On a hot and sunny morning I drove to Clearwater, then up the Wells Gray Corridor Road to the Trophy Mountain Road.     The gravel road was bumpy, as usual, but it provides good access to the Trophy Mountain Trail.     I got an early morning start, heading up through the forest to the meadows.     There were a few mosquitoes near the parking area, but it was fine for the rest of the way.     There were many wildflowers in bloom along the forest corridor for the first 2.5 km.

Once in the Trophy Mountain Meadows, it was clear that the first bloom of the year was now over and the second bloom was coming in a couple of weeks.     The meadows were green and damp, but the trail was in good shape to the Shepherd’s Hut.

The trail winds up a ridge into the alpine zone.    There were patches of snow, but I could hike around them.

The goal for the day was to go to the Plateau of Tarns below the Cirque of Trophy Mountain.     Sheila Lake was in the lower part of bowl as I hiked past.

On a less hot day I might have hiked up to the Rim, but I stopped at one of the tarns for lunch before turning back.

The summit of Trophy Mountain was directly north, but I chose to explore the ridge and enjoy the views before heading back.

It was an out-and-back 12 km hike.    Raft Mountain framed the route as I hiked back down the meadows to the forest.

It is a long day’s hike to the summit, one best left to cooler conditions.     The peak of the wildflower bloom will probably be close to the start of August this year.    I have done this hike every year for 47 years and in some years more than once.     I may be back to hike the summit this year, but if not, I will be back for the 48th year.

This is my favorite hike in our area and is highly recommended.