10/14, Tuesday. Took a day off to hike (after seeing the wet forecast for the coming weekend).
Googled for a larch hike near Vancouver, and landed on Frosty Mountain. 22Km RT.
No one wanted to go with me for such a long hike :)
I was warned about the new BC winter tire requirement on Hwy-3.
I drove out shortly after 7am, still chilly.
Road construction west of Abbostford created quite some delay. Otherwise at this hour, only westbound is congested.
I only reached Lightening Lake day-use parking lot at 10am. It's a large lot, about 10 cars.
COLD ~25°F. Frost on grass. The road was dry, not icy.
Cross the footbridge to the north side of the lake.
A clear sign indicates a trail on to the treed slope. All in the shade. The ground was frozen hard and slippery.
I made a mistake of not bringing spikes, only had a pair of cleats because they are smaller.
They have only one strap each, which by nature of a foot, the strap slides towards to the front as you go up, and then slides off.
I readjusted the straps maybe 10 times. Eventually had to tie them to the shoe laces, still not the best.
Don't buy!
The trail starts zigzag up steadily but gently, all in the trees.
Occasionally you get a glimps of the Lightening Lakes chain through branches and the Hozameen Mountains beyond (striding across the US-Canadian border).
6km to Frosty Creek Campground. It's actually a side creek that flows to Frosty Creek.
Dark (very forested) and cold. There's a shelter. Wood platforms for tent.
Quite flat here.
About 15 minutes further, there's a sign about "Monarch of the mountain", which refers to these larch trees not the butterfly.
It says that they are 2000 years old. It also warns you not to deviate from the trail.
Soon, the trail enters a flattish area full of larches. ~2100m.
Snow on the needles. Very pretty.
Here, there's a 9km sign.
Then you see Frosty Mountains in front (south).
The mountains in other directions are far away.
To Windy Joe is a scramble. From there, it's easy to follow the ridge to Frosty East (end of trail, 11Km).
More serious scramble to Frosty West.
Right now, it's loose snow. Sketchy.
Half way up, I decided to turn around. Going down is worse.
At the Frosty Creek Camp, I saw 2 local ladies talking over the map on the post. I asked them about trails in Manning Park and other places in BC. One lady from Chiliwack is especially happy to talk about trails. She recommends Heather Trail in flower season and camp at Kicking Horst camp (need permit), to above Nicomen Lake.
4:50pm, back at parking lot.
No more frost on the grass.
Drove to Manning Park Lodge before returning to Hwy 3.
A revisit to remind me of my last trip (20? years ago).
Drove back to US at Sumas, seems no duty free store, or it's closed. Fill some gas in town before return to Seattle.
