We returned to Joss Peak in 2015 on a hot, hazy day in the summer.   It takes about 2.5 hours to get up to the trailhead of Joss from Kamloops.   At Three Valley Gap, we turned south onto the Wap FSR and at the 6.0km mark, we turned up onto a high-clearance road in an active logging area.   After about 10km of climbing, a sign marks the parking area and trailhead (at N50 50.369 W118.29.941).

From the start, the trail is steep, climbing through cedar-balsam forest to a subalpine ridge, then through meadows to the alpine summit.   Flagging tape marked the route to the peak.

Climbing the upper part of the mountain, the route skirts cliffs to access the summit meadows.

It is obvious that a glacier had been in the shaped-eroded cirques on both sides of the mountain, but now only late-season snowfields remain.   Note the Dominion Forestry Lookout on top of the mountain.   It was built in 1921 and restored in the 1960’s.   We noticed it had been further restored since last year.

The lookout makes a fine place for lunch.   Views of the highest peaks of the Monashees lie to the east and south east.

A third of the route is through alpine meadows with open views.

In a dry summer and late in the summer, a few wildflowers could be found at the upper altitudes where some snowmelt has seeped through the ground.

We really like Joss Peak and we will return to hike the trail again.   We haven’t yet taken the longer east approach (article) so that may be our choice in an upcoming summer venture.

Notes:

• another article on the route – Joss Mountain
• Revelstoke Trails article on Joss Mountain West