Trip Report by Lyn Grants

On Saturday, April 23, a group of twelve hiker met, the leaders Diane Fast and Lyn Grants for the Blue Gentian Loop Trail via Burfield, the Hollyburn Lodge, and the Baden Powell. Most of us wore Spikes, though snowshoes worked well and were useful on steeper slopes that were not tracked. Sun filtered through the trees. The snow was bright, not too icy, not too soft. Spirits were high. We did not go into Blue Gentian Lake either from the Baden Powell or from the West Lake route. The Thursday snow, (the day I did the recce), had accumulated on the trail, and the trail into and around the Lake there was not visible. We took the uphill ski trail to West Lake for a leisurely break. Birds sang, photos were taken and remembrances shared of summer time plunges into the Lake. We then returned to Hollyburn Lodge, enjoying the sunshine and the quiet, and planning a repeat hike in the summer when we will complete the Blue Gentian Lake Loop. After the lodge some signed off to return to their cars – the route well known to all. The remainder continued to the Warming Hut, up the snow-covered cross country ski trails open to all with the early closure of the ski season at Cypress Mountain.

As we returned to the parking area one of our members delighted in telling us that we were back at exactly the time the hike was scheduled to finish – 2:00pm- 4 hours after our start time at 10:00 AM.

What did we hear?  Grouse booming, winter wrens and we saw a magnificent eagle and then immediately a hawk.

Many thanks to those who sent their photos. I am including a photo from my Thursday recce when the snow was falling – the almost buried tracks of a snowshoe hare.