Backpacking to the Kristi Glacier

The spectacular Kristi Glacier is located in the Cariboo mountains near Mcbride BC. From highway 97 we turned south onto the Dore road. It took us at least an hour to get the deactivated part of the logging road. We camped here. The next day with our packs on, we pushed our bicycles over the wooden foot-bridge and up the gradual hill, three killomtres, to where the trailhead begins. We left our bicycles here in anticipation of picking them up on the way back for a free ride down to the car.

We traveled along the river in and out of the forest for the first bit, admiring the spectacular waterfalls pouring out of glaciers on the surrounding peaks. We planned not to go to the campsite at the end of the trail since we would have to backtrack to get up to see the glacier. Instead we climbed into the alpine finding a flatish spot, covered in heather, a few trees for shelter, the river for water and plenty of firewood, after a much needed break for lunch we set up our tents.

I unclipped the lid of my pack, untucked the waist belt and tied it around my waist, much easier and lighter than carrying my pack. We clambered up, crossing bands of snow and pulling ourselves across the rocks higher and higher into the alpine until at last we were rewarded with the vast field of snow, spilling down the mountainsides of an enormous arête. We sat on the rocky slope, admiring the snow glistening in the sunlight, imagining walking out onto the glacier. Unfortunately We had none of the necessary gear to attempt such a feat.

I could have sat there for hours instead we decided to bag the peak, get a higher view of the glacier and a look over the otherside.

Update: for more photos of this trip take a look at the flickr set