Trailhead: Smith Ridge #240
Miles to Camp: 7.5
GBCA is excited to collaborate with Clearwater Trekking on this trip into the Mallard Larkins Pioneer Area to Heart Lake. Volunteers will join Ranger Joelle on the first part of her patrol in this beautiful, rugged country. On the way to Heart Lake, the group will help resurvey some old camps with the USFS, chart weed populations, and enjoy the views. At Heart Lake, cleanup of the area and inventories of campsites will be conducted. Join us if the Mallard Larkins has been on your bucket list, or if you’ve never heard of the area before. You’re bound to have a good time while taking care of this wonderful piece of land.
**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever-changing fire activity.
DIFFICULTY
Hiking
Strenuous: This 7.5 mile hike will take us along Smith and Goat Ridge and drop us down into Heart Lake. Some sections are steep, while others give you relief with a view.
Work
Easy: Work for this trip demands more brain power than physical power. We will be conducting campsite and noxious weed inventories.
INTINERARY:
Day 1 | Meet at the Aquarius Campground at 0800 PST. Carpooling is an option up to the Smith Ridge Trailhead from here. We will hike in while doing campsite surveys and noxious weed inventories. We will camp as a group at Heart Lake.
Day 2 | After breakfast, the group will help with cleaning the Heart Lake area and finishing campsite surveys. Joelle will part with the group from here, and the volunteers and Clearwater Trekker will make their way back to the trailhead around lunchtime.
Great Burn Conservation Alliance trips are Free. Each volunteer will be required to make a 100% refundable deposit to secure a trip spot. The cost of the deposit is $50, which will be returned if you cancel at least 3 weeks before your scheduled trip or once you attend the trip. A lot of planning goes into these trips and we need to make sure you’re committed! If you are unable to make a deposit, please reach out to hayley@greatburn.org