John Harvey Photo

Cathedral

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images First Part of a Summer Trip


In the spring of 2021, the COVID fight wasn't going well.  There were travel restrictions - people from the lower mainland weren't allowed to travel to the Island or the interior unless they had a valid reason like school or caring for a parent.  Police enforced this on the highway.  At that point, planning a summer vacation was tough, but there was light on the horizon - Vaccines were starting to arrive in quantity.  In this environment I booked our summer plans to be conservative - stay away from crowds and ensure there was a good cancellation policy.  Part 1 of my summer plan was to take the family to Cathedral Provincial Park.  I actually visited Cathedral Provincial here once before in 2005,  but only as a day hiker.
 
Nara With Lunch At Lightning LakeColumbian Ground Squirrel Squeeking

We left Vancouver at a decent time and stopped at lightning lakes in Manning Park for lunch.  While I had planned the road trip out in advance, Google Maps on my phone gave very worrying times for the travel so we didn't stick around long for lunch.


Load Out At Cathedral Base
It turns out Google estimated the dirt roads at less than 30km/h when the speed limit was 50km/h.   We arrived at the base case and gor outselves ready for the one hour drive to the top of the mountain.  Nara got the front seat because it's a steep twisty road up to the top.


Dead Spruce From Lake Lookout
We arrived at the camp at 5pm and unloaded into the cabin.  Because we were arriving later we booked dinner the in the lodge that night.  It was spaghetti night with ice cream and peach crumble for desert and the kids really enjoyed it.  After dinner I went for a short walk up to a viewpoint over the lake.


 

Hiking Lake of the Woods and Pyramid Lake

From the base camp area there are number of loop trails.  We picked a started day - hike to Lake of the Woods and then Pyramid Lake. 
 
Claira Photographing Lupins
Happy To Be Out Hiking

Lake Of The Woods Pano

We were most of the way around Lake of the Woods when I spotted some white in the trees off the trail.  We quickly figured out it was a mother mountain goat with a juvenile and baby in tow.  The animals were certainly aware we were there but they didn't seem to care too much.  They were eating and moving and it didn't take to long before they were out of sight.   What a great visit with a large wild animal!

Female 2 Hiding Behind TreeJuvenile Mountain GoatYoung Sheep Looking At Me
 
Lincoln Sparrow
 
Pyramid Lake Pano

Western Tailed-Blue Butterfly

White Bog Orchid

After dinner (Helen made in the cabin) Nara and I went out for walk.  We were covering the same trail we did in the morning looking for good light.  We were quite lucky to stumble upon a grouse eating berries in the short plants.

Small Pond Early EveningSpruce Grouse In Low Plants
 

Hiking Diamond Trail

The Lodge has a weather report updated every day and it looked like Tuesday was going to be our best weather day.  Diamond trail is a new trail to me and the lodget suggested there would be lots of wild flowers as we went around the mountain.

Sunglasses Ready For HikingClaira Found StumpMom Is Taking Flower Pictures

Pacific FritillaryEdiths Checkerspot

Paintbrush In Rocky Meadow
Rock Fields In Meadows

Shrubby Cinquefoil In RocksMoss Campion Over Rock

Diamond Trail Pano

Family Portrait At Top Of PassHiking Over The Edge
 


Around Quiniscoe Lake

Wednesday weather was going to a mixed bag - nice in the morning, a rain storm around lunch time and then a nice afternoon.  We were hurting from the big hike the day before so we decided to just take a short walk around Quiniscoe Lake.
Davidson's BeardtongueColumbineWhite Shooting Star


At the far end of the lake is a waterfall which you can hear from camp.  There isn't a good angle to really capture it's size, but it is quite a bit of water coming down.  I have seen this waterfall before on my previous trip.

Found The Waterfall

We came back to camp just before it started raining and then raining hard.  We had lunch listening to the water hitting the windows.

Life at Camp

There is quite a bit to do in camp if you aren't out on a hike.  They have canoes available for use - being a calm day we had no problem paddling across the lake and bake.

Paddled To Far Side Of LakeSwapping Front At End Of Lake

Claira In Hot Tub
They also have Japanese style Hot Tubs!  All of the hot water in the camp is made from a central wood fired boiler and the second story has a outdoor hot tub area.  You can book one of two time slots a day in one of three hot tubs.  The water started out really hot so you have to mix it down to a comfortable temperature and then enjoy the soak.  Too cold?  Add more hot water!

Family In Hot Tub

Being a long way from any city, there is also lot of opportunities to see stars at night!  It was early July (only two weeks from the summer solstice) so night was quite short.  I woke up at midnight to leave my camera taking photos on the dock and then woke up again at 1:30 to finish it up.  The Milky way was quite clearly visible in the night sky.


Milky Way Over Quiniscoe Lake


Mule Deer With Felted Antlers
There are also a surprising number of wild animals close to camp! 


Whisky Jack Checking Me OutMarmot Eating PlantsYellow Marmot On Fallen Log

On the morning we were leaving, Helen woke up early and saw mountain goats outside the window!  We got dressed quickly and found the goats were in camp close to the lodge.  They were eating some of the soil and licking wood - apparently they really enjoy salt.  There were two females present and a number of one year old and this year young.


