COMMUNITY Forest-Gloria Lookout-Mt. Thurston-Elk Mtn
Community Forest-Gloria Lookout-Mt. Thurston-Elk Mtn
Trail Key:
Difficult, Steep, view, dog friendly, Switchbacks, Two cars
Elevation: 1720 meters/20 km's
Dogs: Yes
Pit Toilet: yes-trail start/end
Hiking Checklist:
poles, 10-essentials, Microspikes, tell someone
I found this route to be the easiest since hiking down Gloria would be tough after a long day. This hike is best done as a summer hike since snow is present far into June. You will need two cars. I would also recommend you study this hike and know your limitations. It is a very difficult hike! Depending on which way you tackle the trek you will decide where to park your car. Keep in mind the gate at Community Forest will close for the night at dusk. I will tell you our route...
We parked one car at Elk Mtn and the other car at Community Forest, where we began our long journey! I found the easiest way to the Gloria Lookout TH was to follow Pi:xtel to Cholqthet to Broken Tree Loop to Gloria trail head start. There are maps in the Community Forest should you find an easier way.
Once at the trail head start your climb begins on a steep trail that switchbacks and snakes the whole way up. There is not too many flat spots or vacations as we call them. It's relentless and up the entire way. Finally you will reach the top but don't get excited as you will follow the path down 500 metres to the lookout. Once there your eyes will feast the stunning lookout of the Fraser Valley.
We parked one car at Elk Mtn and the other car at Community Forest, where we began our long journey! I found the easiest way to the Gloria Lookout TH was to follow Pi:xtel to Cholqthet to Broken Tree Loop to Gloria trail head start. There are maps in the Community Forest should you find an easier way.
Once at the trail head start your climb begins on a steep trail that switchbacks and snakes the whole way up. There is not too many flat spots or vacations as we call them. It's relentless and up the entire way. Finally you will reach the top but don't get excited as you will follow the path down 500 metres to the lookout. Once there your eyes will feast the stunning lookout of the Fraser Valley.
When you are finished enjoying the views, head back up the ridge trail toward the forest where you emerged from. Keep going straight past the sign post that reads Mt. Thurston. The trail is well marked with orange squares and some flagging tape but it will be awhile before you will see another sign post.
I found this part the most difficult. Without a topical map in hand and no prior knowledge that the trail would be such a challenge my thoughts faded to us spending the night in the forest. We were well equipped but just missing a couple of essentials and being positive was one I was lacking. The trail descends quite a bit and then climbs up very steeply at times. There are no trail markers indicating you are on your way to Thurston & Elk Mtn however, it is well marked as I mentioned before.
Finally you will come to a bench with a lookout; keep going and not too long after you will see a sign that says go right to Elk Mtn. You are on the home stretch!
I found this part the most difficult. Without a topical map in hand and no prior knowledge that the trail would be such a challenge my thoughts faded to us spending the night in the forest. We were well equipped but just missing a couple of essentials and being positive was one I was lacking. The trail descends quite a bit and then climbs up very steeply at times. There are no trail markers indicating you are on your way to Thurston & Elk Mtn however, it is well marked as I mentioned before.
Finally you will come to a bench with a lookout; keep going and not too long after you will see a sign that says go right to Elk Mtn. You are on the home stretch!
(which I have but haven't activated yet)You still have far to go but this is a pretty part as you hike along in and out of the ridge and up & down. Soon you come to a pile of rocks. This is Mt. Thurston's false summit since the true summit is tree'd. Take a moment to enjoy the views. Keep going along and soon you will come to a large wind sock...This is Elk Mtn's true summit. Follow the trail along and back into the forest. You will pop back out at the first lookout and from there it's almost all down; steep at times to the parking lot. This is where we left out car earlier in the day.
Things I forgot were a phone charger, topical map, better knowledge of the trail, satellite GPS messenger and a faith! If you take on his hike make sure you do it well into the summer since Mt. Thurston has a ton of snow and know it is not an easy hike. Happy & safe hiking.
Things I forgot were a phone charger, topical map, better knowledge of the trail, satellite GPS messenger and a faith! If you take on his hike make sure you do it well into the summer since Mt. Thurston has a ton of snow and know it is not an easy hike. Happy & safe hiking.
|
|
|