazing.
      
We wandered off the ridge, checking out more caves, then dropped down to the second lake. When we were last here (the young and foolish days), we amused ourselves by sliding down the snow slope into the lake. Thinking of a repeat performance, we checked the snow patch out, but it ended in a big dropoff into shallow water. So instead, we cannonballed off some rocks into the bracingly cold water.
   
Back over the height of land between the two lakes, along the shore of the first one, then over the spur to rejoin our morning route. Flowers are at their peak.
    
A total of 12 km and 900 m vertical, out for 7 hours - a six star hike. Should have been here, Karl!
 
After the hike, back at the music festival, up front with wobbly legs to see State of Shock and Default.
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 3:24 PM
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| Excellent report and pictures. Where could I find details to the trail head? I'm not really sure where to look. This looks like a great hike! |
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bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4649 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 6:18 PM
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That looks like a great hike  ! Thanks for sharing ... I'll remember this one in the odd chance I'm ever up there  |
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15 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 6:28 PM
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This one isn't too well known except by the locals. It appears in the book "Exploring Tumbler Ridge" by local author Charles Helm (he and his wife were on the hike). Briefly, you drive 8.8 km north from Tumbler Ridge and turn left onto the Wolverine Forest Service road. Drive up this road and take the left fork at km 38. Continue to 52.9 km and look for a sign here. The start of the route is at 54 51 53 Lat, 121 24 47 Long.
We improved the below treeline portion of the route recently, and the next step is to make a brochure like the ones at www.pris.bc.ca/wnms/brochures.htm. |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13469 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 10:19 PM
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Very sweet Kevin, definitely deserves a 6 star rating. Awesome beauty and great country to explore. Sorry I missed it this time. And loved the great photos and your writeup.
K
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Tumbler Ridge, BC
Canada
391 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2009 : 10:06 PM
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Nice TR Sharman, good to see Karl twisted your arm into joining CT.
If this is peak flowers, then I'm heading up on Sunday, if my legs can take it after Emperor's Challenge. |
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Telkwa
1176 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2009 : 10:50 PM
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| veery cool. thanks for a "local's" trail. Was thinking of going up that way last weekend but ended up at the other end - McBride. |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13469 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2009 : 06:40 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by gamos
Nice TR Sharman, good to see Karl twisted your arm into joining CT.
If this is peak flowers, then I'm heading up on Sunday, if my legs can take it after Emperor's Challenge.
Greg, If you are going , let me know and I will join you.
K |
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15 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2009 : 06:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by gamos
Nice TR Sharman, good to see Karl twisted your arm into joining CT.
If this is peak flowers, then I'm heading up on Sunday, if my legs can take it after Emperor's Challenge.
Don't count on it! Or maybe you are young enough to recover fast..... |
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Albright Ridge Aug 2