Baby Mountain Goat In SunriseTufted Mountain Goat In Early Sun

Baby Goat With Collared MomGoat With Tuft Of HairCoat Starting To Shed


And all too short, it was time for us to pack up and be on our way!  We had booked a spot on a 9am truck down so we could get on with the rest of our trip.

Packing Up To Go Home

 
 




Marmot Eating Plants
Species: Marmota flaviventris (Yellow-Bellied Marmot)
Altitude: 2065m (6774 feet)
Location: Go To...
Ediths Checkerspot
Species: Euphydryas editha (Edith's Checkerspot)
Altitude: 2187m (7175 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly, dorsal
Claira Found Stump
Person: Claira
Altitude: 2111m (6925 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: stump
Paddled To Far Side Of Lake
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 2059m (6755 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: canoeing, lake
Claira In Hot Tub
Pyramid Lake Pano
Altitude: 2048m (6719 feet)
Location: Go To...
Whisky Jack Checking Me Out
Species: Perisoreus canadensis (gray jay)
Altitude: 2064m (6771 feet)
Location: Go To...
Female 2 Hiding Behind Tree
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2034m (6673 feet)
Location: Go To...
Family Portrait At Top Of Pass
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara
Altitude: 2298m (7539 feet)
Location: Go To...
Baby Goat With Collared Mom
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2063m (6768 feet)
Location: Go To...
Columbian Ground Squirrel Squeeking
Species: Spermophilus columbianus (Columbian ground squirrel)
Altitude: 1237m (4058 feet)
Location: Go To...
Load Out At Cathedral Base
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara
Altitude: 826m (2709 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: packing gear
Found The Waterfall
Altitude: 2110m (6922 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: twin, waterfall
Packing Up To Go Home
Person: Claira, Nara
Mule Deer With Felted Antlers
Species: Odocoileus hemionus (Mule Deer)
Altitude: 2065m (6774 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: deer
Baby Mountain Goat In Sunrise
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2063m (6768 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: baby, sunrise
White Shooting Star
Species: Primula latiloba (White Shootingstar)
Altitude: 2065m (6774 feet)
Location: Go To...
Young Sheep Looking At Me
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2036m (6679 feet)
Location: Go To...
Diamond Trail Pano
Altitude: 2302m (7552 feet)
Location: Go To...
Family In Hot Tub
Person: Claira, John, Nara
Tags: hot tub
Claira Photographing Lupins
Altitude: 2028m (6653 feet)
Location: Go To...
Mom Is Taking Flower Pictures
Altitude: 2178m (7145 feet)
Location: Go To...
Shrubby Cinquefoil In Rocks
Altitude: 2208m (7244 feet)
Location: Go To...
Western Tailed-Blue Butterfly
Species: Cupido amyntula (Western Tailed-Blue)
Altitude: 2069m (6788 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: butterfly
Milky Way Over Quiniscoe Lake
Tags: astrophotography, lake, milky way, panorama
Lincoln Sparrow
Species: Melospiza lincolnii (Lincoln's Sparrow)
Altitude: 2039m (6689 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird
Goat With Tuft Of Hair
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2063m (6768 feet)
Location: Go To...
Swapping Front At End Of Lake
Altitude: 2064m (6771 feet)
Location: Go To...
Dead Spruce From Lake Lookout
Altitude: 2126m (6975 feet)
Location: Go To...
Paintbrush In Rocky Meadow
Altitude: 2183m (7162 feet)
Location: Go To...
Juvenile Mountain Goat
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2036m (6679 feet)
Location: Go To...
Yellow Marmot On Fallen Log
Species: Marmota flaviventris (Yellow-Bellied Marmot)
Altitude: 2065m (6774 feet)
Location: Go To...
Small Pond Early Evening
Davidson's Beardtongue
Species: Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson's penstemon)
Spruce Grouse In Low Plants
Pacific Fritillary
Altitude: 2122m (6961 feet)
Location: Go To...
White Bog Orchid
Species: Platanthera dilatata (white bogorchid)
Happy To Be Out Hiking
Altitude: 2036m (6679 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara With Lunch At Lightning Lake
Rock Fields In Meadows
Altitude: 2210m (7250 feet)
Location: Go To...
Coat Starting To Shed
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2064m (6771 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tufted Mountain Goat In Early Sun
Species: Oreamnos americanus (Mountain goat)
Altitude: 2063m (6768 feet)
Location: Go To...
Hiking Over The Edge
Altitude: 2306m (7565 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bright bottom, hiking
Columbine
Species: Aquilegia formosa (Red Columbine, Western Columbine)
Altitude: 2110m (6922 feet)
Location: Go To...
Lake Of The Woods Pano
Altitude: 2041m (6696 feet)
Location: Go To...
Moss Campion Over Rock
Species: Silene acaulis (Moss Campion)
Altitude: 2215m (7267 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: alpine, flower, rock
Sunglasses Ready For Hiking
Altitude: 2126m (6975 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: forest, hiking
Tags: butterfly(2), lake(2), astrophotography(2), milky way(2), hiking(2), baby(1)
People: Claira(6), Nara(5), Helen(2), John(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > Cathedral
From: John Harvey Photo > John's Overnight Page > Cathedral

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