This day was planned about 3 weeks advance, to introduce Mt. Frosty and the Golden Larches to Ricky Allan and Rick Deloof. Turns out we were about a week late after peak viewing conditions fr the Golden Larches. Still a lot of trees had their needles; .. it was an adventure .
Started at the lake, 9:15 am.. with mostly dry conditoins, as we headed up there was the odd sunshine peaking through. Made it to the cabin, where those aggressive whiskey jacks tried to steel Rick's trail mix. Beyond that 15 - 20 minutes later the golden larches start, hiked up through and continued up. Had no certain expectations of making the summit; with safety in mind, I encouraged Rick and Ricky to go as far a they liked. Turns out we made it to the summit. Very chilly wind; rock wall pit up there give partial shelter to have some lunch. Snow began to fall, and wind picked up causing snow to drift. Tracks were starting to cover up, so we headed down. People were still heading on their way up.
Down by the cabin, we stopped for snacks. Two small groups of people planned to overnight; ended up pitching their tents within the cabin. A little cozy to be sure.
Snow became thick and heavy; had to clear snow off my camera pack everytime I wanted to take a photo. few good handfulls swept off every 10 - 15 minutes.
By the time we descending to Lightning Lake, snow level had dropped to make the grounds white. Still was raining by Manning Park Lodge.
This turned out to be a 9 hour hike including lunch break at summit, two stops at the cabin, and one good one in the meadows. 1160 meters elevation gain from Lake to summit. estimate 20 km return.....

Route Map:



LIGHTNING LAKE



HEADING UP TRAIL, INITIALLY SNOW FREE - TO CAMP FROSTY CABIN, 7 Km from trailhead








lots of carved and painted markings from prior visitors.



INTO THE MEADOWS....












BEYOND THE MEADOWS, MASSIVE FROSTY RIDGE, LOTS OF ROCK RUBBLE... Slippery path (packed) up.
























TRAIL MAKER......Junction of two trails; other comes up from WINDY JOE.



HEADING BACK DOWN, into the meadows, lots of snow falling.











LIGHTNING LAKE from trail...

Too bad you missed the peak of the larches but the snow scenes are nice.

I guess I'll have to go see them next year. With the Coq getting snow as well it's getting harder to find new hikes to do.

Larches were early in Rockies too this season. Weather man is saying now early winter, colder than usual with more snow. Rockies are already white & it will keep snowing for rest of the week.


Re Frosty hike: On my trip I did loop return via Windy Joe & it was great. Need 2 cars though

The Larches may not have been what was expected but it looks like you had a great day out there anyway. Lovely pics, such a beautiful area. The Cascades are so nice but we seem to spend all our time in the Rockies/Purcells or on the actual coast. Next year we have to get out that way again.

Our last trip the the Purcells, a few weeks ago was superb for larches, best we've had in years. Other years it just doesn't work

As they say, 'timing is everything'

Did you see this guy out there anywhere?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...park-1.5761043

Good snow shots, thanks for the write up! Yeah, the larches turned earlier this year. My daughter and seven year old grandson went to the summit last week in sept and saw lots of golden larches, no snow except for a patch near the ridge.

Hi Clayton

Did not see anyone fitting his description; almost everyone we saw had company, a single companion or in groups. There appeared to be only one single solo hiker I saw at the summit.


Karl

Hi Karl! I just posted a new thread in the discussion group. It's now thought that it's possible (though unlikely) that he had company. There was only one sighting on the 10th, which we're all finding strange.

Beautiful pictures!! I moved to PG back in 2007 but Manning will always hold my heart. <3

We did an overnighter up to Frosty mid august this year. It was hot in Hope but Frosty Camp is at elevation 1900ish metres was a little nippy once the sun went down! We had proper bags though and had a good fire and some nice whiskey. Dug a good fire pit clear of roots. Foraging for firewood around the camp was challenging so I grabbed alot of rotten looking small groundfallen branches and got to work. Amazingly, this ancient larch burns very hot despite looking rotten. Must have something to do with how these rugged trees live 2,000 years. The sound of the wind moving through the tall larch forest high above at night was spooky and intoxicating. Nice to get up into the alpine so easily compared to the coast. The kid that disappeared up there on Thanksgiving weekend didn't look well prepared. It snowed not long after and was down to -20. The trail is easy hiking but not hard to find challenging terrain if you want. Maybe he sprained or broke an ankle on the boulders and got stuck. One night that time of year without heat would make you very weak. The family hired a top local tracker who did find some clues. Based on all the traffic in the area his fate will probably be revealed come summer..

Thank you Trailjoy for your kind compliments; a beautiful area it is.

K

Sounds like you had a good time; I remember camping by Lightning Lake it got cold as well......late August.

Hope they do find that young man so family could get closure; guess as you say next summer will reveal his fate, once all the snow has melted

K