2:30PM - Packs and people squeeze into the Westy as its off to the trailhead!

3:45PM - All saddled up and ready with about 300 pounds of gear and food between us, we cross Gun Creek at the Jewel trailhead and set off on the well-used trail.

7:00 PM Set up camp in an open meadow area below the trail next to the river, approx. 8 km from trialhead. A thorough wash in the creek, then dinner and food-hanging adventures. (Adventures as in Andre climbing a tree in the dark to saw down a dead branch that had tangled the rope 30 feet in the air...)

Noon - Met 2 fellows on horses coming out before the Spruce Lake junction, shortly after 2 older men out on a dayhike to Trigger Lake from Spruce lake, then1/2 hour later met a group of mtn. bikers who'd been flown into Warner Lake; Andre and I knew one of the guys from our old neighbourhood!

1:00PM - A quick swim, then lunch and relaxation at Hummingbird Lake.

2:45PM - Continued hiking. Hot & muggy, flies started becoming active. Filtered water at some creeks when our lake water ran out. Climbed some minor elevation, met the 2 older men returning from their day hike. Minutes later we arrived at Trigger Lake. Though it was early, about 4:00PM, we decided this great a camp spot couldn't be passed up, so we settled in for a relaxing afternoon and evening with (of course) some swimming and more food-hanging adventures (something about a tree giving way that Mr. Engineer Nick had or had not "certified").

--- Morning campfire compliments of Ashley, hot porridge for all and tea for Sarah.

9:10AM - Hit the trail for another day of hiking. Walked alongh the shore of Trigger Lake and just past the end of the lake came to the Warner Pass / Deer Pass junction.

Confusion Abounds as we follow the left fork signed for Upper Gun Creek - our destination. The trail led to a packers cabin, shortly after which it seemed to dissapear in a multitude of possibile directions in the wide grassy valley. After a few wrong leads, we went back to the cabin where Ashley, Sarah & I waited while Andre & Nick scouted for about a half hour. Returning to us with news of a decent trail, we continued. After a few minor creek crossings we found ourselves in a thickly wooded forest, the trail much smaller and less used than what we'd been on, but easy enough - for now...

Blowdowns and Bugs became the challenge in the early afternoon heat. All signs of trail clearing by "BM" (who??) ended along with recent signs of use. No horse has come through here in a good long year, and likely not any hikers. The going was slow and hard; the packs only a few pounds lighter grinding into our shoulders and hips, the black flies enjoying an extensive feast, the trail difficult to follow, and sharp, akward blowdowns to negotiate under, over and through.

3:00PM - After the crossing the trail became a little easier to follow. We came upon a perfect caming area just above the creek - a dry & spacious open area with - but we had far to go and many good hiking hours left in the day.

Shortly after we came upon the second crossing of Gun Creek. The trail on the opposite side became fainter and fainter as we hiked through dry, open fields, then gradually began a consistent ascent through mostly denser forest. Trodden paths and flagged routes conflicted with each other, so we just took our own lines through the bush in the direction of Taylor Pass.

5:00PM - We stepped from the forest into a vast open meadow with a large structure near the creek. A huge barrel stood elevated under a tin roof, and another large elevated box stood with its door ripped off by very likely a curious grizzly. We puzzled over what these structures might be for, but found out 2 days later they were supply shelters for heli-ski operators who frequent the surrounding alpine.

10:30AM - We may not all have slept in long, but we had a fairly leisurly morning eating breakfast and packing up before slinging on our packs and beginning on the fourth days journey.

After less than an hour of hiking we came to a viewpoint from where we could see both Wolverine Pass and Taylor Pass. We decided to cross Gun Creek once more and ascend Wolverine Pass to spend some days exploring the alpine from a basecamp.

The moment we stopped moving swarms of horseflies zeroed in on us; more than any of us could ward off. Landing on our hats, packs, poles, boots and of course bare skin, there was no warding off the sheer numbers surrounding us.

Fresh Grizzly Tracks in the mud next to a small tarn had us wondering if our approach up the pass had been noted by a large, local inhabitant, or if it was just passing through..

10:20AM - Andre and I departed on our chosen route for the day; up the steep ridge separating us from Gun Creek, along it all the way to above the far end of Leckie Lakes, then down to the far end of the lakes where we had lunch and a quick dip in the water. From there we hiked up to a round tarn below and behind the prominent peak above the Leckie Lakes, up to the peak, then down to the other peoples' base. We enjoyed a long swim in a small lake, then hiked 45 minutes back up to our camp.

The rest of our crew also hiked up the same ridge, but came down a little sooner, then also enjoyed a long swim in the small lake just before the Leckie Lakes.