**Update June 22, 2020:

Great news!  Ian & Liz Cornish have volunteered to Co-Lead!!  This will allow us to open up the numbers a bit.  Big thanks to them both!

**Update May 26, 2020:

I was just successful at making an online room booking for myself at Manning Park Resort for this trip.  If you are looking for a room there, now would be the time to book.

Discover Camping has opened up campground reservations on discovercamping.ca.  However, there are already no reserve-able campsites left available at Manning Park for that Saturday, only first-come, first-served.  As well, the Manning Park Lodge is not responding to emails, not answering their phone or returning messages.  It would appear online booking is all that is available. 

For those intending to camp, it may be that you would have to go ahead a day (or even two) early to procure a campsite on the Friday morning, as Saturday morning will likely be a gong-show for first-come, first-served sites, which is all that’s left at Coldspring Campground.  (Lightning Lake campground is full)

If camping, you should be as self-contained as possible.  I’ve heard that the water at Coldspring Campground has to be boiled there sometimes.  Coldspring is pretty basic:  pit toilets, well water.  But – this site should be less busy than Lightning Lake. 

There is NO CELL SERVICE in the park, as well.  You need to be sure you are up to this level of hike before you sign on.

Come explore the beautiful sub-alpine meadows of E.C. Manning Provincial Park on this multi-day camp(or hotel) and hike trip!

Please Note:  All participants must carry The Ten Essentials, listed on the Kamloops Hiking Club website, and make sure you carry a good whistle.  (I will be checking for your whistles on your packs… : D )  Bear spray is recommended, as a safety precaution – these will be well-traveled, popular trails, but bears can still be around.  Bring lots of layers – as always, weather in the mountains is unpredictable – isolated storms can come up.  Sunscreen.  Bug spray.  The usual.  If you are not sure what to pack, I recommend reading the Club Website articles (links below) on good things to bring – they’re written by very wise and experienced people.  Take advantage of that wisdom.  I have also included a link describing Club Guidelines and Expectations.  Hikers are expected to know all these things before participating on a hike.  (Thumbs UP!)

LINK TO ESSENTIALS:  https://kamloopshikingclub.netkhc-activities/recommended-essentials/

and

GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS:  https://kamloopshikingclub.netkhc-activities/guidelines-and-expectations/

Day 1 (Saturday July 25, 2020):  drive to Manning Park Resort in afternoon/evening to overnight locally, as we will have an early start Sunday.  Accommodation information below.

Day 2 (Sunday July 26, 2020):  8:00 AM – Drive to the Heather Trail trailhead Blackwall Parking Lot.  If there is room in the Upper Lot, we’ll go there, otherwise, the Lower Parking Lot.  Begin the Heather Trail, hike approx 7-8 km to the tarn at the base (not the peak) of the First Brother Mountain – 7 to 8 km out, same km back.  Elevation Gain: 550-600m (nothing crazy, lots of gradual up-n-down).  Time:  approx 7.5 – 8 hrs, depending on how many pacing and breath breaks we make.  We will take our time and enjoy the scenery.  Lunch/snacks while on trail.  Afterwards, head back to the Resort, clean up/rest, then a Group Dinner at the Resort Restaurant, Pinewoods Dining Room, for those who are interested, provided it is open.  Again, I encourage attendees to be self-sufficient.

Day 3 (Monday July 27, 2020):  9:30 AM – Drive to Three Falls Trailhead parking lot, and begin Three Falls/Strawberry Flats Trail.  9 km out-n-back hike (approx 3 hr), 291m elevation gain.  Moderate Trail.  On trail, we will pass thru the Strawberry Flats, then on to Shadow Falls, Nepopekum Falls, and finally, Derek Falls, where we will break for lunch.  Return same way, head back to camp/hotel, pack up and depart for home around 2:00pm.

All participants are expected to be capable of a 15-16km-long moderate hike followed by a 9km hike the next day.  I usually set a leisurely to moderate pace with breather-breaks as needed.  It’s not going to be fast, but it’s not really slow either.  The idea is to get exercise but not over-tax the body.  Social distancing will be maintained.  Take in the scenery, take pics, enjoy your fellow-hikers and what’s around you.  If you are unsure of the pace, I recommend you join me on another of my local hikes posted on the site, to get an idea.

!!!Please note – I expect you to (seriously) carry at the very least The 10 Essentials which are described in detail on the Club Website.  Hikers should be self-sufficient.  This is not a hike to “not-be-prepared”:  there is no cell service on the trail and we’re a looooong way from the car.  It has been described as buggy – bring bug hat and/or shirt.  Could be coldish/windy – bring appropriate clothing.  Bring plenty of water and / or water purifier tablets w nalgene type bottle / water filtration system in case you want to replenish your drinking water on the trail.

If you have any questions or concerns about whether this is a suitable trip for you, please email me:  lisaconda@gmail.com.

Scroll down for further trail and scenery descriptions.

Accommodation Info:  (All participants are responsible for organizing their accommodations.)

HOTEL:  As of the date of posting (Feb 24, 2020), the Manning Park Resort had some basic Queen Rooms available, at a rate of $167/night.  If you are planning to hotel it, I suggest you reserve immediately, as pretty much ALL of their other room types are already full.  If the hotel fills up, you can try for an AirB&B about 25min drive away, or in Hope, which is about a 47min drive from the Resort.

CAMPING:  If you plan to camp, I encourage you to book promptly.  On-Site check in is 1-10pm, check out is 11am.  Max Site Occupancy may vary with Covid restrictions – please check the website at Manning Park for info updates, as conditions can change suddenly due to Covid.

