The area above Pratt Road in Barnhartvale is a a rugged area with surprisingly-remote hiking for the intrepid.    Access has changed as new homes have been built off the end of Pratt Road.   The two original access routes are now cut off and hikers now have to follow a very steep fibre-optic line to the highlands.   Drive up Tod Road and turn onto Pratt Road.   Drive to the end of the road and park in the circle.   Look for the hiking trail starting on the south side behind the vehicle gate.   Follow the trail as it passes several private property sections,   As the trail splits into side routes, continue south, even when it starts to go down toward the Campbell Creek Valley.    Look for power lines for a fibre optic line and turn west climbing steeply up the hill.   Follow the double track up the hill and continue all the way up to the crest.   Look for a side track to your right (north).   Follow this track north as it winds along the sidehill towards Sunrise Mountain.

Continue north at all junctions.   The final section has a few junctions, but a number of different routes can be used to go to the top of GMS Hill, an open ridge to the south of Middle Mountain, the most accessible of the 6 hills in the area.

We climbed all of the hills in the area.   We enjoyed the one farthest to the southwest with its fine views down the Campbell Creek Valley.   The hill to the northwest is a sprawling set of hills and ridges with open views north and west, but has a lot of off-trail route-finding.

This is an area that takes a few visits to know well.   The first hill is challenging, but once up on the highlands, all of the routes are rewarding.   On our last trip, the winds were howling on top of GMS Hill and it was hard just to stand upright.