November 28, 2024 -- Maple Ridge

Stats: 6.6 km / 638m gain / 750m high / 2:45 hours MT

Let the lack of blue skys stop us? Nah. Exercise, fresh air and friends are a good motivator. Fiddlehead Falls are a sight to see and the large wooden viewing platform at the summit with an outhouse, are a great place to rest for lunch and soak in the far-reaching views, which were somewhat limited this day.

In about 20-minutes we dropped our packs and branched off to check out Fiddlehead Falls. The short rough trail was on a steep downhill slippery slope but well worth the effort.

Red-belted Polypore

I didn't expect to get all 12 hikers in and in front of this hollow stump but with a bit of jostling and squeezing, it worked!

Group shot (excluding me), in the stump from top to bottom: Danny G, Charlotte H, Lonja J, Denise D, Cal F, Lori Y, Gary A, Sue A Front row: Lori B, Elizabeth B, Irene H, Paul L

A short section of level ground.

Made it. Devil's Lake below us.

The northern half of Stave Lake -- northeast.

Unfortunately, the photos a man who drove in took, were all blurry. Fortunately, I had the stump photo. I wonder how they got up there with their vehicle? Once we got down, I drove to the western end of that FSR, thinking to pick 4 hikers up but the gate was locked. They had decided to take the more gradual but longer route down but ended up reconnecting pretty quickly with the 79 Grind trail.

Heading down.

Several new signs were at the parking area and trailhead. Since it was only 1:00pm, we drove 3 km back on Florence Lake FSR and did the waterfall loop.

Rolley Falls Loop

Stats: 1.6 km / 135m gain / 30 minutes MT

My curiosity was piqued. What is in that cave?

Crossing over the falls, higher up.

Passing the junction to Rolley Lake, we were soon back at the vehicles.