Trail info from the Provincial Manning Park Website:

HEATHER TRAIL TO THE BASE OF THE FIRST BROTHER MOUNTAIN

*****!!! – We will not be hiking to the peak of the First Brother Mountain this trip – only to the base of the mountain.

“Welcome to E. C. Manning Park’s sub-alpine meadows! It was this beautiful area that led to the creation of this Provincial Park. These meadows were threatened with overgrazing by domestic sheep, but the urging of many concerned and foresighted citizens led to the creation of the Three Brothers Mountain Reserve in 1931. Part of this reserve was included in a new game reserve five years later, and finally in 1941, the meadows and several thousand more hectares of land were declared the “Ernest C. Manning Provincial Park”. Mr. Manning, a Provincial Chief Forester, was dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Canadian wilderness. Visit the sub-alpine meadows and you will discover why they are worth protecting and conserving. Hike the Heather Trail and you will find out why it is so popular.

Leaving from the lower alpine parking lot, your hike begins at the base of Blackwall Peak, at an elevation of 1980 m. Traveling along the western slope of Lone Man Ridge at 2 km the trail from the Viewpoint Loop joins the Heather Trail. From here the trail continues for 2 1/2 km where it reaches Buckhorn Wilderness Camp.

In the summer of 1994 a reclamation of the alpine meadows was started. Please help us by obeying signs and staying off newly re-vegetated areas. In order to help reduce the destruction of vegetation, tent platforms were constructed at the wilderness sites. Remember low impact is the key when traveling in the back country.

The Three Brothers Mountains will come into view soon after you start the hike; glaciers scoured off the tops of these mountains less than twenty-five thousand years ago.

A great variety of flora can be seen along this trail from late June through to August. When the snow is still receding, in late June to early July, the spring bloom is at its peak. The meadows are covered by the creamy crocus-like flower, Western anemone, tiny white spring beauty and bright yellow glacier lily. In mid-summer, the hiker is treated to a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour. Most of the flowers are fairly easy to identify. Cinquefoil looks like a buttercup, but note instead the notched petals. The blue to purple flowered lupine has an unmistakable leaf. If you look carefully, you will notice the lupine ranges in colour from solid pale cream to pink to blue to purple with variegations occurring. Red or white indian paintbrush looks just like the name it describes. There is quite a variation in colour of the red indian paintbrush. Look closely and you will see orange, crimson, scarlet, rose and vibrant red. Mountain valerian has a big white or pinkish cluster of flowers with a very strong scent; this is a favourite food for deer. Mountain daisy is purple with a yellow centre. The sub-alpine plants have all adapted to the harsh mountain conditions (e.g. short summers, poor soil, dry wind). Many grow in cushion or mat-like forms in order to stay out of the drying wind; some grow hairs on their leaves to retain moisture and heat, and a few, like the paintbrush and wood betony, are tinged with excess red pigment called anthocyanin. This pigment absorbs high intensity sunlight and converts it to heat, helping the plant to survive summer frosts. These are just a few of the many flowering plants to be seen along the Heather Trail.

Vegetation becomes more lush as you walk down the valley. Both indian hellebore, which is very poisonous, and cow parsnip flourish here, and are the largest flowers you will see in the meadows. When you reach Buckhorn camp, there will be a stream in which to fill your water bottle. Please remember that this is a wilderness area, so please pack out all garbage with you (orange peels and cigarette butts take years to decompose in the sub-alpine). Although the temptation, to leave the trail and frolic in the meadows may be there, please do not step off the trail. These sub-alpine meadows are extremely fragile. A footstep can destroy what may have taken twenty years to come to bloom!!

Now, the climbing begins. The trail winds through a skeleton of a forest, the result of a fire in 1945. Watch for bluebirds and hawk owls. This climb from Buckhorn Camp to the Bonnevier Ridge is fairly strenuous.”

(Lisa’s Note:  We will not be doing the Bonnevier Trail.)

“Take breaks and enjoy the views. The burn area is particularly scenic when the flowers are in bloom. The contrasts of blue sky, charred trees and green foliage and brilliant flowers is exceptional.

Heading towards the First Brother, the trail is often covered by snow patches and tiny seasonal lakes where water pipits can be seen. However, after descending approximately 50 m, you will enter a very dry area. Dwarf lupine and other plants that are much smaller than the same species at lower elevations are clues that you are approaching the alpine zone.

To the north, at 10 km, an orange fluorescent square marks the path that climbs up to the summit of the First Brother (2272 m). Here you are on true alpine tundra; most of the plants grow very close to the ground in order to stay out of the constant wind. The bright pink cushion plant, moss campion, is only found here, and on Mt. Frosty. As the growing season is so short, it spends up to ten years growing a long tap root to secure itself and to capture water before it flowers. From the top, look west and you will see the Second and Third Brothers. To the south, Blackwall Peak, your starting point and now your point of return rises in the distance. The 1km ascent of the First Brother is strenuous with a climb/scramble over rocky sections and loose rocks. Good footwear and caution are recommended to reach the peak.”

(Lisa’s Note:  Again, we are not scrambling/climbing up to the First Brother Peak, we are only going to the base.)

THREE FALLS / STRAWBERRY FLATS TRAIL

“This relatively flat trail begins at Strawberry Flats, 7.8 km off of Hwy 3. The first 1.8 km portion of the trail, which is an old fire-access road, leads through an area known as Strawberry Flats. Its name comes from the abundance of wild strawberries that can be picked in late July. There is a fantastic diversity of floral species in this very small area. The peak flower bloom is usually in mid July. Continuing along, the trail follows through meadows, forest and talus slopes. The Strawberry Flats trail ends at the down hill ski area and the Three Falls trail continues on to Shadow Falls, at 3.1 km, Nepopekum Falls, at 3.2 km, and the descent to Derek Falls, at 4.5 km. This is the end of the trail and consists of a large area of rocks that are perfect for taking a rest or having a bite to eat. One must return the same way they came.”