Crystal's Epic Adventures

“Even a bad day of climbing is better than a good day at work” - Unknown This was the first multi-day trip since Klaus was airlifted out of our Twin Lakes backpack in September last year. We are planning another trip to the South Chilcotin Mountains the last week of July so this was going to be a reconnaissance mission to see how his back would hold up. We had three days for this trek to the Coquihalla Summit Recreation area and trip research indicated that we may encounter some rain on our first night on the mountain but that the rest of the weekend would be a mix of sun and cloud.  That is definitely not what we experienced.  Our goal Saturday was to summit Flatiron, the mountain directly across from us in this photo, and then travel Two Bears Ridge to the left, using our Gaia map and attempt to summit Portia Peak.  The wind was strong already, the right side of the tent is being pushed in Portia Peak - top right This was also the first time since Twin Lakes that I was ...

In August 2020 there were three fires burning on the shores of this gorgeous Lake suspected to have been sparked after a lightning storm moved across B.C. At one point, the combination of fires were classified as out of control, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service and several homes were placed under evacuation alert. The fire we were interested in for our hunt this weekend was 20 hectares in size, about two kilometres inland from the Lake and above some pretty steep terrain.  It took 22 firefighters and one helicopter to fight the blaze.  Thankfully, six days later the evacuation order was lifted and the fire was deemed controlled or put out.  A view of the lower part of the burn from across the Lake Not only was this a huge relief for the home owners along the Lake, but it was definitely made ground zero for mushroom pickers and buyers come this spring.  Morel Mushrooms are a rare delicacy, probably the most sought after mushroom by connoisseurs. These jewel...