With our camping gear in the trunk, Backroads BC Mapbook and Camp Free in BC book in hand, Nicole and I set out on a three day camping/hiking trip through the Lillooet Lake area last week. We left on a Tuesday so we could beat the weekend traffic and crowds. However, the drive up Hwy 99 took longer than usual because of the road construction. We were in no rush, so we didn't mind and just took in the sights along the way. (By the way, the Hwy 99 is becoming a much nicer and safer highway with all the improvements). About 15 min past Pemberton, we took off on to a forest service road that meanders tightly along the coast of Lillooet Lake. According to the books, the road was passable by 2WD, but it was a dusty, and bumpy ride. Definately the most abuse I've put my little Civic through. We set up camp at Lizzie Bay, which the book described as the nicest one around. And it was...except that the bugs were out in full force. Wasps, Mosquitoes, Flies...you name it. Our defenses were futile at best, as the Citronella candles warded off the mosquitoes, but seemed to attract the wasps. Anyhow, we made the best out of it, enjoyed a nice BBQ dinner, and then were treated to a show by the campers next door who went skinny dipping in the lake, not realizing that we could see them through the trees.
The next day we drove up to Joffre Lakes, a provincial park which features a few glacier topped mountains and three picturesque lakes. We originally set out to see the first lake (Lower). But the first lake was like a movie trailer...it just gave a small hint of what was to come, and we pushed on to the upper lake (5.5 km). As you'll see from these pictures the scenary was awesome, especially at the upper lake where you could see the melting glacier waters flow down the mountain side into the lake. The hike back got a little hairy at times, as the thunderstorms loomed in the distance and the rain steadily came down on us, making the trail quite slippery..which isn't all that great when your legs are on the verge of turning into jello. Fortunately we made it back in one piece. The following day we decided for a complete change in pace and vegged out at Alta Lake to work on the tan.
Yah gotta love BC, eh?
2 comments:
nice scenery. i can relate about the service roads in the area. When we went up to the Ranch (Gun Creek Lake) with Cheryl we faced those same conditions. Luckily we borrowed Niki's dad's truck and thus I did not have to subject Stacey (the TL) to those nasty roads.
Beautiful British Columbia ~ You gotta LOVE what we have here! "... oh yea, it's worth the hike; it's beautiful up there..." Yeah no, I will NOT miss Joffre Lake one bit.
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