 Sun, shadow, and snow on the approach to the summit. |
INTRO
I was visiting my parents in Chilliwack, BC for the Veterans Day long weekend (Remembrance Day in Canada), and my mom and I decided to go on a hike. The Skyline trail to the top of Snow Camp Mountain in Manning Park sounded like a good day out. This trail starts at Strawberry Flats and ascends the Skyline I Trail, transferring onto the Skyline II trail at Despair Pass and then leads to Snow Camp Mountain, which has 360° views with the highlight being the rugged Hozomeen group to the south; for extra exercise (but no better views), one can continue even further to the top of Lone Goat Mountain.
My last adventure two weeks previous—to the top of
Ruth Mountain, where my mom also joined me as far as the base of the final summit glacier—had been a rather balmy autumn day on a bare trail. But temperatures had dropped and a couple of storms had blown through in the 14 days since then, so we expected a little bit of snow on Snow Camp Mountain and brought our snowshoes. It was a good thing we did, since it was winter conditions from the trailhead on.
The round trip to the summit and back took us about 6.5 hours. If you live in the Manning area and are looking for a good snowshoe adventure to a summit with 360° views, this is a gem.
The following page gives a short trip report for the adventure.
STATS
From GPS track:
~13.5miles,
~2,900 ft net gain/loss,
~6.5 hours (car to car time, includes short break on summit)
PHOTOS  | Starting the hike. |
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 | The first views of Snow Camp Mountain, from a clearing about 2 hours into the hike. |
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 | It's winter up here. |
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 | Sun, shadow, and snow on the approach to Snow Camp Mountain. |
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 | Ditto. |
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 | Hozomeen group to the south. |
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 | The open terrain below the summit of Snow Camp Mountain. |
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 | The final slopes to the summit. |
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 | My mom on top! |
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 | Hozomeen to the south. The summit of Snow Camp Mountain is probably the best viewpoint on Hozomeen in the range. |
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 | Descending from the summit. Frosty Mountain in the distance. |
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 | Tree-top pimples. |
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 | Grove of young trees just a few weeks from being buried by the winter snowcover. |
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 | Entering the forest. |
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 | My mom enjoying one last mountain view on the hike out. |
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