MOUNT GLADSTONE 2250m 7350’
Location: Located 9 km NE of Christina Lake in the Christina Range of the southern Monashee Mountains. Late in the season, there are thousands of ladybugs on the summit. They hibernate under the rocks.
Difficulty: C3
Elevation gain: 1070 m 3200”
Key elevations: TH 4100’, summit 7350
Distance: 12km return.
Time: 6 hours round-trip
Access: good 2WD high clearance. 8 km on a good dirt road.
Season: June through October
Map: 82E1/ Grand Forks (north edge) and 82E8/ Deer Park
Drive: 0.0 From the Castlegar cloverleaf on Hwy 3, drive west towards Christina Lake, 44 km and turn right on the Blueberry Paulson Bridge Bypass Road (just before reaching the Paulson Bridge). Follow for 6 km total – down to the Kettle Valley Railway and then north along the rail bed 2.5 km north and park. A large open field is on the left and Hopper Creek meets McRae Cr at this point.
Trail/Route: A well-placed log (since replaced by a bridge) crosses the creek that is parallel to the road. Allows access to the field, an old lumber camp with a building site and the trail on the west side of the field. The trail starts as a well-used lane going south, rapidly gains elevation and switches back northward to parallel Hopper Creek. Cross the creek and wind northward up the avalanche path to the ridge high above. Climb the small peak on the east end of the ridge if desired. Head west on the ridge to the summit.
Alternative route: A much prettier route follows the ridge around the Hopper Creek bowl for expansive views. First, go up to the first small peak south of the Hopper Creek basin. This is the SE end of a ridge that curves to the north and after a few hundred metres of ups and downs reach the summit from the south ridge.
From the summit, views to both Christina Lake and Arrow Lakes. Descend to the creek below, then the old cabin site, steep hillside to the trailhead and across the bridge.