20 Mile Bay BCFS
campground is about half way up Harrison Lake, just off the
WHFSR.
There are over 50 well groomed rustic campsites nestled in the
trees along both sides of the point. Many of them are situated on
"view property". This would be an awesome spot to pitch a tent and
enjoy the majestic beauty of Harrison Lake and the surrounding
mountains for days on end.
The camp is situated directly on top of the
Chehalis ancestral tribal village of St'epsum ("narrow neck", "a
place to rest your head'"). It does not take much imagination to
visualize a village here! It would have been one of the "best
places on earth" to live!!
20 Mile
Bay is sheltered by Long Island or Hikw Tl'tsas "Island of the
dead". It is the resting place of Chehalis ancestors "Kuya" and
"Xoyet-thet", who originated at the village of St'epsum. You will
have a clear view of the island (and far beyond!!) when you hike up
to the cache location.
In the late summer, Harrison Lake is fed by melt water from Mt.
Breckenridge glaciers. The water is a stunning azure blue (a
tell-tale sign of glacial melt) in mid-September.
The parking coordinates will take you to the gate at the campground
entrance. If it is locked, it will be an easy hike down the road to
the campground. Of course, you can drive in if it is open. Check in
with the campground hosts if they are on duty.
You do not have to leave the trail to log this cache, so
please stay on the established trails to avoid harming the
sensitive ecology.
The cache is a medium size L&L and located on the
East side of the trail. It is tucked into a natural cavity under the
exposed roots of a fallen dead tree & carefully covered
with rocks. As the hiding spot faces towards the trail, please
re-hide it as you found it to ensure it is safe from view. Muggle
activity will be high in the summer months!
Be respectful of the heritage of this BC Forest Service campground.
The site was immaculate when I visited it. Please do your part to
keep it this way. The only "litter" I found was a couple of eagle
feathers!! Bring your camera and a picnic lunch or pitch a tent and
rest your head!!
There is a FTF pin for the first finder. Trade fairly from then on
& enjoy this wonderful place!
Terrain rating reflects the challenges of getting here at various
times of the year.
Please leave no trace in this special
environment!!