DISCOVER THE MONASHEES!
2010 Summer Season…
Discover the Monashees!
Backcountry Mountain Bike/Hiking trips
in the Pinnacles & Whatshan Range and beyond…
This is a premiere Monashee wilderness experience with a huge
reward waiting for you. These trips require that you have a good
fitness and experience level (Intermediate). Hikes can be 6 kms
or more with 3000 feet of elevation change. Mountain Bike tours
may be up to 100 kms. These are remote alpine experiences in
grizzly bear country.
Tour areas:
(required fitness level)
Vista Pass
- seen right
(Intermediate)
Pinnacle Lake
(Intermediate)
Monashee Lake (Advanced/
Intermediate)
Whatshan Peak (Intermediate)
The Dome (Beginner, all ages)
Accommodation…
Here’s the deal
Private cabins
available starting at
$60/day
Rooms
$40/day
Campsite
$20/day (2 persons)
Wall Tent
$60/day for 2 persons
or
$75/day for 4 persons
Options include:
Meals (Breakfast, Bag Lunch, Dinner)
Vista Pass Trail
Add $50/day per person
Trail Guide (w/trailhead transport)
Add $150/day
All guide service prices based on maximum 6 persons per guide
for mountain bike/hikes
Advance request required for guide service
Mountain Bikes
not included
Keefer
Lake Wilderness Resort is an exclusive purveyor of remote
Monashee wilderness.
We operate on Licensed Multi-Use
Recreational Tenure from the Keefer Lake Monashee Base Camp.
Licenses available
for qualified guide/outfitters and tour operators.
Contact Bob at
info@keeferlake.com or
phone
1-778-373-6301
for details
Tour
Descriptions…
Keefer Lake
Wilderness Resort is your base camp for adventure in the
Monashees. If you seek solitude, fresh air and fitness you will
find it here.
Based from our
camp, backcountry enthusiasts can access several distinct
terrain areas in close proximity of the camp; each offering a
unique hiking or mountain biking experience. Here, you can
combine hiking and mountain biking to cover more ground for more
adventurous tour possibilities.
Explore hidden
valleys and lakes in the Monashee Mountains of British Columbia
on old logging roads and trails connecting the Okanagan and
Kutnai Regions. Ride your bike to alpine trailheads and continue
hiking to even more spectacular alpine lakes and waterfalls set
among snow covered alpine peaks.
Tour old growth Cedar groves. Some trees are over ten feet
across and may be up to 1000 years old.
Wildlife sightings are frequent but keep in mind that “This is
Grizzly country!”
Vista
Pass
(Hiking Video #1)
Capture the essence of the
Monashees in the summer season. This is a classic Monashee ridge
hike that takes you to the very base of the Pinnacles Range.
Also a superb ride for experienced backcountry horsemen. Hikers
and more recently, some extreme mountain bikers have discovered
this spectacular ridgeline which also has a hidden camp for
overnight backpackers. Hike to over 7500 ft. amid alpine peaks
and tarns. You will have to carry your mountain bike most of the
way for a one of a kind photo op.
The Valhalla,
Selkirks and Purcell Ranges can all be viewed from here.
Hikes can vary from
5-8 hours duration.
Pinnacle Lake Hike
A true alpine experience.
From the trailhead you will hike through old growth Cedars and
up alongside a waterfall till reaching Pinnacle Lake, which is
set in an alpine couloir. The last section is before the top is
steep. Hiking duration from trailhead to lake approximately 2
hours. Mountain bike ride from camp to Pinnacle lake trailhead
approximately 1 hour.
Monashee/Rioulx Lake
(Hiking Videos #2 & #3)
A Monashee Alpine Classic hike complete with lakes, waterfalls
and glaciers comparable to anywhere on this planet!
An even steeper more intense, extreme version of the Pinnacle
Lake and Vista Pass areas starting with an even bigger grove of
old growth cedars. This area requires an advanced level of
outdoor experience, preparedness, bear awareness and fitness.
The rewards at the top though are simply awe-inspiring. From
here one can access the only actual glacier remaining in the
Okanagan. Mountain bike ride to Monashee Lake trailhead
approximately1 1/2 hours.
Duration from trailhead to Monashee Lake 4 hours one-way through
Grizzly bear habitat!Coming soon…Heli access to Rioulx Lake
Intensive Use camp available from Keefer Lake Resort.
