Lone Mtn 1817m, is a peak that stands alone just south of Thunder Lake on the Lightening Lake Chain in Manning Park. Easily seen from Skyline Trail, it really does seem to be surounded on all sides by deep valleys. With some fairly severe knee issues this year I needed to find a peak with moderate elevation gain. Lone Peak stands about 620m above Thunder Lake, so I guessed I could do that much. I've had Prolo Therapy done on my bad knee with some resultant gains, but I would still have to hike the 24k in to Thunder Lake and back. This part of the trail is almost level and I don't seem to have trouble unless I'm hiking uphill.

The Lightening Lakes Chain trail is nice with a very smooth, even trail. I was making good time when 2 grey shapes came at me on the trail. My heart had a good warmup but they turned out to be bambi and son. They came trotting at me like I would feed them or something, we had a short standoff until I made a move towards them. Young bambi kind of looked like a sheep deer cross!!?





The trail exists at the valley bottom of steep and large rockslides, but no significant danger in this season.

Thunder Lake is amazingly low, with the high water mark easily seen.
This pic shows the start of the NW Ridge. A rock slide gives easy access to the ridge up higher. My plan was to go up this ridge from right to left, to the summit and then traverse the peak coming down the NE Ridge and back to the trail at the closer end of Thunder Lake.
The ridge was mostly easy, with abit of bush(afew hundred feet) and not horrendous. Up higher the awaited views opened up.


Pain before glory!
S Hozomeen playing peek-a-boo!
Anyone here climbed S Hozomeen yet?
Thunder Lake from near the summit.
Fine grassy summit with Red Mtn and Lone Goat mtn.
I almost always have some R+R at the summit. Its so awesome to fall asleep on a mountain...but even better to wake up with a mind grappling to place itself!! Still better to still be alive!

This is an easy shoulder season hike with a superb, high valley bottom that supports a good variety of wildlife. I saw an otter, muskrats, mule deer, a whole valley influenced by beaver dams, ponds and and muddy channels through muskeg. I heard a number of Northern Pygmy Owls, but couldn't spot one.

Back at the car after a super day in the mountains.

Nice day out, worth the trip for the wildlife alone!

I've always loved Manning, I spent a lot of time there as a kid and so I'm always interested in any reports from there.
Looks like you couldn't have picked a more glorious day; did you go about early to mid-September??

I agree, looks like a place of varied sights, well worth the visit.

K

Slowup, no I didn't go in Sept but had a rather nice day out yesterday, Oct 19th, 2009!

Hmmm, I'd like to give Hozomeen a go one of these days. Quite a formidable peak though. I can't believe how low Thunder Lake is. Cool pictures of it.

Seven years ago I ran the four lakes trail out and back in training for a marathon (and knocked off one of the hikes in 103). Good workout.

Good to hear your knee is getting better.

Good imaginative trip Ed. I spent a night up there a few years back and I too saw the tame deer and heard Pygmy Owls in the area. Interesting markings on Bambi's hind quarters. I wonder if people are feeding them. Looks like Thunder Lake is disappearing more each year. Thanks for posting!

Wowser, sure had me fooled!
I just drove through Manning Thanksgiving weekend and was certain there would be lots of colour up higher.
Not paying much attention I guess. That's the price you pay for rushing to get home.

Sounds like a nice trip...been to Thunder Lake ONCE as a youngster, many years ago.



Cool capture of the rainbow...

Nice trip Ed ! You take care of that knee!!!

Nice report Ed.

Nice T.R., it looks like a pleasant day out, great pictures too.
The lake sure does look low.

TheShadow,It is funny how a certain hike can elude one for years, like this one for me!
Justin, I haven't determined yet whether this is a seasonal lowering of water levels, or if this is a longer range trend. It was interesting to see that the water level has been 50' higher than at present! Old bleached wood delineated the high water mark from years previously.
Simon, while the Knee is getting better...it is definitely not fixed!

EAK

How long did this take? Looks splendid!

The water level in that lake fluctuates dramatically throughout the season, rather like Little Garibaldi and Barrier Lakes in Garibaldi PP which also have substantial subsurface drainage.