This post is going to cover the ins-and-outs of hiking the Mt. Edziza Transverse (Buckley Lake to Mowdade Lake). There is very limited information on the internet, so my dad and I put together this to help those planning a similar trip with the information we would have liked to have known beforehand! Feel free to comment or message me any questions you may have.

Information:

Mt. Edziza Provincial Park is a beautiful and vast remote park in northern British Columbia, just south of the Yukon Territory. It contains wildly different landscapes and habitats hundreds of Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Moose, Caribou, Wolves, and many other creatures. It is a volcanic complex consisting of over 30 dormant/potentially active stratovolcanos, cinder cones, shield volcanos, calderas, and lava domes. It also includes Canada’s tallest volcano, Mt. Edziza.

How We Got There:

Coming from Seattle, it took about a 1.5 days worth of traveling to get into the park. Our route was flying Seattle –> Vancouver, B.C. –> Smithers, B.C., then rent a car and drive about 6 hours (501 km) up to Tatogga Lake, stay the night in the motel there, and take a float plane via Alpine Air out of the lake in the morning into Buckley Lake (20 mins). We then got picked up by Alpine Air at Mowdade on our last day and began the journey home.

[You can also helicopter in, but you will be paying a pretty penny for the convenience]
[Also, we highly recommend Alpine Lakes Air]

*Alpine Lakes Air is the most reliable float plane company, but never count on being on schedule. Our flight into the park was delayed by several hours because of an emergency in another park. Our flight out of the park was lucky because a pilot needed to make a drop off at Mowdade and was 27 flights behind due to weather, and luckily had space to take us back. BRING SPARE FOOD just in case you have to wait a few days.

Overview of the Hike:

This hike is NOT for inexperienced hikers. In fact, you should only do this hike if you are very experienced backpacking in harsh conditions and navigation, or you are with someone advanced enough to guide you. You also need to have adequate gear, and realize that much of your gear will get destroyed in the process of this hike due to sharp lava rock, swampy, and muddy conditions.  At the end of this article I include the gear list my Dad put together, and whatever else we felt like we could have used if we were to do it again.

The trails are well marked near Buckley and Mowdade, but in between it can be difficult to find your way. Even near the lakes the trail can be overgrown, easy to lose, and are no where close to being even decently maintained. While you are on the volcanic plateau, in between the lakes, you will follow cairns. The cairns are scarce and not easy to spot without a decent pair of binoculars, and serve more as an affirmation that you are headed the correct direction than as a guide.

