CR2015: Dash to Mount Revelstoke

Our trips are well-planned and well-researched by Joan, but even so, sometimes a spontaneous day pops up. Today, July 30th, our minimum requirement is to drive to Golden, and tomorrow catch the helicopter to Mistaya Lodge. It's not far, about 36 miles, so we intend to continue on to Rogers Pass, another 51 miles, and check out the visitor's center there.

Until recently there was a lodge, Glacier Park Lodge, here adjacent to the visitors center. It closed in 2012 and is now the subject of a complex legal battle. Outside of camping there's no place to stay in this park.

Our original plan was to continue on the Trans-Canada after seeing the visitor's center, and take several short hikes in Glacier National Park (Canada). The viciously steep Selkirk mountains force trails to be either modest, in the valley, or longer and strenuous. According to our trails map, the walks range from the Hemlock Grove trail, 350 meters long and virtually flat, to Abbot Ridge, 13.6 kilometers long and 1029 meters of elevation gain.

However, it was a gorgeous sunny day, in contrast to our previous five days at Lake O'Hara. The Parks guy staffing the information booth at Rogers Pass was enthusiastic about the flowers at Mount Revelstoke -- no, they weren't past their prime yet, and sure, we could drive there and back to Golden. And Mount Revelstoke has a history with Joan's family. In its location next to the Columbia River, the mountain catches the moisture from the west and is often shrouded in clouds. Joan's mother opined that it would be wonderful to visit on a clear day, but she never was able to. Joan and two college friends visited it back in 1973, but it was cloudy and blustery at the top, suitable only for a quick lunch and departure.

Today was sunny, and the town of Revelstoke was only another 41 miles away. Driving up the 26 km (16 miles) with twenty switchbacks to the top would add some time,

but it would be worth it. It was a chance to be seized.

Just beyond Golden the Trans-Canada highway collapses back to one lane in each direction, with occasional passing lanes on uphill stretches. The traffic is heavy with trucks and RVs in addition to cars, and there are periodic construction zones, largely to clear away fallen rock. We eventually reached the correct exit and drove the switchbacks to the top.

Mount Revelstoke is immensely popular, and the existing parking areas are insufficient on a nice day. We were told to park on the side of the road, and did so. There is a shuttle service every 20 minutes from the parking area to the Upper Summit picnic area and trailheads, but Joan and I figured we could walk the 1 km trail faster than waiting for and then riding the bus.

The first trail we took upon reaching the top was the ½ km trail to the old Fire Tower.

The usual (and enjoyed) informative plaque.

We had lunch on the boardwalk around the tower. Here's one of the viewpoints.

This park is an island in a sea of resource extraction:

Zooming on the Columbia River Valley, the camera caught a lot of clearcuts.

Many peaks line Mount Revelstoke's horizon.

In real life, the trees sometimes get in the way!

We had time to take a couple of the short local trails,

in particular the Koo Koo Sint trail (click to enlarge).

And those wildflowers? Yep, they were there! This is partridge-foot.

Then it was time to stride back down to the car, and negotiate the 20 switchbacks down to the Trans-Canada. With the extra miles traveled and yet to go, we needed to stop for gas in the town of Revelstoke. The main exit there had two gas stations, and both had long lines for every pump: everybody was out today, including campers and huge RVs. We gave up on this location and drove a few miles to the east, for an earlier exit, and an easy drive into town. The downtown gas station was busy but not  ridiculous, and we were soon back on our way for the 90 miles back to Golden.

It was a great day to visit Mount Revelstoke, even if everybody else in the province of British Columbia seemed to have the same idea. Joan and I were a bit hurried, with the 260 miles of driving to overcome, but we wouldn't have missed it. No siree.