Canadian Mountain Holidays

Heli-Hiking Conditions

2008 Heli-Hiking Reports from the Field:
  Flower, Weather and Trail Conditions

Bugaboo Lodge - September 5, 2008
We have had cold weather lately with the temps ranging from -5 to max 10 degrees Celsius. We have had rain and snow showers off and on for the last week. There is fresh snow everywhere above 2650 m. and a dusting of snow from that level down to about 2300 m.

Hiking is still fantastic, with the occasional hiking in 1-5 cm. of new snow (half an inch to 2 inches). Today we have an overcast layer at 2800 m. with some light rain and expect some light snow as well. The forecast is for broken skies in the late afternoon, so basically slowly improving for the better today. I will not be so foolish as to forecast the future weather, but basically one should expect anything from severe winter style conditions to bright skies, with strong solar radiation but generally cooler temps.

Note: If you're interested in learning more about these wildflowers, take a look at this wildflower guide.

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Bugaboo Lodge - August 25, 2008
Summer is back in the mountains after a short burst of fall weather. The Indian Paintbrush and Purple Fleabane are still in their peak bloom, however the Arnica has taken a real beating with the cold temperatures and blowing snow on the high ridges last week. Th Heather has mostly decided it is officially Autumn and gave up blooming. Still plenty of flowers in full swing, especially the Monkey flowers (which are really impressive). Woolly Pussy Toes and Ragworts are every where!

The grizzly bears have finally come to the alpine with a sighting almost every tour.

Note: If you're interested in learning more about these wildflowers, take a look at this wildflower guide.

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Bugaboo Lodge - August 11, 2008
We had some interesting weather at the Bugaboos this last tour, including thunder showers and heavy hail coming down. This all happenned in the late afternoon, so we were able to enjoy most of the day without any problems. Overall, the temperature and the pressure dropped steadily over the last three days.

There was a grizzly sighting today in Silver Basin area. We also saw two deers around Dead Elk Lake yesterday. Most of the alpine flowers are still in bloom, including the famous monkey flowers. Lots of indian paintbrushes, arnicas and asters in all basin areas and wall flowers, scorpionweeds, maist maiden up in the alpine on scree slopes.

Note: If you're interested in learning more about these wildflowers, take a look at this wildflower guide.

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Cariboo Lodge - August 2, 2008
We found ourselves at Sundance for the first time this season, just east of the lodge in Kimmel Creek at 2100 m, and saw a great display of flowers growing on the old rocky moraines. It was cloudy and cool. We saw Sorrel, Golden Rod, Moss Campion, Alpine Speedwell, Alpine Fireweed, White Rhododendrons and tons of flowering Red Heath and White Heather poking their way up through the rocks. Higher up, at 2350 m, we viewed Alpine Harebell, Big Man Gentian, Tall Purple Fleabane and Wooly Pussy Toes.

We ended the day across Kimmel Creek in an area called Virgin,which offers meadow terrain, and were able to see many more of the wildflowers listed above, plus Bog Laurel, False Asphodel, Hairy Arnica, and the leaves of the Ragwort looking almost ready to bloom!

We also had a great hike from Moose to Wonderland around 2200 to 2000 m, just North West of the lodge and just off the Canoe River. Again, all the usual flowers are out: Heart Leaved Arnica, False Hellebore, Sweet Coltsfoot, Alpine Butter Cup, False Asphodel, Marsh Marigold, Red Heath and White Heather, Partridge Foot, Leather-leaved Saxifrage. The Western Anemone has gone to seed and the Wooly Pussy Toes are also past their prime. We walked through an area with tons of Huckleberry bushes, but they don’t seem to have a lot of fruit…

At a slightly lower in elevation, 2000 m, and on a more south-facing slope we found the tall Purple Fleabanes, Sitka Valerian, Bog Laurel, and Paint Brush, as well as many of the plants listed above. Still growing and yet to bloom are the Common Fireweed, Pearly Everlasting and Triangular Ragwort.

The temperature hasn’t been all that warm out in the field, around 6 to 12 deg Celsius, and the forecasts have been for precipitation but we hit the timing right and stayed dry for the entire tour.

Note: If you're interested in learning more about these wildflowers, take a look at this wildflower guide.

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Bugaboo Lodge - July 30, 2008
A little fresh snow on Grizzly Ridge and it was -1C at 8:30 this morning but . . .

The flowers are really starting to be nice in the basin - paint brush, valerian, butter cup, saxifrage…On the ridge the stone crop are starting to appear. The glacier lily is done now, however the rest of the flowers in the meadow are stating to come out nicely.