• Time of year: 
  • June 20-Mid September is considered the best time to hike this transverse, as summer is short in Edziza.
  • Even during this time of year expect snow, hail, and freezing temperatures at times.
• Day by Day Itinerary:
  • Online it is hard to find out how long this hike is, but we found our Delorme said we walked about 68 miles total. This is how our days ended up working out:
    • Day 1: Buckley Lake to Willie Williams Camp
      • This is just short of 6 miles, and an easy day. We lucked out with some good weather too. The hike is a gradual uphill hike through forest. We had some swampy areas, but nothing compared to what was ahead! You will know when you show up to Willie Williams camp because it is an established horse camp, with a fire pit, poles to hang food, and a table to eat at! Enjoy the luxury while you can, and make a nice warm fire.
    • Day 2: Willie Williams Camp to Eve Cone
      • This was probably only around 7-8 miles, but we had terrible conditions. Cold sleet downpour and low visibility. We ran into a few folks on their way to Buckley. To escape the wind and rain we found some shelter near Eve Cone and hunkered down attempting to stay warm.
      • We got lost and had to do some serious bushwhacking. Near Sidas Cone, the trail splits into two–take the RIGHT trail, NOT the left to avoid this mistake.
    • Day 3: Eve Cone to 2 miles before Sezill Creek Camp Site
      • We woke up and summited Eve Cone while some of our gear dried out in the cold sunshine of the morning. Then took off and did about 10 miles. We went around the right of Black Knight Cone (aka Tescone Ridge) and made it about 2 miles before Sezill Creek Camp Site before calling it a night.
      • Expect a lot of river crossings this day!
    • Day 4: 2 miles before Sezill Creek to Coffee Crater
      • This is a challenging day. About 10-12 miles. You will cross some creeks, gain some elevation this day, and actually cross a glacier as well. Keeping Edziza on your left, you will come across first, the magnificent and symmetrical Cocoa Crater. You’ll now be walking on ashy sand. Keeping Cocoa on your right, you will curl behind it and enter a river valley in which you must be very cautious as you will be on the glacier without even knowing it.
      • The trail is easy to see as you follow the footsteps in the sand. DO NOT FOLLOW JUST ANY FOOTSTEPS. Make smart and informed decisions about where the safest route is. I got in a dodgy/potentially life threatening situation because I followed footsteps into a gulley that my dad had to rescue me out of.
      • You will then go up and over the glacier. The main trail lead over a literal crack in the glacier, that was idiotic to follow–so we found a new route over a more secure part of the glacier.
      • You will then see the magnificently colorful Coffee Crater! We hiked down a dry riverbed to camp at the base to escape the cold winds coming off the nearby glacier.
    • Day 5: Coffee Crater to Chikama Creek Camp
      • We woke up to some snow, and tried to wait it out before starting our hike, as it was advised not to go over in bad weather. Around noon we  got started and thought we would check it out and if it was impassable we would camp at the base until we could go through. In our opinion the pass was very easy, and could have been done in even slightly worse conditions. You don’t gain much elevation going up, but you do lose a lot going down. Some steep and exposed areas but very manageable.
      • You’ll follow Chikama Creek all the way down to your campsite. The trail was very flooded and the mud would swallow your entire boot–sometimes up to your knee. You will be in a beautiful forest with small pine trees and dense vegetation–very refreshing after being in the ash for several days.
      • There is a horse camp about a mile before a normal camp, we suggest the normal camp because it has a better fire pit and tent pads.
    • Day 6: Chikama Creek Camp to Mowdade Lake Camp
      • This day is not fun compared to the others. I believe its about 12-15 miles and be prepared to trudge through deep mud and water.
      • The trail is very obvious for most of the day, execept when you encounter the beaver ponds. When you enter these beaver ponds, try to go straight across to find the trail again, don’t go wandering around the beaver pond looking for an alternative.
      • Keep your eyes on the prior footprints because losing the trail means bushwhacking through dense vegetation.
      • You’ll start to see signs when you’re within a mile from camp. Camp has a metal bear box and a fire pit. Enjoy!

SUPPLY LIST:

• Bear Spray
• Bear Bangers
• Solar charger
• Normal Charger
• Binoculars
• Duct Tape
• Cameras
• Sun Glasses
• USB Cables
• Long Underwear
• Smart Wool Sweater
• Smart Wool Jacket
• Buff
• Pants
• Underwear
• Shirt
• Sun Tan Lotion
• Bear Proof Container
• Rope
• Food
• All season tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• Head Lamp
• Towel
• Hat
• Soap
• Toothbrush and Paste
• Map
• GPS & Satellite Tracker
• Hiking Poles
• First Aid, Advil and Painkillers
• GoPro
• Drone
• Plastic Map Protector
• Plastic Phone Protector
• Compass
• Knife
• Lighter
• Passports
• Coffee
• Spork
• Coffee Cup
• Data Storage for Backup
• Water Bladder
• Water purifying tablets
• MSR Hyperlight water pump
• Emergency Blanket
• Backpack
• Hiking Boots
• River Sandals
• Batteries
• Socks
• Pants
• Suntan Lotion
• Benadryl
• Bug Lotion
• Mosquito Net
• Waterproof Gloves
• Hat
• Rain Gear
• Down coat
• Underwear