Day 1
Robson Park is world class for mountain scenery. The first 11 km will get you to the Whitehorn Campsite. The campsite is adjacent to a mountain river that flows out of Berg Lake. If you like waterfalls then the trail to Whitehorn is certain to capture your interest. The Whitehorn Campsite is located in the valley of a thousand falls and indeed it is all of that. When in this valley have binoculars with you and be sure to spend an evening observing wisps of water cascading hundreds of feet down near vertical canyon walls. Evening is the best time to observe the falls as the run off from the snow melt is at it's peak by then. By morning many of the falls have become little more than wetness on the walls of the canyon.
It was at Whiehorn in 2001 that while my food bag as on the bear cache pole that a Clarks Nutcracker pecked a hole in the bag to get at some nuts. I may still harbor a little resentment toward that bird even to this day,however, there were no worries about that happening this time as food is now stored in steel bear-proof, and bird proof, boxes.
It was at Whiehorn in 2001 that while my food bag as on the bear cache pole that a Clarks Nutcracker pecked a hole in the bag to get at some nuts. I may still harbor a little resentment toward that bird even to this day,however, there were no worries about that happening this time as food is now stored in steel bear-proof, and bird proof, boxes.
Started the hike, with Jim, from the Berg Lake Trail Head at about 11:30 AM and arrived at the Whitehorn Campsite at about 4:30 PM
My GPS had difficulty acquiring satellites so it didn't start tracking until we were about 1.1 km along on the Kinney Lake trail.
The park sign showed the distance as 11 km. (Jim's GPS recorded the distance as 11 km.)
My GPS recorded 8.4 km + 1.1(because tracking didn't start until 1.1 km into the hike) = 9.5 km
Moving time: 2 hr. 16 min.
Stopped time: 1 hr. 58 min. These values are a bit off as I am sure we did not stop that long but I have found that when I am moving slowly the GPS records an excessive amount of stopped time.
Total ascent was 1362 ft.
Maximum elevation was 3805 ft.
I am confident that 11 km. is an accurate distance.
The trail as far as Kinney Lake is well maintained, wide and is a relatively easy walk. The trail is also well used by hikers and bicyclists.
I observed many wild flowers, including some yellow columbine, along the trail. A portion of this trail is through a mature cedar rain forest. A very serene place to walk. Observed a Pileated Woodpecker on the trail. both heard it and then saw it.
Between Kinney Lake and Whitehorn campsite there were more orchids. In photographed a Yellow Lady Slipper along Kinney Lake at UTM: 11 U 353053 5884191. I was excited to see a Yellow Lady's-Slipper but by the end of the trip I had seen quite a few. They are a beautiful flower. I also photo graphed a Round-leaved Orchid (Amerorchis rotundifolia). The Round-leaved Orchid is abundant in this area.
At the end of Kinney Lake there are two ways to go. There is the level flood plain or the high bank trail. Jim and I wanted to hike the flood plain but we were not sure if the bridges were in place so we opted to hike the high bank. The High Bank has more up and down on the trail. After the end of Kinney Lake the trail consistently climbs all the way to Whitehorn. The last river crossing to the Whitehorn campsite is a suspension bridge. There is a Park Ranger cabin near the Whitehorn Campsite. By the time I got to the Whitehorn Campsite I was tired and happy to stop hiking.
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