GDT

Distance: 6.5km from the campsites at Etherington Creek to the Cataract Creek crossing.   Elevation gain: 250m.  Elevation loss: 225m.  The Trail is marked with orange paint blazes, and some flagging tape on the ridge section.  Two blazes indicate a change in direction.  There is no water on the ridge. 

From the campsites, go straight across the meadow (no trail) to Etherington Creek.  There may be a log where the Trail officially crosses.  Otherwise it's a 3-step, knee-deep ford either here or at the horse crossing downstream.   Very soon after leaving the meadow, the Trail crosses a new logging road.  It then zig zags up the flank of the ridge, nearly touching the snowmobile trail at one point.  Higher up, traverse to the right and out onto the grassy west side of the ridge.

Rye Ridge looking north to the Highwood range

This ridge walk deserves to be more popular, despite the cutblocks in the valley below.  Expect lots of wind.  An easy hike on grassy trail, the views widen out to the north and south the higher up the Trail climbs.

To the north, Mist Mountain peaks around the flank of Mt Armstrong, and Gibraltar is just visible at the north end of a line of largely unnamed peaks comprising the Highwood range.  Westward, a wall of rock runs from the washboard ridges of Baril Peak (2998m/9837') south to the scree slopes cascading off Mt Etherington (2877m/9437'). If you enjoy seeing the mountains, rather than being in the mountains, this is a special place.

Where the trees first manage to spill over the top of the ridge, look for flagging on the left.  The Trail goes a short distance into the trees, angling right.  The path is a bit vague along the crest of the ridge.  At flagging, turn right and head back out onto open grass.  (If coming the other way, a path has developed before the blazed tree, although the Trail actually runs behind it.  No matter.  Follow the trail for few steps until it stops, then look for flagging to your left.)

Mt Etherington with cutblocks below

Once again in the open, the Trail crosses the high point of the ridge and re-enters the trees.  Be alert for a double blaze indicating a sharp right, where the Trail descends slightly to join the snowmobile trail at a cairn.  The snowmobile trail leaves the trees and runs along the exposed ridge for a ways, then dips back onto the east side of the ridge.  After a brief respite from the wind, the GDT leaves the snowmobile trail and returns to grass. The Trail begins to descend the southwest toe of the ridge.

View south from near high point

The Trail finally leaves the ridge when it descends a short steep hill and rejoins the snowmobile trail one more time.  The old road is easy walking as it gradually descends through the forest.  Cross a logging road.  Cutblocks are visible to the left before the road skirts a cutblock on the right.

There's lots of action in the next km or so.  On reaching a fork, stay right.  A few metres later, reach a cutline at a signpost.  The way to the left is the so-called super-direct route back to the Cataract Creek access.  The GDT turns right onto the cutline.  Cross an old logging road then stick with the snowmobile trail as it turns left away from a cutblock. 

Saunter down to where the road reaches a banktop with views into the headwaters of Cataract Creek.  Here, the GDT splits off right at a cairn and blazes.  The trail quickly loses elevation, then follows the crest of the bank overlooking the north fork as it swings around into the main valley.  At the junction with the Cataract access, the GDT stays right and descends down to the creek.  Left goes to Perkinson's Cabin and the trailhead.