GDT

Distance: 6km from signpost to campsites on Etherington Creek.  Elevation gain: 250m.  Elevation loss: 250m.  The Trail is marked with orange paint blazes, and red flagging in the cutblock section.

From the signpost, follow the arrow toward Etherington Creek.  Round the toe of a low ridge and arrive at a high-elevation 3-log bridge.  Cross Baril Creek.  All the elevation gain occurs in the next kilometer.  The Trail is steep, well-defined and, in rain, slippery.  After an initial boggy section, the trail climbs through trees, angles up a grassy slope - views of the south face of Mt Armstrong behind - then again through trees until the lower meadow is reached.

The view opens up as you climb higher, while the Trail gradually dissipates into a carpet of grass and wildflowers. Hold onto your hat, the wind from BC can be fierce.  Looking back west, above the Baril Creek headwall Mt Shankland peeks over the Mt Bolton/Mt Armstrong col.  Through a gap in the trees to the east, the Raspberry Ridge Fire Lookout is visible.  The abandoned lookout on Mt Burke can also be seen.

The Trail re-enters the trees on the east edge of the high meadow (cairn, flagging), goes past a patch of glacier lilies, then drops steeply into forest. Lower down, it traverses more open forest - an ancient burn. Just past a point with limited views down into Baril Creek, a well-defined trail goes left, possibly a loop back to Baril Creek for the horse riders. Shortly after, the Trail reaches the cutblock.