Today, with sun in the forecast, I planned to go a little further afield. On one of my earlier hikes this week I had spotted a rocky mountain in the distance. I learned that it was called Blue Nose Mountain and made it my destination.
Date: Tuesday November 29
Location: Lumby, BC
Approx. drive time from home: 30 minutes
Distance: 3 mi. / 5 km
Elevation gain: 660 ft / 200 m
Max. elevation: 3980 ft / 1213 m
Time on trail: 2 hours
I was the only car in the parking lot but I wasn't too surprised. It's a Tuesday after all, and sort of an in-between time of year as everyone waits for the first snowfall in the valley to get their snowshoes out.
Looking up from the parking lot I could see the rocky backside of the first summit that we would climb to, about 300 feet up.
The last kilometre was an easy rolling grade through larch and fir forest. The carpet of yellow needles was a surprisingly colourful addition to the hike. I also appreciated the brief turnoff to visit a couple of old-growth larch trees.
- It was a moderate distance, not too long and not too short
- It was a loop trail, which means you're always seeing something new
- It had good changes in elevation, enough to give you a cardio workout but not overly strenuous
- The trail was well-marked and well-maintained
- It had two separate destinations (summits) with great views
- It had a variety of trees and forest passages to enjoy
- It wasn't busy (in fact I didn't see another person at all!)
- I had fun and adventurous hiking companions