Very nice. Rather hot and smoky, but a great backpack with excellent company. Timing roughly as predicted. 8:15hrs to Northover lakes, 9:15hrs from Northover lakes to car.

We left the half-full Interlakes car park promptly at 9.00am with pack weights varying from 25-34lbs. Our first real break was at the Point campground.

Point Campground: Brian, Peter

We followed the new signed trail through the woods past the full Hidden Lake to emerge at treeline below the scree slopes of Mt Sarrail and our first real uphill grunt. This trail in the woods is a great improvement over the previous bushwhack thrash when the lake is full. We passed the snow slope section (rated very difficult by Parks) and short scramble section without incident to rest in the woods by the turn-off for Mt. Sarrail.


Peter crosses the snow slope below Mt Sarrail (rated very difficult by Parks)

On arrival at Aster Lake about 2.30pm (5:30hrs) we took another longer break to take in the smoky views and access our forward route.


Brian and Brian admire Aster Lakes and Mt Sarrail

We went clockwise around Aster Lake, hopped across or through the braided river channels and up about 250m to emerge at the Northover col and view of Northover Mountain and Lakes (our free camping spot in BC). Mt Joffre dominated our rear mirror view.


Brian crosses the braided channels near Aster Lake. Mt Joffre behind.

Peter on Northover Ridge col.

Brian on Northover Ridge col, Mt Joffre behind

By 5.30pm we were setting up tents near the upper lake adjacent to some man made wind breaks.While somewhat windy, it was a warm but smoky evening and night. Marmots scampered around.


Camp at Northover Lakes

Sunset over Northover Lakes, BC

At 7.30am on day 2,it was +10c but felt cooler in the wind. However, we soon warmed up with our last major uphill grunt (300m vertical) to gain Northover Ridge with huge views back to Mt Joffre and onwards towards Three-Isle Lake.


Brian, Peter and Brian on Northover Ridge

David on Northover Ridge; Mt Joffre behind.

Brian relaxes on Northover Ridge: Three-Isle Lakes behind

The ridge walk was very agreeable with a cooling breeze and vast but smoky 360 degree views. There's a couple of narrow sections eg 50 cms wide by 5 metres long which required occasional hand use by me but not by others. A gravel path led down the ridge and drainage to Three-Isle Lake for lunch around 12 noon.


Hiking Northover Ridge: Brian, Brian, David

Descent from Northover Ridge to Three-Isle Lake

Suitably refreshed, we were soon descending the steep headwall with some chains to finally emerge on the valley floor below Mt. Putnik about 2.30pm. At one point, three of us were forced to detour off the trail by a handsome male moose.


Bull Moose on trail to Three-Isle Lake

We took our last major break at the Forks Campground. Much of the remaining approx 7.2km was a good trail or fire road and we met various groups on their way in for overnights.One young 5 year old was extremely excited to be backpacking into the Point campground (about 3.6km). We were at our cars by 4.45pm. Thanks to Brian,Peter,Brian for some photos and for accompanying C,S&P David.

Total distance about 36km with 1200m elevation gain in 17:30hrs.Note: this was my moderate pace. Others in the group could easily have knocked 2 or more hours off this (but were polite to remain with me and the group). At about 1.00pm on day1 we encountered 2 female trail runners who were well on their way to completing it in under 8 hrs. It can definitely be hiked as a day-trip as one coordinator is proposing but I would suggest cooler and less smoky weather will help.

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