It was a glorious summer day at Picklejar Lakes in the Highwood Range of the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. After seeing five deer on the drive out from Longview, we arrived at the Lantern Creek trailhead at the same time as a large bus full of seniors hikers, who bombed up the trail like there was no tomorrow.

Karen at 3rd Picklejar Lake lunch stop

We slogged up the over-steep pass into the Picklejar Creek drainage, and lunched at the third lake—the deepest and prettiest of the four lakes. The flowers were outstanding, especially the Indian paintbrush and false dandelion.

Group at 3rd Picklejar Lake

We hiked around the third lake to the shallow fourth lake before returning down the trail.

Karen and Dave below Lineham Ridge

Back at the pass it was one of those “Sound of Music” scenes with the fabulous grassy flower meadows overlooked by the green slopes of Lineham Ridge.

Dave with Mist Mt. on skyline

We had great views of Mist Mountain, Eagle Ridge and the unnamed ridges of the Picklejar Creek basin.

Lantern Creek Trail

The Lantern Creek valley was a joy to descend, with the green aspen and pine, brilliant flowers and views of the Highwood River valley and the High Rock Range.

Back to the cars by 4:10, we headed back to Longview and ice creams at the Cook House. Participants: Gin, Karen, Dave, Dorothy-Ann, Margaret and Carl, coordinator and scribe.