Why learn from previous mistakes, when you can just make them again, but worse.

Following my overnight to Hector Ferguson Lake last year, I decided to go again, but this time I dragged my brother with me. An ambitious trip for him since he had never backpacked before and was stupid enough to make HF Lake his first.

Friday:
My brother had to work in the morning, so we didn't get to the Gold Creek Parking Lot until 4:30pm, which didn't give us much time before sunset. The plan was to make it to Halfmoon Beach (10km) and set up camp, and we did end up pushing through and making it before complete darkness.

Saturday:
Left the beach just before 8:30am. The section between Halfmoon Beach and the Gold Creek crossing is the worst, with lots of brambles and deadfall that you need to navigate. I managed to not get lost this time, having done this trail twice before. We opted not to cross the creek on the log, as it didn't seem like a feasible option to climb over the root system with our overnight bags. Once across the creek, the trail to the lake is mostly well marked, though there is still lots of brambles and deadfall. Managed to trip and somehow slam both thighs into a stump, resulting in some good bruises. We reached the Hector Ferguson Lake at 2:30pm.

Once again, my dreams of going around the lake to the upper lake were crushed, but this time by my unwillingness to bushwhack through devil's club. We barely made it to the first boulder field before giving up and turning back to set up camp. I guess next year I'll just have to swim across the lake??? (unless someone wants to haul a canoe up there for me)

Sunday:
Left Hector Ferguson Lake just before 8:30am again. We pretty much just went straight back to the parking lot, though with several breaks for snacks. Sunday was definitely the smokiest of the three days, there was no view from Viewpoint Beach, and it was definitely a bit harder to breathe. We heard a helicopter flying around, and ended up being passed by one of the Search and Rescue ATV's as they were responding to a call from somewhere near the shelter on Panorama Ridge. Made it back to the Gold Creek parking lot around 4:30pm.

Bonus pic of my good battle wounds. Also I still can't figure out how to insert the images into the text instead of just attaching them all at the bottom, please help.

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attached Images

  

Very easy. Always first upload your images before writing text. Then when you need inline photo below some text, click paperclip icon:



Drop list shows list of images you uploaded. Select one you want:




Image shows in editor between [ATTACH] tags:



But when you preview/post, image will be shown instead:

Thank you Zeljkok!

Thanks for the update. This trail is not maintained unfortunately (I have been told by a member that the RMOC does trail clearing up to the 7 km mark of the east canyon only) and I guess not many hikers go up to HF. On the worst stretch can you see any trail markers on trees at all to help you navigate? is there a good tenting spot once at the lake? I've never been up even as far as half moon beach but have dreamed of doing the whole hike. I didn't know there is an upper lake either. Good report! Hope your injuries will heal quickly.

Very well done VPOQUE. Good of you to do this trek and report, and share . Nice shots show the place as it is.

K