Courtesy of the "Old goats" we had heard that the trail up Forty Mile creek was broken and, maybe, it was also broken over Mystic pass. A trip of this length is perhaps best done later in the year with more daylight, however, a great forecast, a nearly full moon and the possibility of a nicely broken trail all proved too much for Bob, Kaare, Joan, Christine and John to resist. We left Mount Norquay just after 8:00 am. Up Forty Mile creek the trail was well broken. We had nice views of Mount Louis, Mount Cockscomb and Mount Fifi and reached the Mystic cabin for lunch just before noon. We had planned on the possiblity of turning around here depending on how the group felt, time and conditions. We were on schedule to get to Johnston creek in daylight and, though less broken than Forty Mile, there was a broken trail leaving the cabin. Everyone was good to keep going so after a quick lunch we continued up the broken trail towards Mystic lake and pass. At the Mystic campsite the broken trail for us ended - probably does go to the lake though. We continued up the drainage to the pass with a couple of interesting creek crossings on weak snow bridges with water gurgling below. Bob broke trail through a particualrly steep crux section - Kaare, Joan and Christine all alternated at trail breaking as various route options and turnarounds made the lead switch as the optimal route was uncovered. We reached the pass just after 3:00 pm with 3 hours of daylight to get down hill the 6 Kms or so to Johnston creek. It took us over 4 hours with heavy trail breaking, tricky creek crossings and losing the summer trail that Joan had initially found for us. Given the warm winter and low snow pack - particularly in the front ranges, creek crossings are more problematic than usual I think. Christine rediscovered the trail in the lower part and our progress gradually improved in the lower section though the trail breaking remained heavy.

The trail was well broken once we got to Johnston creek and we followed it in beautiful bright moonlight in the open meadows above the Ink Pots. Some large cougar tracks on the trail added to the wilderness feeling in the moonlight. We goofed a little coming down after the climb up from the Ink Pots by missing, in the dark, the turn off to the Moose Meadows trailhead. We had a fun downhill ski to the Johnston creek cabins though! A little more light trail breaking along the road saw us at the vehicle at 10:00 pm.

Thanks to a really great group for sharing the trail breaking, route finding and a good day ... though an hour longer than I had anticipated. Thanks also for not being frustrated (or at least not showing it) with the minor navigation error at the end - I should have known the route as I skied the trail a month ago! Though she thinks posting the photos to the web site might be more challenging than the trip I am hoping Christine will add some photos to this ..... here is one of Christine's she uploaded herself:

Admiring mountains in Forty Mile creek

Gold medal Christine for managing to get it to the website! - like in the Olympics I hear Christine is planning on getting some good coaching to refine website photo technique! Couple more photos:


Descending Mystic pass

Tricky creek crossing below Mystic Pass