MOUNT FERRIE 2365 m 7759’
This is the high point of the long ridge above Summit Lake. Summit Peak, at the west end of the ridge is 6kms away. The ridge can be seen from the highway, but the true summit is set back out of sight behind the skyline. It has an extensive ridge system with spectacular views of Slocan Lake, the Goat Range, and Valhallas.
Although the hiking time is pretty standard, the long drive there necessitates an early start/late return if done as a day trip. Can overnight car camp either at the Wilson Lake rec site (bring your canoe), or at a creek near the trailhead.
Rating: ♦♦♦♦◊
Difficulty: B2
Elevation gain: 1600′
Key elevations: Park 6145′, Summit 7759′
Distance:
Time: 2 hours up
Season: July through September
Access: 2WD
Map: 82K/4 Nakusp
Drive: From Nakusp. Take Hwy 6 to 8km south of Nakusp, turning right (east) at the Box Lake Lumber sawmill (big sign – can’t miss) onto Wilson Lake Road (good gravel).
From New Denver, drive north on Highway 6 and about 8 km. north of the Summit Lake rec site, turn right (north) onto the signed Wilson Lake road. Zero odometer.
0.0 Pass through the Box Lake Lumberyard on the Wilson Lake Road (good gravel) until just before it descends way down to the Wilson Lake rec site, turn right onto the East Harlow road (no road sign visible). staying on the mainline that is rough and stoney, and making these turns: km. 3.5, go left (signed); km. 5.3, go right; km. 6.5, go right; km. 7.5, go left; km. 8.1, go left; km. 9.7, go left (GR 544- 641) 2WD but rough and stoney.
10.9km Turn right or south onto the unsigned Harlow Creek road –
0.0 Continue on Harlow Ck Rd – high clearance because of some water bars. There is some alder so shiny new vehicles beware.
4.0km Turn left and cross Harlow Creek (the right fork might go toward Summit Pk.)
7.3km Bend right at a switchback.
8.6km Reach a landing (588-598, GPSed at 6145’).
Route: Start on a short trail past the Harlow Hut sauna followed by a steady climb through mostly open ground to the ridge top – B2 rating. The ridge is flat/rolling meadows and very scenic. Climb Mt. Ferrie via the south ridge – relatively easy class 3 scrambling. Anyone not interested in the summit would still have a great time just walking the ridges. A great hike.
MT FERRIE 2365m 7759’ Oct.1 by Kim Kratky
(Map 82K/4 Nakusp)
This is another of those, “I’ve been meaning to explore this area for 20 years,” articles. Mt. Ferrie is part of the long northwest-southeast tending ridge along the north side of Summit Lake and stretches from near Box Lake to Hills. On a warm and sunny Friday, Kyle Ridge, John Eggleton and I made a day trip to this attractive spot.
First, the road access. Drive north on Highway 6 and about 8 km. north of the Summit Lake rec site, turn right or north onto the signed Wilson Lake road and re-set your odometer. Pass through the Box Lake Lumberyard, staying on the mainline and making these turns: km. 3.5, go left (signed); km. 5.3, go right; km. 6.5, go right; km. 7.5, go left; km. 8.1, go left; km. 9.7, go left (GR 544- 641); and km. 10.9, turn right or south onto the unsigned Harlow Creek road. To this point, the surface is 2WD but rough and stoney.
Reset your odometer again. Continue and at km. 4.0, turn left and cross Harlow Creek (the right fork might go toward Summit Pk.). At km. 7.3, bend right at a switchback. Finally, reach a landing at km. 8.6 (588-598, GPSed at 6145’). The Harlow road is excellent 2WD.
Now for the trip. Judging that Mt. Ferrie lay to the ESE and only 1600’ above us, we headed east and up into the cut block above the truck at 10:55. Clad in shorts and t-shirts, we passed into open timber, followed a watercourse, and in one hour reached a rocky basin where we lunched at the base of Ferrie’s west ridge (599-595). As we snacked, we enjoyed views of the Harlow cabin, Summit Pk, and the lengthy inviting, open ridge extending for kilometres above Highway 6. After our break, we continued up the easy rock and turf of the west ridge to gain Ferrie’s summit at 12:55. After inspecting the cairn (no record), we sprawled in the sun for an hour, savouring some of the most spectacular West Kootenay views I have ever enjoyed. Most of the Goat Range lay before us, with Mt. Cooper directly to the east. On the west, from south to north, we could see the Valkyrs, Valhallas, the Pinnacles, Monashee Provincial Park, the Gold Range, Mt. Begbie, and way up the Columbias beyond Revelstoke. To the east and north, we spotted Loki, Willett, Templeman, and Moby Dick and its cohorts. Heading down at 2:00, we re-traced our steps to the truck in 1 hr. 20 min. for a 4 hr. 25 min. day. An easy round trip from Nelson, 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. A good trip for next fall would be Summit Pk, directly above Summit Lake.
Kim Kratky
