Snowshoeing on Hull Hill
Hull Hill is a sprawling forested hill that fills the whole space from the Goose Lake Road to McConnell Lake, a total area of 25 square kilometers (5 km x 5 km). It has been extensively logged and replanted and there are a few resource roads that provide limited access from each side. In winter, the best access for snowshoers is in the northwest corner off the Goose Lake Road. A cattleguard gate/entrance 350m down the Goose Lake Road provides access to secondary backroads . The road splits at 725 m and either fork provides moderate snowshoeing access. The right fork is more open, and an out-and-back route climbs to some wide views. We snowshoed to the end of the track, breaking trail for about half the way.
The first kilometer is in the forest, but the double track emerges into replanted blocks where the aspens stand taller than the juvenile pines.
At 1.4 km we veered off the track to visit the Jack Booth Homestead (link to more information).
The track continues southwest for about 700m without climbing.
Then the track winds up the hill for another 1.5 km before ending at a landing. At this point we had good views all the way to Dunn Peak in the north and over to Chuwhels Mountain in the west.
We returned the way we came, appreciating our own well-trenched tracks. We enjoyed some sunshine breaking through wispy clouds on a mild winter day. We try to snowshoe Hull Hill each year, sometimes choosing different routes. Next time (perhaps) we will go around the north side of the hill on a grey day, stomping through the forest in mid-winter.
<There are a few posts on Hull Hill on this website if anyone is looking for more information.>