Selwyn Traverse #4

Description:

A trail running along the hillside from Swift Mountain Forest Road almost to Packsaddle Creek, passing through the logging block just north of Packsaddle Creek. It is an interesting hike in itself, and also acts as a feeder providing access to a number of other trails as described below. Horseback riding, skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing have been done by residents along this trail system. It is sometimes used for commercial trail rides. A few wet spots may be churned up by horses' hooves. Most of the trail is dry and has actually benefited greatly from the smoothing and leveling effect of horse traffic. Many parts of the trail on steep side slopes are too narrow for modern snowmobiles, although small vintage machines of not over 2-foot ski-to-ski spacing have used it with some difficulty. If you are a mechanized trail user, you might want to try some of the more open and well-surfaced routes to be found in the area.

The Selwyn Traverse was used in 1990 as part of a horseback endurance-ride competition route, leading ultimately to Dave Henry Pass via the East Canoe Forest Road.

From the trailhead on Swift Lookout Road, the trail follows a noticeable bench on the hillside. Although side trails lead down the mountain at many points along the trail, you should plan on walking the whole thing or else returning the way you came. These side trails pass through private property and some of them tend to dump you into people's back yards. At this writing, the official trail is marked with small number signs. Unofficial access routes have no signs.

The trail stays at almost the same elevation past Selkirk Creek and Tapli Creek, the first of 5 small to medium mountain streams you will cross on this hike. Forests vary from Douglas fir stands to almost pure aspen, with a few large fir "vets" which have survived forest fires that eradicated all their contemporaries. About 1/2 kilometer northwest of Selkirk creek, look for cougar claw marks in a very large white birch tree. This tree has great spreading limbs that no pussycat over 85 pounds could resist sprawling out on. Many aspen trees, too, have claw marks on them. Aspens have bark that scars permanently if scratched. Each aspen tree keeps a permanent visual record of any and all bear cubs, etc. that may have climbed it during its lifetime.

The trail passes through areas where 4 out of every 5 aspen stems have been cut down in order to stimulate new growth for deer and moose to eat.

At McKirdy Creek, a larger stream than the others on this walk, the trail follows up along the creek, following it closely. Just above an old water intake dam, the trail crosses McKirdy Creek on a small footbridge and begins climbing more steeply. It crosses a small road right-of-way and continues to ascend. Follow the signs past the intersection at the foot of the McKirdy Creek Trail.

After ascending along a dry gully and across a false azalea-covered slope, the trail levels out again about 400 feet higher than the section before McKirdy Creek. This altitude gain is necessary to avoid crossing private land, whose corners ascend the valley sides at 45 degrees. A narrow bench is followed as far as Snowcourse creek, where the bottom suddenly drops out of the world.

The trail descends steeply, crosses Snowcourse Creek, follows another bench for a short distance, and then begins a more or less steady descent. The total altitude loss is probably close to 1000 feet. Finally, relatively flat land is reached and the trail levels out once more. It passes through an area where a December 1995 windstorm blew down a large number of trees. Home Creek is crossed, and not long after that, the trail enters a 1979 clear-cut logging area that has regenerated with a healthy stand of young lodgepole pine. Following old logging roads, the trail passes the intersection of the Packsaddle Loop and winds through the forest to the southeast trailhead.

It is easiest to walk this trail in a southeasterly direction, starting at the high end on Swift Mountain Forest Road. Have a vehicle spotted at the Canoe Forest Road end for the return trip (see below).

For continuations of this hike, check descriptions of the various connecting trails in this gude and the Friends of Valemount trail brochure.

Getting There (north end):

From the centre of Valemount, travel east to the east end of 5th Avenue, cross the railway tracks and turn right onto Whisky Fill Road (Main Street) and then almost immediately turn left onto Hillside Drive. Ascend Hillside Drive until a sign tells you it has become the Swift Mountain Forest Road. Continue up the mountain. About three kilometers up the road, watch for the Selwyn Traverse trailhead sign on the right. Park your car well off the road and proceed southeast on the trail.

Getting There (south end):

Begin as for the north end, described above. However do not turn onto Hillside Drive. Instead follow Whisky Fill road a few kilometers to Canoe Forest Road and turn left. After a few more kilometers, a cluster of signs indicates the junction of the East Canoe and West Canoe forest roads. Park here if you have a low-clearance vehicle or are unfamiliar with the area. Another road exits from this intersection - a small unnamed logging road branching off up the hillside. Walk up this steep little road to a rapidly regenerating logged area, and generally keep right at any questionable intersections within the logging block

Hiking Time:

2 to 5 hours depending on direction, 1-way or round trip etc.