The Dome
(hike, horse ride)
Seen directly north from Keefer Lake Resort. The Dome hike is
suitable for novice hikers and is a good workout. It is an easy
2 hour hike up to an elevation of 7000’. From the top you can
see the entire Pinnacle Range spectacular to the north and
Valhalla Range in the Kutnai region. A photographers dream set
in alpine flowers
Yeoward Mountain
aka. “Porky”
Walk (or run) directly from camp or bike ride up an old 1950’s
logging road to spectacular alpine meadows @ 7000’. Panoramic
views of the Pinnacles range, Okanagan and Kutnai Valleys. Grind
loop currently being developed connecting The Dome and Yeoward
Mtns.
Duration 1 way to top:
Mountain bike ride -3 hours
Hike -3 hours
Run -2 hours
Can also be accessed by horse and ATV.
Whatshan Ridge/Barnes Lake
(Mountain bike, hike, horse)
Seen due east of Keefer Lake, this recreation area is a wonder
onto itself.
The peak and ridge are best accessed from Keefer Lake resort
along a deactivated (VERY rough, no bridges) logging road.
Perfect for mountain bikes. The trailhead for Whatshan Ridge
also marks the altitude restrictions for motorized vehicles.
From here though, horse riders, mountain bikers and hikers have
access to alpine lakes, meadows and views to as far away as the
Bugaboos.
Vista Pass and Pinnacle Lake Trail System
-
bikes,
hikes and horses
The Vista Pass Recreation area lies at the far eastern edge of
Railroad Creek Pass. The trailhead access begins
about 3 kms away from the camp. Keefer Lake is seen here at
the bottom left of the google shot.
Cyclists and horse riders primarily use the Railroad
Creek Pass trailhead route (not accessible to motorized
vehicles). The trailheads to Pinnacle and Monashee Lakes are
also accessed via the Railroad Creek Pass route, which begins 3
km from camp.
The hike/bike distance can vary from
10-30k roundtrip depending on mode of access.
Vehicle access to some trailheads is available but can be
VERY rough and requiring enhanced 4-wheel drive. Trail to
satellite camp indicated by the blue line.
Barnes
Lake and Whatshan Ridge trailhead seen in lower right portion.
Monashee Lake Valley is in top left.
Objects seen in Googletm
are larger and steeper than they appear…
Stuff You Need to Bring…
|
Hike/Bike Equipment Checklist
(June to September) |
| |
ü
Sturdy
broken in
hiking boots (with good ankle support)
|
| |
ü
Wool/synthetic socks |
| |
ü
Favorite hat |
| |
ü
Sturdy hiking pants/shorts (synthetic material, cargo
pockets) |
| |
ü
T-shirt, light synthetic shirt/sweater,
Gore-Tex or fleece jacket |
| |
ü
Camera,
spare batteries and tape/film/media card |
| |
ü
Small to medium daypack |
| |
ü
Water bottle(s) and/or hydration pack (at least 2 litres) |
| |
ü
Sunscreen/lip balm |
| |
ü
Bug repellent |
| |
ü
Sunglasses |
| |
ü
Small flashlight or headlamp (LED’s are best) |
| |
ü
Binoculars |
| |
ü
Prescription medications (ANA kit, insulin, pain killers
etc.) |
| |
ü
Whistle |
|
Mountain
Bikers
Also bring: |
| |
ü
Tool kit (spare chain) |
| |
ü
Tire repair kit (spare tube) |
| |
ü
Helmet |
| |
ü
Bike lock (Hey; ya never know??) |
| |
ü
Padded cycling shorts
|
| Make
sure your bike is operating properly prior to riding
here! |
| It can be a long walk to
rescue… |
|
Optional
(recommended) Items |
| |
ü
Small first aid kit (w. blister kit,
Band-Aids, tensor bandage, compression bandage,
Neosporin etc.) |
| |
ü
Compass/GPS/Sat Phone |
| |
ü
Knife |
| |
ü
Lighter or matches |
| |
ü
BEAR SPRAY and/or bear banger kit with flares |
| |
ü
Lightweight gloves |
| |
ü
Hiking stick(s) |
| |
ü
Large plastic garbage bag (orange) |
|
ü
Length of cord (at least 10’) |
Views are from Lookout Ridge bike ride above Keefer Lake |
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