32. OLD GLORY TRAIL

 

 

Both the Old Glory and Plewman Trails take you to the same high point on Unnecessary Ridge before a single trail (Old Glory Trail) continues on the last 2.5 km to the summit. The Old Glory Trail is longer and with easier grades than the Plewman Trail.

The hike to the top of Old Glory Mountain is demanding, but very popular – a ‘rite of passage’ for locals for the last 100 years. It links you to the history of the Forestry Lookout and Meteorological Station (manned full-time from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s) atop the summit.

Both the Old Glory and Plewman Trails connect with the Seven Summits Trail which runs north-south along the ridge crest for 30 km. The Plewman Trail crosses it at about Km 10, and the Old Glory Trail shares it from about Km 10.0 to Km 12.5 from the north end (at Nancy Greene Summit on Hwy#3B).

 

To Top of Old Glory:

Elevation Gain: 1050m

Length: 8.5km

Hiking, biking, snowshoeing, equestrian: Advanced

 

Trailhead:

(Q) Hanna Creek (10.0 km; +360m) from downtown: Set odometer at 0.0 km at Start Point at intersection of Columbia Ave. and Washington St. North up Washington St. to Hwy#3B at Km 1.1 ( 6 blocks up Washington St., angle left up Plewman Way 1 block, left onto Kirkup Ave. and 2 blocks to Hwy#3B).

 

Right on Hwy#3B. Continue up Hwy#3B to Km 10.0. Short road with trail leads left up off the highway into the trees. Park in either of the small areas on either side of the highway. Additional summer parking approximately 200m further up the highway on the lower side.

 

Trail:

Old Glory Trail begins at the same trailhead as the Plewman Trail.

The Old Glory Trail is approximately 6.0 km of well-established trail of mostly mixed grades to near the high point on Unnecessary Ridge at its junction with the top of the shorter, steeper Plewman Trail. It then continues approximately 2.5 km to the summit of Old Glory Mountain.

Elevation gain: + 700m to high point on Unnecessary Ridge; then drop -50 m to a saddle below Old Glory, then up +350m to Old Glory Summit. Total climb +1050m.

The trail begins on an old road – approximately 100m to a junction. Plewman Trail goes right. Old Glory Trail goes straight ahead on old road. The first 3.3 km is on this old road in the forest to a large clearing on a saddle at the bottom of Unnecessary Ridge where it joins the Seven Summits Trail. The first 2/3rds of this old road/trail has a pleasant easy grade and is nicely wide (provided the alder has been cleared – which has been the case since 2004). The last 1/3rd to the large clearing is steep and mostly rough due to water runoff.

 

From the large clearing in the saddle, the trail turns to the right and runs up the Unnecessary Ridge crest for approximately 2.5 km in open terrain with good views. A very attractive section to hike, bike or ride. Good views all around.

The trail arrives at a junction near the high point on Unnecessary Ridge, located just below the crest of the ridge on its west side. The Plewman Trail (&Seven Summits Trail) drop down, to the west a very short distance, from the ridge crest to this junction. At this point, dead ahead to the west is the impressive bulk and peak of Old Glory Mountain with an old white structure visible on the very top.

From here, one can continue on to the summit of Old Glory Mountain as described below. Or, if satisfied reaching this high point on Unnecessary Ridge, one can return the way one has come up, or return down the Plewman Trail.

The Seven Summits Trail runs north generally along the ridge crest with the peaks of Unnecessary, Plewman and Lepsoe easily accessible off this trail.

The Old Glory Trail continues approximately 2.5 km to the summit of Old Glory Mountain, initially descending from the junction about -50m to a saddle visible ahead directly ahead below the peak. It then turns left (south) to traverse below the entire east face of the mountain – mostly at a relatively flat grade, then climbing at the south end to gain the skyline ridge. It goes beyond onto the broader ‘back‘ (southwest) side of the mountain on which it wind its way up to the summit. From the low point below the peak, the climb is about +350m elevation gain.

Old Glory is the highest peak in the area and the views are expansive.

 

Winter Ski Touring:

For experienced, and well equipped backcountry skiers the Old Glory Trail can be used up to/down from the high point on Unnecessary Ridge. This is especially enjoyable on the relatively open section along Unnecessary Ridge. A caution is that descending the last 3.3 km to the highway can be awkward due to the encroachment of alder and other growth which narrows the trail to the extent that it can be difficult to control one’s downhill speed – especially when using light equipment.

