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JUMBO PASS
Jumbo pass, located in the Purcell Range of British Columbia just north
of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy, can be accessed
from either the west side, via the north end of Kootenay Lake and Glacier
Creek, or the east side, via the Columbia Valley and Toby Creek.
Either access requires a long logging road approach,
however the trailheads on each side both put you rather close to the pass so
actual hiking times are short.
We did the hike in August 2000 from the west while based at a cabin
near Kaslo on Kootenay Lake. Access to the
Monica Meadows
trailhead is just a few kilometers to the north of the Jumbo Pass trailhead.
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Cabin at Jumbo Pass [402 Kb]
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From the trailhead, elevation 1585 m, most of the acsent to the pass is
through subalpine forest, although there are still views of surrounding
mountains. Open meadows are reached just below the pass, elevation 2270 m,
with great views to the south of Bastille Mountain and many other
high Purcell peaks.
Just a few hundred meters to the north and above the pass is a forestry
cabin which is available for overnight stays by reservation. A faint
trail climbs the ridge to the north of the cabin and continues along
the ridge for about one kilometer. Views from the ridge top are even more
sweeping than those down at the pass.
Even though this was an August hike, we were treated to a mid summer
snow storm while decending the trail back to our car. It seemed odd
seeing meadows in full bloom with snow falling.
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Hoarfrost on tree [300 Kb]
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Meadows below Jumbo Pass [322 Kb]
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