Cathedral Park on the south of British Columbia is the place that really worth to visit, but it is not easy to get where. Of course, it is much easy than do orbital flight or even clime Kilimanjaro, but for weekend trip it is required to much money or too much time. The park is high and pretty far from any roads. You can absolutely free hike to it (there are several trails from different roads), but it takes day for one way via boring forest (all beauty are on the top), and when you have only three days for everything (don’t forget 5 hours drive from Vancouver) it is too much. Also there is a private road (for four-wheel drive only, really) to the piece of private territory with lodge near the Quiniscoe Lake, but only owners can use it. They will drive you, but price is quite expensive for less then one hour drive. But you have more time for mountain beauties.
Our trip fell on September 21-23, we were afraid that it is too early, but it was perfect time – the larch become yellow already. Larches and mountain (snow) goats are main features of this park.
Quiniscoe Lake is the park biggest lake (altitude 2000 meters), road comes to lake side and there are also the lodge and the campsite near the lake.
Several years ago forests on the south of BC were eaten by pine beetle. It was epic battle between people and beetles. Humans won, but tree population was decreased significantly. Cathedral park was no exception. There are plenty of dead pines around, it looks horrible. One camp is closed because of falling wood. Larches are completely resistible to pine beetle, so then high you are then it is more beautiful around. When the only larches left, you can forget about nasty beetle and just enjoy the beauty (larches can grow much high then other trees).
Sj we came, set the camp, and went to Goat Lake in the hope to meet Snow Goats (park scheme with trails).
Sides of the spring that streams from Goat Lake is covered by dwarf bitchs, which is not very common here and pretty nice at autumn time.
Goat Lake is shallow, very clear and full of little trouts. It should be completely frozen during the winter, how the fish is survive?
Mountain above the lake.
The lake is separated by natural dumb from former upper lake, the swamp at present time.
Among the young spruces it is possible to meet green ones, but the older ones all are eaten by pine beetle and dry.
Larches
Red grass on the rocks.
Quiniscoe Lake at the sunset.
To be continue….
