Manning Park

Last week Rosie and I finally headed out for our overnight trip. Both our families were on vacation so we subcontracted our dogs and the flower jungles they live in and headed out last Tuesday. Our original destination was to be a lake up back past Harrison lake somewheres but the lack of road reports and the high concentration of correctional facilities in the area had us looking at the last moment for a new location. That morning we decided on Manning Park. We got a later start post Rosie's crazy day shift and after a caffeine refuel we reached the parking lot at about noon.
Setting out.... our final destination( we didnt know it at the time) was tucked in on the backside of the farthest of the three rocky peaks. We were at first going to just go to the first camp, drop our packs and do more hiking but when we got to the first camp in about 1 hour we decided that that was hardly worth it and set out for the next one. 

Our Gum.. it put Spark into our Stride and gave us our daily dose of Vit B1 and B6.

The first hour and half wound through some tree/meadow/small flowered areas and then climbed up out of the trees into the alpine

Once we reached the alpine the flowers were in full bloom. Just absolutely gorgeous.

There were millions of these fuzzy soft white flowers/seed pods officially the White Western Anemone but to any one who is a true Dr Suess fan would easily recognize the resemblance they have to the wonderful Thneed producing Truffula Trees in The Lorax. They were white, incredibly soft and EVERYWHERE!!!

The trail wound up and down on the top of the ridge and hillside with sweeping views to the south.

It then wove in and around the three brothers more rocky dry peaks still with the last of the snow in the shaded areas.

Headed down again through some trees crossing tons of little run off streams.

 
Then CAMP!! We got there about 430ish set up our tent on the little tent pads and enjoyed some bare foot time!

Rosie checking out the nasi we were cooking for dinner.

When the sun set across the meadow the flowers were just ethereal.

The bugs were so incredibly bad we headed into our tent around 830ish for some scrabble.

As we are used to camping at sea level (read within 10feet of the high tide line) camping at 2200 meters was abit of a frosty experience!!!.

For those of you wanting to see the flowers  but not wanting to go to Kickinghorse (27km return) its a great day hike up to the meadows or a short 4km hike to the first camp.

Five on Friday

1) Its 2am and I am listening to Josh Groban way to loud and eating Butter Chicken for supper. To bad I'm not actually on nightshift. This should teach me to say no to those 1800 simple STEMI transfers!!

2) I think I need to get one of those car sensors. Not the ones that beep when you are about to back into something, but rather one that beeps if something is on the roof before you drive off. So thankful for my roof racks.. they saved a nice mug this week, to bad they couldn't save the tea.

3)Thankful for simple sunny mornings sitting in the sunshine with Oma.

4)Fine examples of safe driving, saw a driver in one of the driving school cars reading a magazine while driving down the highway. 

5) Supper is now done.. now to be one of those crazy ladies who puts their garbage out at 2 in the morning.. or wake up at 630 and do it??

Alloette Lake

Ray and I work together and after finally getting our act together and looking at our schedules we both had Tuesday off and went out kayaking. She had wanted to do Alloette Lake and as much I am really looking forward to kayaking on the coast I was pretty stoked to go here as well. For one, I have never been to Golden Ears Park, and for two I was just excited to drive the Lougheed Highway (if that tells you how often I have been to Maple Ridge =). Unfortunately it was a pretty gray (but dry) day and so the views were not all that spectacular but we had a good time and pretty much had the lake to ourselves. We headed out down the west side of the lake. Had a little side track up Gold Creek which was a gorgeous aquagreen color. Got about 200 meters up the creek (with a paddle haha) until we came to a rapids making it to shallow to continue. We turned back and carried on up the lake to the narrows. We pulled in a little beach at the narrows to eat lunch. We discovered some great little camp sites there too which may make this worth coming back to.  After lunch we carried on bit further and then turned back. The wind which had been steadily blowing at our backs the entire way quit at this point making the lake a big pond with smooth as glass water.  But that was not to last as after about 15 mins it kicked up again creating a nice 1-2 foot chop.  We kinda got the worst of the wind too because as we had exited the narrows it had been smooth and as we since had skirted the edge on the way there we kinda made a straight line path for the other end of the lake so when the wind kicked up we were rather in the middle of the lake. O well we just paddled on and were glad for our spray skirt =)

Launch Site. The narrows are the point in the middle of the picture (about 10kms away)

Entering Gold Creek

Lunch Beach

Ray's face as the wind started=)

PS. Rosie and I had hoped to overnight Cheam and Lady next week but the snow situation up there is a bit dicey so we are looking for a new destination.. any ideas leave a comment or email me.  mel_w@mail.com   Thanks

Five on Friday

1) This morning Rosie and I headed up Elk. Elk is the perfect hike when you don't have to much time because I can be at Rosie's house at 9 at the top by 1130 and be home a little after 1. Just in time for a pre night shift nap =)

Good view up the Chilliwack River Valley

Unfortunately the clouds were pretty white and puffy over the valley. Super pretty but kinda cut out some of the view.

Lots of wild flowers- indian paint brush and lots that I don't have a clue what they are called =). no berries tho. The strawberries are very late- the bushes just flowering.

The clouds were getting thicker as we descended and the mist was in the trees. But a few rays of sunshine did break through.

2) This week our church was blessed with the offical installation of our new pastor. We have prayed for him for over two years and in His time the Lord has blessed us. We continue to pray a blessing on his ministry as he seeks to bring the gospel of God who reigns and Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Ish 52, 1Corth 2:5).

3) I'm normally a morning person (just ask Corina =). But this week not so much. Wednesday I woke up slowly kinda wondered why I woke before my alarm(even on days off 80% of the time it is set). I admired the sunshine in the windows... what.. sunshine.. its not supposed to be this light!!! I'm working.. I'm supposed to have left 20mins ago!!.  Lets just say that was one of the fastest out the doors EVER!!! Next day was a bit better.. up on time and out the door. Breakfast however... As I reach for my grapes on the front seat while driving down the highway I discovered they weren't there even though I knew I had taken them out side.  Ah... that's what the funny sounding crash was halfway down the road.  So much for breaky!

4) I am becoming slightly jaded and frustrated with the amount of time and resources that are taken up with  patients whose differential diagnosis include head injury vs drunk and obnoxious personality

5)On Monday our family had a true holiday monday sorta day. Stats are usually not really an outing because between Derek and I who work 7days a week and parents that usually use holidays to make more of the lawn into gardens we don't really go away. But this month we all packed up and headed out to Jones Lake.

Emily's joyful face as she tries to throw a rock to splash her mother =)

We borrowed a little lake kayak from friends so two people could go out at a time.

Dad took his fishing boat with its little blender motor.

Branson having lunch

Fabulous weather and gorgeous lake

Emily giving Zeba a bath. =)