Ski touring from Unnecessary Ridge on to Old Glory Mountain is a step up in terms of mountaineering challenges and risks – extremely dependent on conditions.The avalanche hazards can be high. It should only be attempted only by very experienced, and very well equipped backcountry skiers.

 

 

 

 

33. PLEWMAN TRAIL

 

 

Both the Plewman and the Old Glory Trails take you to the same high point on Unnecessary Ridge where a single trail (Old Glory Trail) continues the last 2.5 km to the summit. The Plewman Trail is shorter and steeper than the Old Glory Trail.

The hike to the top of Old Glory Mountain is demanding, but very popular – a ‘rite of passage’ for locals for the last 100 years. It links you to the history of the Forestry Lookout and Meteorological Station (manned full-time from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s) atop the summit.

Both the Plewman and Old Glory Trails connect with the Seven Summits Trail which runs north-south along the ridge crest for 30 km. The Plewman Trail crosses it at about Km 10, and the Old Glory Trail shares it from about Km 10 to Km 12.5 from the north end of the Seven Summits Trail (at Nancy Greene Summit on Hwy#3B).

 

To Top of Unnecessary Ridge:

 

Elevation Gain: 700m

Length: 5.0km

 

Hiking, biking, snowshoeing, equestrian: Advanced

 

Trailhead:

 

(Q) Hanna Creek (10.0 km; +360m) from downtown: Set odometer at 0.0 km at Start Point at intersection of Columbia Ave. and Washington St. North up Washington St. to Hwy#3B at Km 1.1 ( 6 blocks up Washington St., angle left up Plewman Way 1 block, left onto Kirkup Ave. and 2 blocks to Hwy#3B).

Right on Hwy#3B. Continue up Hwy#3B to Km 10.0. Short road with trail leads left up off the highway into the trees.

Park in either of the small areas on either side of the highway. Additional summer parking approximately 200m further up the highway on the lower side.

 

Trail:

 

Plewman Trail begins at the same trailhead as the Old Glory Trail.

The Plewman Trail is 5.0 km of moderately steep, well-established single-track trail to the top of Unnecessary Ridge where it rejoins the Old Glory Trail. Elevation gain is considerable (approximately 700m.)

The trail begins on an old road – approximately 100m to a junction. The Old Glory Trail goes straight ahead uphill.

Plewman Trail goes right, beginning on an old road. Within another 100m or so cross a stream. At about 1 km, cross a substantial creek on a bridge, and a few minutes further on another bridge – both over forks of Hanna Creek. Trail is all in forest until it enters the Plewman Basin (approximately 3 ¼ km from the trailhead) at which point the trees become smaller. A small creek is crossed at the entry into the basin. Gradually the trees give way to open slopes and, near the top the trail surface becomes more rocky. A final traverse leads to the crest of Unnecessary Ridge (5 km. from trailhead). Unnecessary Peak is a high point on the ridge just above you to the north. Good views all around. Dead ahead to the west is the impressive bulk and peak of Old Glory with an old white structure visible on top.

The Seven Summits Trail leads off to the north (approximately 10 km to Nancy Greene Summit on Hwy#3B).

The Plewman Trail (including the Seven Summits Trail) drops down the west side of Unnecessary Ridge (toward Old Glory) a very short distance (200m) to a junction where they join the Old Glory Trail.

From this junction one may proceed to the Old Glory Summit (2.5 km further), and/or return down the Old Glory Trail (6.6 km) (initially along Unnecessary Ridge ; also part of the Seven Summits Trail on this stretch) – see the Old Glory Trail Trail Description.

The Seven Summits Trail runs north generally along the ridge crest with the peaks of Unnecessary, Plewman and Lepsoe easily accessible off this trail.

 

Winter Ski Touring:

 

For experienced and well equipped backcountry ski touring enthusiasts, the middle portion of the Plewman Trail is heavily used in winter as an access to & from the excellent ski touring in Plewman Basin and in the treed slopes to its east into Hanna Creek. Winter trailhead is at a plowed parking area approximately 1 km further north up Hwy#3B from Trailhead (Q) Hanna Creek. Find trail on road off highway about 100m up from parking area. An initial, tiresome mostly flat trail in an old clear-cut finally begins to climb as it turns into the Hanna Creek drainage. It enters the forest and joins the summer Plewman Trail at approximately its 1 ½ km point from Trailhead (Q) Hanna Creek. Return same way.