Illal Summit

Jocelyn Timmermans
Oct 9
2 min read

October 7, 2025 -- Coquihalla Summit Recreation area

Stats: 20.7 km / 1080m gain / 2046m high / 5:30 hours MT

This was a first time for most of us on the Gardner trail. Thanks John Mc for guiding us. Colder temperatures warned us that winter in the mountains was not far off. It was a great time to get out (with 17 of us) and enjoy those vibrant autumn colors before they disappeared under a layer of snow.

Jim Kelly is the pointed peak in the center (2040m) and Coquihalla Mt is to the right (2070m) -- south. The lower rounded hump to immediate left of Coquihalla is Illal.

The first km or so was on an FSR. Spiral Peak to the right.

Bear scat.

Spiral Peak -- east.

The Needle, Markhor, Yak, Nak & Thar -- northeast & north.

Jim Kelly & Coquihalla Mt.

northeast

This memorial is a bit off of the trail. John Gardner built the Gardner trail also know as the horse trail.

Just past the tarn we turned east.

Summit in sight.

Made it. Iraj found some interesting things in the pink summit box...

Jim Kelly -- southeast. It was cold and windy at the summit so we didn't stay too long. Thanks to our Rocky Talkies, we knew the last group decided to stop at the tarn. We had a longer break there.

Coquihalla Mt -- south

The Needle -- west & northwest

Yak, Nak, Thar -- north.

Group shot, L to R, back row: Charlotte H, Cammy P, Al D, Laura F, Iraj F, Allana W, Carol A, John Mc, me Front row: Sari K, Kevin D

It was so nice that Cammy & Al drove all the way out from Vernon to join us. They were also on the recent Kananaskis trip.

Heading back.

east

Looking back at the summit to the right -- east.

The Needle & Marhor.

Elephant Ridge to the left.

Reunited at the tarn.

Group shot, back row: Simon H, Carol A, Kevin D, Allana W, Laura F, Brigitte G, John Mc, Iraj F, Al D Front row: Cammy P, Sari K, Irene H, Denise D, Charlotte H, Sue A, Terry B + me