Just returned from guiding five guests on the Augerpoint Traverse in Strathcona Provincial Park.

Grid references: WGS84.

Weather: Mostly sunny four of five days with obscured skies during most of day three. High 25ºC. Low 5ºC. Winds generally calm to light northwest. Pressure rising 1015 to 1021 hPa.

Route: Started at Paradise Meadows Trailhead adjacent to Strathcona Wilderness Centre, 1089 m GR 328128. Finished at Jack’s Trailhead above Buttle Lake, 251 m GR 165065.

Wildlife: No sightings or sign of local mega-fauna (e.g. black bear, cougar, Roosevelt elk). Several mini-fauna sightings and sign (e.g. frogs, mice, angry squirrels). Lots of birds (e.g. whiskey jacks, Cooper’s hawk, hummingbirds, flickers, and an American dipper).

Notes: Environmental conditions were tip-top. The route was very dry and tacky. Weather was stellar. Interior smoke was cleared out. Bugs were insignificant. Alpine was broiling in full sun. Low ceiling on day three was welcomed by our group for its cooling effect. Made for some exciting off-trail navigation in the limited visibility. Generally, backpacker traffic on this route is low. Besides the usual traffic of Paradise Meadows day hikers and Circlet Lake backpackers on day one, and the lonely Moat Lake Circuit hiker on day two ... we saw only one other party of two heading eastbound through the traverse on day three, two couples of day hikers/runners on day four and five. Check out our Augerpoint Traverse Guide for full trip planning details. https://mbguiding.ca/augerpoint-traverse-strathcona-provincial-park/

Mike Blake, HG