MOUNT ST. THOMAS(THE VERTICAL SMILE)

TIME - 4 HOURS

RATING - DIFFICULT

ELEVATION - 4900-6700-1500

-2000 feet of climbing with 5300 feet of down

-drive 31 km east of Christina Lake on Hwy.3.

-park at Bonanza gravel pit.

-ride from the pit and take the first right

-at 2km go left and at 3km go left up the hill

-follow the main road until the main road until it ends.There should be large posts in the ground to prevent motorized vehicles from going through.

-go through the barricade and continue along the trail and up into a logging block

-continue up to the top landing where it looks like it's the end of the road (it's not)

-take the skid trail to the right(you are probablypushing)try to pick an easy route to the top centre of the block

-once on the top skid trail look for pink ribbons to guide you.The trail is easy to follow once you leave the block

-the trail will come into open meadows,now push up the ridge to the top(about a 20 minute push)

-now the top,follow rock cairns,staying to the left until you reach the repeater tower

-once at the tower look for pink ribbons and cairns to guide you through the meadows and down to an old road

-once on the road just follow your nose,5300 feet of down to Christina Lake and did I mention we needed a shuttle?