Commonwealth Ridge - North cairn Off-Trail hike on 1-Jul-2019

Nine Ramblers headed out for a Canada Day outing from the parking lot West of Engadine Lodge. After the usual easy 2 km hike along the fire road, the group dropped down to Commonwealth Creek and utilized a log to cross a swift moving Commonwealth Creek.

We then headed up the Commonwealth Lake trail towards the base of the ridge.

At the turn off point (about 5 minutes from the lake) where you leave the trail and head into the trees, this coordinator made the mistake of not checking to ensure that everyone was together and knew where to cut off the trail. It turned out that one participant had stopped on the trail shortly before to shed clothes, and missed the cut off point into the trees and became separated from the group. Fortunately this member was very experienced and knew the area and eventually hooked up with the rest of the group later, on the shoulder of the ridge. Again for this coordinator, it reinforced the importance of making sure that a check of numbers is made at every junction and route turn off point, especially in terrain that is not open . The rule of "make sure each per person can see the person in front and behind them" is a good mantra to follow.

There is no beaten trail up through the trees, so the group followed the path of least resistance, following a series of intermittent game trails. Higher up the trees become thinner and the route more obvious. The group took a short break at the shoulder of the ridge above treeline.

We then followed the crest of the ridge over broken rock up to the north cairn. The views all along the ridge are superb.

At the cairn the group stopped for a long lunch break to enjoy the almost 360 degree panorama. We counted 10 mountain lakes that were visible from the north cairn. Alda supplied the Canada Day flag and cheek stickers.

It was then time to head back down the ridge, where the group again stopped for a rest break on the shoulder of the ridge. To add a little variety , the group decided to drop off the ridge on the Commonwealth Lake side of the ridge. We followed a series of semi open slopes, until we intersected a good game trail which led us down into the basin just 5 minutes from Commonwealth Lake. After another short break at the lake, we retraced our steps back along the Commonwealth Lake trail to the fire road and to the trailhead.

Thanks to Alda, Jeannette, Inge, Nardi, Clifton, Teresa, Jane, Katrin for their great company and sense of humour, and for joining me Kevin (C/S) on this Canada Day outing in the mountains.