Back to Home Page
Day 1: Elaho Trail Head to Last Chance Camp

Hmmm, "Last Chance Camp" sounds a little ominous as the first heading on this site. All it is though, is that it's your last chance to camp before ascending the seep 760 meters (2,508 feet) to Mist Lake Camp and the Hundred Lakes Plateau.

Our journey began with a not-so-early departure from North Vancouver at 9:00 am. From Squamish we drove two hours on a network of logging roads to reach the Elaho trail head. The driving directions are pretty funny (or confusing?); If you miss one line you're hooped! For amusements sake, take a quick peek by clicking here.
We began hiking at 12:30, descending through the "Douglas Fir Loop" to join with the main Elaho to Meager trail. After about a half hour of hiking I kept noticing slight shuffling noises coming from the low bush next to the trail. Upon closer inspection we discovered small frogs hopping out of our way.
Andre ties his boot laces in the shade of the truck. It was as hot as it is bright and the small black flies were swarming.
After a short hike the trail leaves the Elaho Canyon and veers east to follow Cesna Creek. Just before the bridge over the raging creek is a steep little descent which is aided by a rope (right). After the crossing the trail winds uphill. Twenty minutes later we broke for lunch, already drenched in sweat.

The small, biting black flies swarmed us relentlessly in droves, unperturbed by our citronella oil.

Thus began the pleasure of hiking: sweat, oil and dirt!
Sure, the picture is blurry (someone's got shaky hands!), but it gets the idea of the rope descents across.
After Cesna Creek the trail joins back to the Elaho River. Don't be fooled like we were - for most of the hike along the river you only even get the rare glimpse of it as it's tucked away far below the trail.

The trail itself began to remind us more and more of the Stein Valley trail (another WCWC trail)- thick and overgrown. Don't get me wrong!! As trail builders ourselves we understand the enormous undertaking of such a task and both admire and appreciate the fact that a group of folks gave their time, sweat and muscle to build this trail. All I'm saying is that it was tough going! I'm sure the 35 degree temperature and high humidity didn't help. It is a rainforest after all! (And it was our choice to be carrying the extra weight of a boat...)
Andre rests his monster pack before swinging himself over this fallen tree crossing the trail. And yes, that is a paddle on the side of his pack. The dinghy it belongs to is tucked in just behind.
Canyon Creek from Canyon Camp
We began to tire as the afternoon became hotter and hotter, the trail increasingly more difficult (constant elevation gain and loss, dense bush and many fallen trees to clamber over (Andre, above)), and the black flies more thirsty.

We arrived at "Canyon Camp" at 4:10 - a tiny (and I mean tiny) clearing on the edge of a towering canyon overlooking Canyon Creek. A spectacular sight it is indeed. We enjoyed a small rest and snack before pushing onward.

The terrain became even more tiresome and the insects just plain horrendous We set out to look for a camp, hoping to come to "Lost Creek Camp". Once we arrived, however, we were disappointed: dark, damp and buggy next to a poor excuse for a creek. Even though it was 6:00 PM, we figured we could push on the last little stretch to "Last Chance Camp" at Marlow Creek.
Marlow Creek Crossing and Last Chance Camp
Refreshed and changed, I pose on the slippery log crossing over Marlow Creek
The last stretch seemed to go on forever, but just after 7:00 PM we arrived at Marlow Creek and descended to it by the help of more ropes down a steep embankment. The crossing itself was somewhat tricky as the logs were very slick and the ropes a little more flexy than I was comfortable with.

Once across we set up the tent and washed in the iciest, bone-chilling, skin-numbing water I've ever come in contact with. It was awesome!! And best of all, there were no bugs!

Too tired to cook, we ate snacks for dinner, went to bed early and slept really well!
There's a Marlow Monster in my tent!!
Day 2: Last Chance Camp to Mist Lake and the Hundred Lakes Plateau

Eating our breakfast in the tent to keep warm in the cool morning, we speculated about the ascent that awaited us this morning. The moment we departed camp at 9:45 the trail became a vertical scramble, then eased into a "gentle" steep climb.
The Grizzly Fir

Following the embankment upstream to Grizzly Falls, where Marlow Creek pours out of a narrow canyon, we came upon the Grizzly Fir perched right on the edge of the canyon. It's magnificent trunk pierces out of the ground with massive blue-tinged plates of bark.
The ascending trail is in great shape; steep but easy to follow. Fairly open forest with blueberry bushes and blooming azalea. There are several excellent viewpoints along the trail, each one affording an increasingly more superb view of the Elaho Valley and glacier than the last.

We "Crack" the Plateau

At exactly 1:00 PM sharp we "cracked" the Hundred Lakes Plateau. It was like stepping out of the forest and instantly being transported onto some open moonscape spotted with pockets of small "Christmas trees" and blooming heather.
Arrival at Mist Lake Camp. That's not Mist Lake, though!! On our last night we re-located our camp to the far edge of this small, bathtub warm, rock-enclosed lake with spectacular 360 degree views.
What the .....?? Is that a DINGHY ?!

Yes indeed, our rewards for the extra weight hauled up 760 meters was well worth it, as the following days pictures will tell.

Mist Lake is quite large and interestingly shaped, with a good-sized island, large bays and narrow "arms" and "fingers". The ice-cold water made the boat even more desirable, as a swim would have been anything but relaxing.
Andre inflating the two-man pool dinghy at Mist Lake. We became known as the "boat people" by another group on the plateau on the last 2 days!
Oh yeah, baby, we know how to relax...
We set up camp on the island in Mist Lake (you can just see the orange glow of the tent above my shoulder at photo right), then simply floated the day away.