A surprise long weekend trip to a remote mountain lake
In British Columbia Canada the third Monday in May is Victoria Day, a statutory holiday. So it was off to the mountains for the first summer car camp of the season. The plan was to go into Tum Tum lake in Upper Adams River Provincial park. A remote park well off the beaten path.
We drove for a few hours on a forest service road. Travelling along the Adams river north until we finally arrived at the campsite along this remote lake. For three days my brother and i were alone. After we claimed the campsite we wandered around and took a look at the area.
The outfall of the lake is really neat. The lake pours into this falls and a class 6 rapid.
The following day we were up early and canoed the length of the lake. While out there the lake it glassed off and was like a mirror. We quietly paddled along taking in the spectacular scene in front of us.
Once we canoed the length of the lake we were able to paddle up the Upper Adams river for several kms. It is a remarkable river, crystal clear with a beautiful gravelly bottom. We paddled upstream with relative ease in the mellow current.
Finally about 5 km upstream we were facing a much stiffer current. We pulled in on a sandbar and had a bite to eat. Turning downstream we were back at the lake in under 30 minute.
At some point along the river the water is only 6" deep and the canoe skims over the gravel bottom like we are floating on air.
This was a surprisingly good weekend. We wren't completely sold on the area before going but it exceeded our expectation and seeded more mountainy adventures in the area. Unfortunately it is 3.5 hours on a logging road back to the highway and another 2 hours from there. Glad to have gone to this jewel of a lake but likely won't be back. Such a good weekend