This route is really a snowshoe route, but with the warmer weather, all the tracks turned hard and the backroads became icy.   Once snowmobiles have ridden along a route or a few snowshoers have stomped in a track, it is possible to walk/hike on tops of the tracks.   So, this route can be snowshoed in winter conditions or hiked on top of the snow if the conditions are right.

The road to Lodgepole Lake is normally plowed all winter so most vehicles can drive right to the parking area by the Recreation Site at 4600 feet.

Tracks may lead south for a bit before dropping down to the pond to the west or we can walk up the Chuwhels Mountain Forest Service Road for a short distance before going to the end of the pond.   This is a favorite spot for both snowmobiles and snowshoers so tracks are usually there to follow.   Follow the frozen pond southwest.

The pond narrows to a streambed at the south and a trail can be found on the right side.   It had recently been flagged, but lots of tracks had made a clear path through the forest.   The route emerges into a replanted cutblock.   The small trees are not yet tall enough to fliter/block the winter sun.

At the far edge of the cutblock is a logging branch road which can (with some traversing) connect the Chuwhels Mountain Road to the Melba Creek Forest Service Roads to the south, but there is a marked snowmobile track that follows the edge of another large pond just to the west.

After a short tour of the pond, follow the road north until it meets the Chuwhels Mountain Road.

The Chuwhels Mountain Road is driven all winter so it is either hard-packed or icy.   Microspikes are recommended when walking down an icy road.  The loop is about 5km.   On the way out, the low winter sun was not far above the hills above Lodgepole Lake.

This route is a “keeper”, one to return to each winter for a snowshoe or hike.   Some trail marking is already in place and we will add more over time.