Lizzie Lake

[Alan]

Last I heard, the road up to Lizzie Lake got washed out right near the bottom during the flood late last year, making it inaccessable perhaps even to foot traffic. Anybody know (Dru?) if anyone is planning to fix it and make it accessible again? Maybe the Friends of the Stein or any other group, or logging company, whatever? If not, what is another good way into that area, and what kind of approach are we talking about (hiking later in the year, not skiing) and where does the approach take you to? What an amazing area, so much to do, but unfortunately weekends are short and don't want to spend most of it just getting in there.

[mattp]

I went up there on skis once, and on that occasion we could not drive more than a mile (certainly less than two miles) from the main line. Even then, in March, we made it up to the hut with sufficient daylight left that we were able to take a ski run before dinner.

 

It is an attractive area, and the hut itself is cute, though I didn't see anything truly amazing in the short time that we were up there (we did, as you say, spend most the weekend travelling to and fro). What will you be doing up there?

[Alan]

I've been up there a couple of times in the summer. The road used to be driveable right up to Lizzie Lake, if a bit rough near the top. The road is apparently washed out from the bottom, but as I said, I'm not planning to do a ski into the area, just more hiking later in the year. Personally, it's one of my favourite areas for just easy rambling, lots of easy peaks around, total alpine, lots of lakes and tarns. Enough to keep one busy for several days, Cloudraker being an excellent objective at one end, and Mt. Skook Jim at the other. To gain access to the area when the road is driveable right to the top, it's simply a 1.5 hour hike (if that) to the alpine and the cabin. You really start to get into it another half hour or so beyond that. I find it an amazing area. Nothing technical, just really beautiful and relaxing. Next time I go, I'd like to go in and do Long Mountain before heading back down another connecting ridge toward Cloudraker and do that as well. Trip after that, in towards Tundra and Caltha Peaks, maybe even Skookjim. Can't wait.

[Dru]

don't know about road repair but you can also access the divide from van horlick and twin one/two creek roads from N or Rogers?gowan creeks to S (gated)

[Alan]

I know there are some other ways in, but how much time are we talking and where does a guy end up? I'd hate to think that it'd be 4 hours each way just to access what used to be done in a little over an hour. Weekends are just too short, and I guess I just don't have enough energy to do the approach and then try to pull off a couple of peaks yet all in the same day.

[Dru]

It'd only take you about 2 more hours each way if you had to walk rather than drive the road, anyways. Get up earlier?

[Alan]

Get in shape is more like it, but thanks.