A challenging hike to the alpine with interesting geology. Wildlife viewing is possible. Bootski lake offers great views with geologic features. The lake changes in size and colour throughout the summer and is worth seeing at different times throughout the season to appreciate fully.

Mountain goats are often seen on the brown shale face on the lower right of the wall of Wapitik Mountain. Wildflowers along the ridge include Langsdorf's Lousewort, with its vertical stalk of pink flowers. The bedrock forming the rock face above Bootski Lake is limestone of the Mount Hawk and Palliser formations, which is of Devonian age, about 370 million years old. It had its origin in a warm shallow sea much like modern day Bahamas with coral reefs and extensive tidal flats. These sediments slowly built up in layers, eventually hardening into rock. These rocks were uplifted and folded during the formation of the Rocky Mountains, then shaped by glaciation into the landscape we see today.

The saddles to the northwest and southeast of the lake formed in the softer rock of the Pedrix Formation. An anticline (arch in the rock strata) passes through both saddles.

As with many lakes formed in limestone, Bootski Lake does not have a surface stream as an outlet; it drains through underground through cavities in the rock. The lake is full from spring snowmelt. The level slowly drops throughout the summer, leaving concentric rings as the shoreline recedes. Features like the underground outlet of the lake and the sinkholes in the ridge leading to the lake are characteristic of karst topography. This forms in limestone due to the dissolution of the rock by weakly acidic water.

From the parking area, the route follows a deactivated logging road. High clearance 4WD vehicles may be able to drive this road, but be aware there are creek crossings and deep cross ditches to navigate. After 650m there is a creek crossing which must be waded at high water. At low water, you can hop across on the rocks. The road leads into a cutblock and climbs to the top of it. After 3 km, a sign shows where the route leaves the road and climbs upwards through the last of the cutblock into the forest.

The route climbs steadily through the forest until it passes through a burned area. This fire was active in 2006, and burned the slopes on the opposite side of the valley as well. Watch for flagging marking the way in this section.

Eventually the route passes back into intact forest, which is more stunted and open as you gain elevation. The last of the trees are left behind at about the 4 km mark. The route climbs to the crest of the ridge, with a rock cairn and sign marking a turn to the left. Remember this cairn, or mark it with your GPS, as you will need to find it for the way back. The dramatic wall of Wapitik Mountain dominates the view to the west.

Follow the ridge crest up to the left, which climbs moderately then flattens out. Proceed towards Bootski Lake in the bowl directly under the face of Wapitik Mountain.

There are two worthwhile side trips in the area. The short steep climb above the lake to the southeast brings the hiker to a saddle. There are excellent views of Mt. Becker and its subpeak from here. For experienced and fit scramblers, the ridge to the east of the lake can be climbed as well, reaching the summit at 1955m. This route ascends steeply up loose rock, then follows an exposed ridge. Take great caution on the ridge, as it has very narrow sections with steep drop-offs on both sides. Do not attempt this route in wet or windy weather. The reward is a spectacular view down to the lake, with the rock wall as an impressive backdrop. This is a good place to look at the folding in the limestone rock layers. Do not attempt to descend towards the saddle, as there is a cliff that is not passable.

From Tumbler Ridge, drive south on Highway 52E (Boundary Road) for 48 km. Turn right onto Ojay Main Road. This is a radio controlled industrial road and a radio with the proper channel (RR1, 150.080 MHz) should be used.

Follow the Ojay Main Road for 25 km to a fork, and take the right fork onto the Wapiti Forest Service Road. Follow this road, crossing the Wapiti River at km 5. Drive to km 12.1, turn right onto a small road and park here. The road is deactivated past the creek crossing.

This route is in bear country; travel in groups and make noise.

Please pack out what you pack in.

Alpine weather can change suddenly - carry appropriate clothing and a map and compass or gps.

Don't wait until it's too late; 911 rescues are free in BC.