Manson's Ridge

Stats: 19.3 km / 1220m gain / 1553m high point / 6:30 hours MT

The 74 km historic HBC 1849 Trail, takes you through the Cascades from Hope to Tulemeen. This Brigade trail was built by H Peers and 10 men to enable HBC furs from the BC interior to reach the coast. It was a success and remained regularly used by the HBC for the next decade. We hiked the first section along Peers Creek, past Manson's Camp, to Fools Pass and back again.

I had hiked this trail several years ago. The first 4 km have changed. They're preparing it for active logging.

The men were very gentlemanly, stopping their monster trucks to let us ladies pass by.

After 4 km the new broad gravel road stopped and we continued on this familiar overgrown FSR.

1) Tansy Ragwort 2) Daisy 3) Asters 4) Fireweed 5) Goldenrod 6) Indian Paintbrush

Just before Manson's camp (6.6 km in) there was a bushy stretch full of stinging nettles. Me & Teresa were regretting wearing shorts.

In 1857, seventy horses died on the ridge during a snowfall. The average life expectancy of an HBC employee was 45 years.

Past Manson's Camp the trail switch-backed through old-growth forest. Almost half of the elevation gain was in these last 2.5 km.

The first viewpoint -- north. These peaks are familiar to me, being right across from the popular Needle hike. To the right are Alpaca, Vicuna & Guanaco.

On the viewpoint trail, at the first viewpoint. Tulameen Mt. to the left -- east.

Davis Mt. - this mountain can be summited from the HBC trail.

Dewdney Mt. to the right, borders on Manning Provincial Park -- southeast.

All three peaks.

Teresa & Wendy.

We continued clockwise along the small loop. Hope Mt and the Fraser River in the distance. The town of Hope is to the left of the river.

west

Oops. Should've brought my tripod.

3 pic slider - a single campsite at the pass.

1) Hawkweed 2) Elderberry 3) The picnic table was still there but not the waterfall. There were no water sources on this trail, other than the one at Manson's camp. But that requires a steep descent to a creek. 4) All the boulders were gone.

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