Back Country & Beyond

Labour Day weekend - the last official weekend of summer before the kids return to school - simply can't be wasted.  Thus, despite not quite feeling ready for the new school year to start, I loaded up my pack along with two of my roommates, one of my fellow teachers, and a few other friends.  We set course for the backcountry - past Squamish where there would be lots of climbers out for the weekend, past Whistler where the village would be abuzz with tourists, past Pemberton where the last main signs of civilization could be found before we turned off the paved road onto an old logging road and headed up, up, up in search of the trailhead for Twin Lakes & Melvin Divide.  

We had to park the car and start our hike about 2km before the actual trailhead started due to a couple rockslides that left the road impassible.  

Ready to go!

After hiking through the woods for a while, a lush meadow opened up before us.  It was a nice, easy walk through the meadow, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

 Soon, however, we started on the 10 switchbacks that took us up the side of the mountain in the direction of the first lake.  The switchbacks were gruelling, but the higher we got, the more beautiful the view became!

We took a short break at the end of the last switchback.  There was a sign that said "End of Trail", but we knew it wasn't because we had not arrived at the first lake yet.

A break, with a good view, requires some basic acro-sport!

Finally, we found the first lake, and yes, we also found snow! :/

After setting up camp, we continued on in search of the second lake.  

(If you look closely at this picture, you can see our tents pitched down below, just to the left of the snowy patch.)

The second lake, and the view from there - spectacular!

Yes, it was cold.  Very cold!  Long-johns-and-toques cold!!!

The next morning, Lizzy, Matt & I did a little exploring before the rest were ready to go.  This is what our lake looks like from up above!!

 The view from our lunch spot.  Too bad it was cloudy because it would have been amazing to see the mountains stretching out endlessly before us.

(Panorama photo compliments of Chans)

We are Canada!

After lunch we continued hiking along the ridge.  Looking back, you can see where we ate lunch - yes, that peak in the centre of the photo!

....continuing along the ridge.

More roommie stunts!

Such amazing views!!!

(Panorama photo compliments of Chans)

Before hiking out the next morning, I was delighted at how calm the lake was and the beautiful reflections it created!

 Sadly, heading back to reality :(

We had such a great time and it was a super-fantastic way to spend the last weekend of the summer!  I can't wait until the next time we get to escape reality into a world of peace and serenity!