Bugs and mosquitoes were not bad this trip because of moderate to light wind.

The weather yesterday was excellent, with some wind to keep the bugs away and no rain.

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Bugaboo Lodge - July 28, 2008
The early flowers are now going to seed: Anemones, Phacelia, Purple Saxifrage. In the wet meadows and seeps, the marsh marigolds, Coltsfoot and buttercups are doing well. Smooth Alpine Gentian are just starting as are the Arrow Leaved Ragworts, and the paintbrush. All flowers are late but I think once they get into full bloom it will be spectacular.

The ptarmigan are busy raising their young and we are seeing them everyday now, most have 4 or more chicks. We have an eagle hanging around Dead Elk Lake. Grizzly bears seem to be on the move and we have had a few sighting on the high ridges, I suspect they are traveling from one drainage to the next in their constant search for food.

The weather has been good recently with warm days and frost free nights which helps to melt the snow that is still lingering in the meadows.

The Bugaboo Lodge Guides

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Cariboo Lodge - July 27, 2008
The down flow winds have kept the mosquitoes away for the past few days but with all the moisture in the air & the forecast for 10mm of rain we seem to be under attack! Good for the flowers but not so fun for us!

We went to one of our amazing flower spots yesterday afternoon, Zilmer Canyon (just under 1600m) & thought we’d pass on what we saw…

In full bloom & putting on an amazing show was a ton of the common flowers like Heart Leaved Arnica, Indian Paint Brush, Mountain Fireweed, Red Heath, White Heather, White Flowered Rhododendrons, Yellow Mtn Saxifrage & Red Stemmed Saxifrage. A little harder to spot due to lower numbers but still in full bloom were the Alpine Speedwell, False Asphodel, Alpine Hawkweed, Pearly Everlasting , Tall White Bog Orchid, Alpine Willow herb (not the Fireweed) & some Common Stone Crop. The Moss Campion, Wooly Pussy Toes & Common Butterwort are getting a little old & just finishing their show for the season. Also going to seed was Sweet Coltsfoot.

It was beautiful!!!!

It was hot & beautiful out in the field & we went up to Encore Ridge for some 18C heat at 2500m; pretty exposed but the Moss Campion was in full bloom everywhere! Also in Full Bloom was the Alpine Cinquefoil, Alpine Gentian & Rocky Mtn Golden Rod. Another great notable was the White Moss Campion (not commonly seen).

Till next time, Cariboo Lodge Guides

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Monashee Lodge - July 24, 2008
We just wrapped up another fabulous Adamants to Monashee Lodge-to-Lodge tour. We visited some of the classic hikes in both areas like Serendipity, Unicorn, Pyrite Ridge, Columbia Ridge, French Glacier and Waterfall, Chapman Lakes, and Endless Journey.

Some of the guests successfully climbed Remillard Peak and Serendipity Peak as well, while family and friends observed through binoculars. The hike between the lodges had amazingly perfect blue skies and a great hiking temperature.

Almost all of the hikers saw caribou in Anemone Basin. We will be avoiding that area next time for the sake of the animals. Lots of bear tracks seen on most of the hikes but no visuals on the furry brown creatures yet.

The flowers are a bit delayed this year with the deep spring snow pack and cool spring. (Bum sliding on the snow is fantastic!). We have being treated to excellent displays of Glacier Lily and Western Anemone as the late snow pack melts away. A surprising number of unusually huge Gentians have been found already on high ridges. Heather is blooming gloriously in a variety of locations while the Paintbrush have been conspicuously absent. Many other summer flowers are just coming into their own. Some more warm sunshine should bring on a gradual (& prolonged) peak of blooms.

Hope you are all having a great summer as well!

The Monashee Lodge Guides

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Bobbie Burns Lodge - July 21, 2008
The last few days have been beautiful clear blue, sunny weather so we have been able to roam to the far corners of our hiking area. The temperatures are mild and there is always a cool breeze to keep most of the insects away.

Snow keeps melting at higher elevations allowing us to open new hikes. Mid summer flowers are beginning to bloom such as arnica, globe flower and even the rare striped coralroot found high on a moraine!

A number of guests went mountaineering on the Via Ferrata, including 10 year old kids! Two mountaineers with their private guide also climbed Center Peak in the granite Vowell Range and Mt Syphax, which still has a lot of snow on it.

Mid summer is here and we're all enjoying the full blossoming of the short growth season of all these alpine flowers. Join us!

The Bobbie Burns Guides

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