Hiway16 Magazine... about people and places in north-central British Columbia, Canada

		PAGE TWO OF THREE

Trek to Blue Lake

Paul and Tom kept their packs as light as possible at 35 pounds. Food, sleeping bags and one tent made up most of the weight. All cooking utensils were left at home to save weight and all meals were eaten cold. When travelling up and down for days in the alpine, every ounce makes a difference between completing the trip comfortably or not.

The Hazelton mountain range has numerous mining claims and prospector trails but the pair kept as high as possible in the upper alpine and saw no tracks or sign of human visitors.

Crossing snowfields on north-facing slopes

When you drive north of Smithers on Highway 16 from the Kitseguecla Valley road turn-off, you pass Boulder Creek and Moricetown and eventually Mudflat Creek before you get to New Hazelton. That highway trip is parallel to the route taken by Tom and Paul, except they were high above in the alpine you can occasionally see to the west of the highway.

Tiltusha peak looks like a pyramid high above Tom Buri

Tiltusha peak has a distinctive pyramid shape and is part of the "spine" of the Hazelton range of mountains that runs north-south. Paul and Tom skirted the eastern side of the spine.

At the far northern end of the Hazelton range is Roche de Boule, the wall of rock visible from all three of the Hazelton communities. Roche de Boule looks very tall and imposing but there are many other peaks along the Hazelton spine that are higher.






copyright © 2003-2005, Northwest Design, Smithers, BC, Canada