We planned on choosing a hike with a relatively low elevation to try to avoid the snow so decided on the First Brigade Trail aka Tikwalus Heritage Trail. Was a little rainy on the drive up but weather cleared nicely as we got to the trail head and as we progressed on the hike.
Trail was great up until about 3 km in and 650-700 m elevation when trail started to be covered in large patches of snow. I guess we should have known when we had just hiked the Stein in quite a bit of snow 2 weeks ago and have not had very warm weather since then. Wasn't too bad while in the forest, and the snow was relatively supportive, but, once we hit the open slopes in the burn area, there was some pretty epic post-holing up to the thighs.
After much sweating and grunting through the snow, we decided to make a short loop of the trail as we could see the lower ridge where the return trail went. Checked out the GPS and saw there was a creek between a couple of the lakes down in the valley between and we managed to cross without getting falling in, so that was a bonus. Beautiful day out, but post-holing through the open burn field drained our strength. I added a pic of our loop (in pink) and the full trail (in red).

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Beautiful hike, great area to hike. I recognize the various points within the pictures, having done this trail 2 - 3 years ago.

Nice to get get out.

K

Would love to try this one, when snow is gone ... is the access off of the Trans Canada Hwy? Where do you park?

It is close to this sign, we parked there in May 2014.



K

It's on the #1 highway less than 1 km North of Alexandra Lodge/Bridge on East side of highway. Big pull off for parking and this sign at trailhead.

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Thanks Karl. I checked out your TR before we headed out, little bit different conditions at that time of year hahaha

brilliant! thanks very much

Yes Indeed.

Would like to get up there again.... trail continues on and on northward. Like to continue past the fork/point where all those trail markers were on that one tree.

K

Been up that way a few times over the years. Spring time wildflowers are nice. Especially through the burn area if I recall correctly when it was regenerating. Last time we backpacked in for a night or two May long 2013. Bit of a grunt but worth it as an early season destination that's local. Some of us tried for Gate Mountain but were thwarted yet again by bush.