The northern end of the Marble Range has a number of fine hiking opportunities.   The best hike is Mt. Bowman, but there are also routes up Porcupine Creek, Lime Ridge, Mad Dog Mountain, Wild Horse Ridge and Mount Kerr.   Most of the trailheads are found off the Jesmond Road between Kelly Lake and the Big Bar ferry.   After my last hike up Lime Ridge, I provided a detailed description of how to get to the trailhead – https://kamloopstrails.net/lime-ridge/

Three years later, we returned to hike the west approach to Lime Ridge.   The pine beetle had killed many trees, but a forest fire through the area also blackened and killed many more trees.   The trail goes right through the beetle-kill, then the burn.

Fallen trees make a difficult and tiring route.   Some sections area still good hiking, but it will only get harder with each passing year.   The trail follows Foundation Creek and the wet valley bottom is still dense with underbrush.   At the end of the valley, we turned up the back ridges.   At times, the trail was hard to follow (we got off track on the way back down).     From the trees, we emerge onto an open limestone meadow that is 5.5 km long with wide, striking views.

These barren hills are an invitation for greater exploration.   To get the best views north and south, climb the ragged limestone summit ridges.  North lies Mad Dog Mountain and Mt. Bowman.

To the west is the Fraser River, hidden deep in a valley.   Beyond are the 8000 foot mountains of the Shulaps and Camelsfoot Ranges.   The limestone ridges of the northern Marble Range stand like a ragged island in the middle of the Fraser Plateau, the Interior Plateau and the Cariboo.   But these mountains are remote and access is not easy.  Lime Ridge is a fine destination for a day hike, but we will try a different route next time, up the east side to avoid all the deadfall and burned trees.

Coordinates:

• Lime Ridge West trailhead – N51 08.063 W12154.435 (between the creek and the foundation)
• Junction with the Mad Dog Mountain Trail – N51 09.120 W121 52.532
• High Camp in the Pass – N51 08.613 W121 51.628
• On top of Lime Ridge – N51 08.063 W121 51.690