May 28 - 29, 2021
Tried to get to Landslide Lake on the weekend. I've been watching the snow levels by satellite and thought I would have a good chance!
The Elk River is fairly well travelled but is very rooty, wet and can be muddy at places. I didn't have gaiters but I'm thinking I should pick some up soon. Quick drying clothes and waterproof boots are highly recommended, but there's only so far waterproof boots will get you.
Most river crossings have a bridge across or an easy point to jump across. Not Butterwort Creek! There were many rocks set out for you to balance on across the creek. After trying a few with success I lost my balance and took a few steps through the creek before I fell on the beach. My feet didn't get too wet but it would be a few kilometers later where I'd notice that I lost my sunglasses on the beach.
I carried on past the first camp and found a giant snow field with tree debris blown all over it and running water below. I felt it was safe to cross this field but did it in the quickest, safest route possible. Shortly after crossing I was rewarded with a waterfall.
The waterfall wasnt much more than a few trickles last time I was here.
A few kilometers after the first snow field I came to a second. This one had a large waterfall running underneath and it had carved a tunnel that must have been ten feet tall. A huge piece (75'x20' or so?) of this snow field had also separated and dropped slightly. Even without the 45lbs of gear on my back, this was super risky. If I did decide to do it, I'd have to cross it a second time in the rain. Way too risky so I turned around and decided to make the best of things at the first camp.
I needed to test out the new gear so it all worked out.
I managed to get a camp spot ten feet from the Elk River. It was a bit loud but not too bad. It was supposed to get to -3 at night but I wouldn't know. I slept really well!
The birds woke me up at 5am and thats when it started to rain. I managed to sleep a little longer but I was packed up and hiking back in the rain before 8am.
At Butterwork Creek I found my sunglasses but I opted to take off the boots and socks and walk across. Holy shit was that cold!!
The hike ended up being 19km, 800m of elevation gain. Having fresh dry clothes in the car was sooo nice!
June 18 - 20, 2021 Landslide Lake, take two.
I decided to head back and try to get to Landslide Lake again, this time with Dax. We found out almost a year ago that Dax has epilepsy. She is okay most of the time and on light medication but can still have an episode. This is a long hike in the middle of nowhere so I was a bit nervous. I still want her to live her best life and I'm glad she came along!
Friday - Courtenay to Camp 2 3hr 6 min, 10.5km, 573m elevation gain.
Got off work a bit early and drove to the Elk River Trail. It was a late start and we were going to have to hustle if we were going to make it before sunset. Dax was doing great and eager to follow the trail. We ran for small stretches while we had the energy but that didn't last too long with 50lbs on my back.
We got to Camp 1 at about 9pm. I figured that would give us enough time to make it to Camp 2 just after sunset.
I was wrong. It was a lot darker in the wooded sections so that slowed us down a bit. I had a headlamp but once we got to the food cache and shitter of camp 2 I couldn't find the trail to get to the actual camp. There was some blowdown in camp and I couldnt see the trail so we spent far too much time looking for it.
We started to set up camp around 10:30. One hour after sunset. On the positive side, both avalanche areas were clear enough to pass easily and one had a pretty cool snow tunnel!
Saturday - Camp 2 to Landslide Lake and back 2hr 38 min, 6km, 313m elevation gain.
Steep hike up to the lake! Dax was tired but kept up. The clouds hid all the views but it was still worth it. We hung out at the lake for a bit and made our way back to camp for a late lunch. The scree had started to bother Daxs feet so she was a little slower on the way back. You could tell she just wanted to eat and have a rest!
Sunday Camp 2 to Trailhead 3hr 42 mins, 10.4km, 281m elevation gain.
Of course on the way out the weather was perfect! It would have been nice to have seen the lake with this weather but I'll be back.
Dax started off great but was pretty tuckered by the time we made it back to the car. The forest floor was easier on her feat but it was still a long walk in the heat with her fur.
Total 27km, 1167m elevation gain
June 25 - 27, 2021 Decided to hike the Elk River Trail again. The weather wasn't the best the last time I was there and the other places I want to go still have snow covering the camp sites.
Left after work Friday night, rushed to the second camp site and made it before sunset. Got a great spot on the river looking South down the valley with a great view of El Piveto Mountain and Rambler Peak.
I woke up Saturday morning with the birds and got an early start to Landslide and Berg lake. Glad I did. I had Berg Lake to myself for over two hours. Time didn't matter at all that morning!
The temperature was around 30c. Berg Lake was about 2c. I got in up to my knees for a minute trying to take a picture. I had to wait for a minute so the ripples would settle. It was so cold it hurt!
The pictures didn't turn out well at all. I also enjoyed walking bare foot in the snow!
I cooked up my lunch at the lake and that's when people started to show up. I decided to leave and am I glad I did. There was a lot of people who wanted to brave the heat and make it to the lake. Some brought their dogs and I would not recommend that in this kind of heat.
Landslide Lake was formed by a landslide. You and your pet have to walk on and across this rocky terrain which was burning my feet. I couldn't imagine how those dogs felt, especially with all that fur.
I made it back to camp and had a relaxing rest of the day. I fell asleep in a shaded area on the beach with my feet in the Elk River.
At 2 am I was woken up by a bright light. The moon had come up and lit up the valley. I experimented with some long exposure shots which didn't turn out too bad I guess.
The walk back on Sunday was hot. My deodorant had melted and by the time I got back to the car I was a sweaty stinky mess.
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