Numa Creek Hike, June 27, 2022

Before embarking on this trail, we needed to claim our campsite in Marble Canyon because we couldn't park our trailer at the trailhead. The official time for checking-in was 2:00 p.m. however, when we arrived about 1:00 p.m., we decided to try checking-in early. We should have guessed that there'd be a self-check-in so we could have come at any time so long as our site was open. And, so it was. Our primary goal was to hike the Stanley Glacier Trail but, we thought it was a bit late in the day to start out so, we thought we'd try the Numa Creek trail instead. 

Stats - length - 13.5 kilometres - Elevation gain - 685 metres 

Trail - According to the Alltrails stats, this hike would have been longer and involved a higher elevation gain had we been able to complete. Unfortunately, that was not possible. After crossing the Numa Creek, about a third of the way in (#1 on the map), the trail quickly deteriorates. A landslide with piles of fallen tree trunks cover the original path. Park officials have carved a steep uphill grade trees piled like match sticks. We navigated that fine but then we came across a snow field that had yet to melt. No one had left tracks for us to follow so we made out on our own across the steep and slippery slope. We found the trail on the far side however it had turned into an ankle deep stream bed. A bit disappointed, we realised we could go no further and turned around. 

Flora - The climate along Numa Creek seemed considerably more moist than the one experienced in the Kootenay Valley on the west side of the range. We walked through old-growth fir trees that towered above our heads. Ground cover along the path was dense with maidenhair ferns where it got sun but more sparse directly under the trees. Avalanche chutes where the trees had been plowed with snow also featured a lush carpet of bright green that contrasted sharply with the blue sky. 

Fauna - Toward the end of the trail, we came across a number of Winter Wrens who were tiny and flitted from branch to branch under the deep shade of the fir trees that I was unable to get a picture however here's one a stole from the Cornel Lab of Ornithology. 

People Met - We met an Oriental girl with a very large camera on the way in. I'm not sure she spoke English. On the way back, we passed a young couple in Birkenstocks and sandals so I doubt they were going far. 

After trail drink - Tequila Manhattan - 2 ounces of tequila and 1 ounce of vermouth. Our campsite provided a fabulous setting with Vermillion Peak as a backdrop. 

Numa Falls

Looking up an avalanche chute

Nicola walking. 

Looking up the creek path toward campsite

Trees piled like matchsticks after avalanche

Stream on path ending our journey 

Nicola enjoying her Tequila Manhattan        

 

We walked a little ways past "1", the bridge across Numa Creek


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jumbo Pass Hike

Image
 Jumbo Mountain is the most iconic in the Columbia River and was once considered a great location for a future ski resort. The locals became outraged by this idea, got the support of indigenous groups and basically killed the project.  The trailhead is about an hour's drive over gravel, both rough and smooth, from Panorama resort, which is 20 kilometres from Invermere. It's supposed to be navigable in 2 wheel vehicles however it requires going through a stream and few deep dips in the road.  A number of trucks were in the parking lot however we didn't meet anyone on the trail on the long, long, way up, 810 metres according to the AllTrails app. With the 7.6 kilometres, it took us about 3 hours to reach the overnight hut. It's there we were greeted by a bunch of trail makers, two young women and three older guys and, when I say older, I mean in their 70s. Kind of incredible really because the hike is really quite gruelling.  The hike is beautiful, perhaps the most bea...
Read more

Lake O'Hara - Oct. 9/2022

Image
 Like the Twin Falls hike previously noted in my blog, the Lake O'Hara walk reminded me of the same hike I took with my family when I was fourteen (I'm guessing), my brother eleven and my sister seven.  Stats: Length - 25 km., Elevation gain - approximately 475 metres, Trail time - 5.5 hours Trail - A shuttle bus takes hotel guests and hikers chosen from a lottery from June 24 to October 2nd this year. Our hike took place on the 9th, not that it mattered because we hadn't entered our names in the lottery.  At the centre of the valley lies Cataract Creek which rumbles below small sections of the road. A couple of signs greeted us at the beginning of the trail. One, that bikes are not allowed on the road. (Go figure.) Two, dogs are permitted but must be kept on leash. Within the first couple of kilmotres, we crossed paths with no people. Neither did we spy signs of bear, ie, scat (poo). So, we figured, what the hell, and let them off their leashes.  We established a ri...
Read more

Pedley Ridge Loop - August 2, 2024

Image
  We started off from the trailhead at 11:30 on a hot, smoky day. The dogs weren’t invited for a couple of reasons. First, they weren’t particularly well after getting booster shots two days previous. Second, they go nuts when the picas make their cheaping sounds among the rocks well above the treeline. The ridge is rocky and narrow with a considerable drop on one or both sides of the trail.  The trail to the ridge is a bit of a grunt with about a 600 metre elevation gain. Once there, it’s a spectacular walk across however watching your step is paramount. You don’t want to go tumbling down the slope. The views are spectacular however shortened a tad by the smoke. Considerable logging has been performed since we last visited about a year ago.  Oh yes, I forgot the horse flies. A considerable nuisance nevertheless, we did stop for lunch at the top.  Overall, an enjoyable hike that was a bit hot. 
Read more