Trails both open and closed, terrifying heights of terror

Day 2 started bright and early with a home-cooked breakfast of yummy pancakes and bacon. Thanks, Aunt Jemima!

Our first adventure of the day was to find internet. It turns out the boonies are much better equipped for booze than modern communications technology. Undaunted, we headed to the Cascades Lookout, a 16 km drive straight up the mountain (well, with a few switchbacks included) where a park ranger had promised the possibility of cell coverage, depending on provider.

The drive up was slow and terrifying for anyone with a fear of heights. Like me, for example. Once up top, we parked and indeed found we had two bars of coverage, enough to say hi on Facebook and sync all-important MyFitnessPal data. Those tasks completed, we set off on a couple of hikes, starting with the Paintbrush Trail, so-named because the trail is littered with discarded paintbrushes left by frustrated painters who came up to paint, only to find everything already painted in lush green alpine meadows and wildflowers.

Or maybe it’s because the meadows up here are filled with alpine blooms. We did see more than a few flowers but found out they are actually blooming later than usual this year due to the hard winter, so the big show will be missed, alas.

After looping back around we saw a van pull up in the parking lot and, weirdly, the same Alpenhorn quintet, still in costume, came piling out with horns in tow.

It turned out they actually had a second concert up here. It was announced and everything, though we missed the announcement. It was still bizarre to have them show up again. I’m waiting for their next sudden appearance.

We returned to the camp and had leftover pizza for lunch. It was surprisingly good. Waste not, want not and all that. After we resumed more hikes, heading along Lightning Lake to Flash Lake (the person who named the latter deserves a serious paddling). We had planned on looping Flash Lake until we met this little fellow:

We doubled back and headed over Rainbow Bridge. Midway across Jeff ran into a co-worker from UBC. Another weird coincidence. The Alpenhorn players did not suddenly appear, though. Not yet, anyway.

The total hike was still about 9 km in total. I used my watch to record it as a workout and brilliantly ended the workout early two times, so according to the watch, it was a long hike followed by a short hike followed by a “this is not really a hike” hike.

Before dinner, we went to the Manning Park Resort and Lodge and looked around the store for maps, souvenirs, and hidden Alpenhorn players. We found a map, I got a souvenir mug for Jeff, handy for imbibing liquids, and got a zippered hoodie for myself because I was dumb and forgot to bring a jacket. That wouldn’t be a problem if the whole night part of camping didn’t happen, but it does, so the hoodie will offer warmth as I remind myself not to forget things next time.

Dinner was BBQ chicken with potatoes and veggies and was extra yummy because were eating out in spectacular scenery up in the mountains instead of the couch, which offers little in the way of spectacular scenery. We made s’mores over the campfire after, fulfilling one of the mandatory camping requirements.

Later as it got dark we waited ’round the campfire for the stars to come out. Jeff eventually gave up waiting and went to bed. I kept waiting but when it was still light over an hour after sunset I also gave up. Stupid stars. I went to bed and dreamed about them coming out instead.

And thus ended Day 2.

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Heading out, the drive, the marmots, the Alpenhorns

Having never had a formal vacation together, Jeff and I decided to do a five day trip to Manning Park, about 220 km east of Vancovuer as the crow flies, assuming the crow flies along the highway.

Day One found us heading out on July 4, humming “America the Beautiful” to commemorate U.S. Independence Day.

We left New Westminster around 9:30 or so and conditions were near-perfect, with temperatures in the mid-20s under clear skies. We picked up the trailer in Langley (and brother, that thing is heavy), then began the first leg of our trek, which would take us to Chilliwack for gas and propane. There wasn’t much to see in Chilliwack but here’s a picture of Vedder Road, named after Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder, or so the legend goes.

And here’s a giant Canadian flag that was flying outside the service station. This ends the Chilliwack portion of our vacation:

We headed off along Highway 3 (the Crow’s Nest, as it’s called, possibly because of something to do with crows) which became more snake-like than crow-like as it wound through the mountains.

Shortly after noon we arrived at Hope, a bustling metropolis with internet and everything. It was also windy enough that I saw dust devils forming in the Save-On Foods parking lot.

We had lunch at Home, a very busy restaurant, perhaps because people think it is their actual home and always go there to eat and wonder why mom comes around with a pad of paper to ask what you’re having for dinner instead of just cooking meatloaf again and telling you that you’ll like it.

Here is an obligatory shot of my hot turkey sandwich (I didn’t eat the cranberry sauce because it was cranberry sauce):

Jeff had a BLT sandwich, which you can see at the top of the photo. I want one now.

We bought a couple hundred dollars in groceries, enough for at least several meals. Jeff may or may not have acquired liquor.

And then we were off.

Around 3 p.m. we arrived at Lightning Lake Campground and meandered to our spot. It’s a nice spot. It has a picnic table, a fire ring to prevent people from burning down the entire forest, and a forest, which surrounds it. We set up without injury or incident.

We went on a hike around Lightning Lake, called, cleverly enough, the Lightning Lake Loop.

In the distance of the shot below you can see Mt. Frosty, the highest point in Manning Park, so-named as it is the burial site of Frosty the Snowman.

On the last leg of the loop we saw a place that rents canoes for $20 an hour, with an option to buy after four. We declined and instead admired the water from the shore.

There was also a field filled with marmots, roughly a million or so. Here’s just one:

One little kid was petting them. He probably has scurvy now or whatever it is you get from marmots.

They squeaked a lot. I did not pet them.

In the evening we went to the amphitheater to watch an Alpenhorn quintet in from Germany get eaten alive by mosquitoes. They also played their Alphenhorns. It was unique and interesting, even if a lot of the pieces sounded the same. I was mildly disappointed they did not end with “Stairway to Heaven.”

We did not stay for the nature trivia quiz after. The parks person hosting it noted that there would be no cheating as there is no Wi-Fi at the campsite. I imagine some were doubly hurt, as the symbol for the amphitheater looks just like a Wi-Fi logo:

We had hot dogs roasted on the campfire, as one is duty-bound to do when camping. Here’s our first fire, just getting started.

And then we slept, having survived an entire afternoon and evening without internet access. I only banged my head once getting up to use the loo, something I consider a minor triumph. I don’t do well in confined spaces.

In all, a good first day.

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