Pleasant Golden Larches | Manning Park | Mt. Frosty | British Columbia - Trekkerpedia

Golden Larches are a type of conifer tree. They feature soft, light green needle-like leaves dotted with seed cones. Larches are deciduous, meaning that they lose their needles each year (unlike evergreen trees). British Columbia is home to several types of the larch tree, with the alpine larch, or Larix lyallii. Alpine larch grows best at elevation (above 2000m) in cold, dry, and rocky terrain. For this reason, alpine larch forests are pretty rare. The biggest concentration in British Columbia is found in and around the Rockies. Due to slow growth, alpine larch trees may look small but are actually some of British Columbia’s oldest trees! Some sources claim that the larches in Manning Park as up to 2,000 years old. British Columbia is home to a type of larch called the Larix laricina, also known as the tamarack. These thrive in poorly drained, boggy soil and are found in most areas across Canada, from Yukon to Newfoundland (but not in southern BC!) Alpine, western, and tamarack larch trees are some of the only coniferous, deciduous trees. Despite having cones like evergreen trees, larch trees drop their needles every autumn. Before doing so, the needles turn from verdant green to a gorgeous golden color for a short time. With alpine larch trees being located in mountainous areas, the dramatic yellow color of the needles provides a spectacular contrast against the snow-capped peaks. Of course, the high alpine location also means that some hiking is usually required to see them. The best time to see the golden glory of British Columbia’s alpine larch is in early fall. There is usually a two-week window for the best colors. Here are my recommendations as per location in British Columbia: Mid to late September for the Rockies and surrounding mountain ranges (Selkirks, Purcells, etc) Mid to late September for Cathedral Provincial Park Late September to early October for Frosty Mountain This video was shot on the Frosty mountain hike in Manning Park in British Columbia. Frosty Mountain, E.C. Manning Provincial Park, is, by far, the most popular place to see alpine larch trees in British Columbia. The reason is simple – Manning Park is the western limit for alpine larch trees in BC, making Frosty Mountain the closest larch destination to Vancouver (about three hour's drive). Convenience aside, Frosty Mountain is a spectacular larch viewing destination. The trail winds right through an expansive larch meadow, providing many different vantage points and photo opportunities. The trail to access the meadow is, however, uphill all the way from the Lightning Lake Day Use Parking Lot. The climb is pretty steady but don’t underestimate it. Adventurous hikers may want to continue past the meadow to Frosty’s panoramic summit via a rocky ridge ascent. The additional distance makes for a long day in the alpine, but the rewards are plentiful. As well as the out-and-back hike as described below, it’s possible to hike this trail as a 27km loop via Windy Joe Mountain. The exact timing of this golden peak varies from year to year and is highly dependent on weather conditions (specifically temperature). Western larch turn golden a little later in autumn. In the Okanagan Valley, the peak is usually from mid-October to late October. The timing is similar in the Kootenays but can run until mid-November. Here are the Larch viewing tips Keep an eye on social media. Use Facebook and Instagram to check the status of the larch colors Plan to arrive early. Popular larch trails can get very busy. The earlier you go, the less crowded the trail (and the parking lot) will be Visit on a weekday. Saturday is the most popular day to hike larch trails, followed by Sunday Stay on the trail. Alpine areas are exceptionally vulnerable to damage Camp in designated areas only. Do not camp in larch meadows Never expect to have a phone signal in alpine areas. Tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to be back What to bring hiking in larch season The weather can change quickly in the alpine so it’s crucial to bring appropriate clothing and gear. Even if the conditions look favorable in the parking lot, the situation can be very different at higher elevations. This is particularly true during the larch season when winter weather is possible. For this reason, bring clothing suitable for warm and cold weather. This includes (but is not limited to): Multiple warm layers (I recommend merino wool) Insulated jacket (down or synthetic) Waterproof jacket Gloves Warm hat Scarf/Buff Micro-spikes for better traction on snowy/icy paths Music in the video: Almost in F - Tranquillity by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/