Raspberry Ridge L/O traverse South to North Off-Trail hike on 29-Jun-

The Raspberry ridge traverse was a very enjoyable hike. Definitely one I’ll do again providing conditions are dry. The weather was warm, sunny and just enough wind to cool us down. After leaving one car at Etherington campground, we drove to the Lost Creek parking area and followed the old lookout road onto Raspberry ridge. The views were superb as we zigzagged up to the ridge crest. The lookout was unoccupied so we settled down for lunch on the helicopter pad or the lookout walkway. It took us a leisurely 2.5 hrs to reach the lookout then after 30 minutes we continued north along the ridge.

At the Lost Creek trailhead for the Raspberry ridge hike

View along Raspberry ridge slope towards trailhead

Our lunch spot at the lookout helicopter pad

Much of the initial north ridge section is through meadows with the occasional rocky section. When it starts to descend steeply, we remained on the ridge crest which was rocky intermixed with vegetation. Eventually it became necessary to veer into the woods and work our way through the trees to the valley bottom. It was a bit steep and occasionally we had to contend with some alders or squeeze between thin trees but for the most part it was not very annoying.

Raspberry ridge north from the lookout

Meadows on the top section of north Raspberry ridge

Sections of the descent route were rocky

We reached Etherington creek where it was braided so were able to walk across in ankle deep water without taking off our boots. Soon after we arrived at the snowmobile track that goes up the valley and followed it in our wet boots back to the car.

One section of Etherington creek that we crossed in our boots

We hiked at a leisurely pace for a total of 7 hrs, 11km and around 700m elevation gain based on two gps stats.

The four participants who joined me were wonderful company. It was their first time doing the traverse. My memory of having done it in 2006 is long gone so it was new to me as well.

Participants: David,Yolande(c/s),Peter,David,Brian.