Camping in the sunshine, finally! - Greendrop Lake

Now that the nice weather is finally here, it was time for some fair weather camping and Greendrop Lake was the chosen destination on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Even though the weather forecast called for sunny skies and hot weather, I was prepared for the worst. I never leave home without the ten essentials in my pack, no matter how long I plan to be gone. Safety is the most overlooked part of hiking. So many people think "it could never happen to me" when, in reality it can happen to anyone.

After driving for over an hour, we finally reached our destination at the Lindeman Lake parking lot, near Chilliwack, BC. As suspected, the lot was very full with overnighters from Friday night, and quickly filling up with day hikers.

We quickly grabbed our gear, laced up our boots and we were off on our adventure. It was so nice to not dress in layers and have to put on snowshoes to trudge through the snow! YES, spring camping has arrived!

After a gruelling grind uphill with heavy packs, we finally reached Lindeman Lake in just over an hour. There were a lot of people up there already, enjoying the crystal green waters of this beautiful lake. We ventured on another 3.7km to spend the night at Greendrop Lake, a place neither of us had been before. The trail was easy going, with the exception of a few stream crossings (yes, I got wet!) and some large rockslides to cross.

We got to Greendrop around 12:30pm, chose our site and began to set up camp. There were only a few people there when we arrived, but that quickly changed as the day went on. After camp was set up, it was time to hang the hammock and kick back for the afternoon. This was my favourite part of the weekend. What better way to unwind, than to lounge in a hammock!

After a series of short naps, it was time for dinner. Mmmmm freeze dried food at its finest!Risotto and Beef/Broccoli stirfry were on the menu. I usually make my own dehydrated meals, but I wasn't prepared enough before going on this trip.

As daylight was fading, many people started fires at their sites, which was concerning due to the amount of natural fuel was sitting in the ground...dry sawdust, spruce branches...so much could go wrong with just a small spark, but thankfully everyone was responsible. We, on the other hand, hit the power button on our Biolite lighting system and lit up our site with mini "tea lights" and our paper lantern...all powered by a rechargeable usb power pack. If you haven't checked out Biolite's line of products, you're missing out!

After a peaceful sleep in the great outdoors, we got up, cooked up some breakfast and hit the trail. By the time we reached Lindeman Lake, it was packed with day hikers, kids and dogs, all soaking up the sunshine and even a few brave people taking a dip in the frigid water! I was disgusted at the amount of garbage people left behind, including numerous beer cans. If you can't pack it out, don't pack it in. So disappointing.

The trail from Lindeman Lake back down to the parking lot is quite steep. Definitely not suitable for the flip flops, sandals and Chuck Taylor shoes we saw many people wearing on their way up. So many unprepared people.

Before heading out into the backcountry, whether it be for an afternoon, overnighter or multiday trek, please make sure you're well prepared so you're not putting our search and rescue teams at risk if you get lost. Be familiar with the area, tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back. Stay wild. Stay safe.