The Dewdrop Escarpment are the line of cliffs that rise above the Dewdrop Range on the north side of Kamloops.    The 500 – 690 m (2263 feet) high cliffs are the eroded remnants of successive volcanic flows forming Red Platerau which runs for 18 km from the Tranquille River to Copper Creek.  We can drive up the high clearance Red Plateau Forest Service Road or we can hike up one of several access trails – the Dewdrop Trail, Dead Coyote Trail, 3 Amigos Trail, the Dewdrop Traverse Trail, or up old double tracks near Rousseau Hill.   On this day we chose to climb up through rugged, steep gullies to the rim and back.   We started by hiking through the Dewdrop Ecological Area to the base of the cliffs.

Castle Butte, a prominent feature on the Escarpment rises steeply to the west.

As we hiked through the grasslands to the gully mouth we watched for discoveries, wildlife signs, wildflowers, snags, old or twisted trees, rock formations, springs, and whatever nature has hidden in the remote, rugged steep gully.

	migrating sandhill cranes overhead
arabis in bloom

Much of the route was in a rocky gully with lava bluffs on both sides and loose rocky material underfoot, but a few viewpoints were found as we climbed over ridges.

The slopes have open forests, grassy slopes, and rock outcrops all the way up.   As we climbed we had expanding views south out to Kamloops Lake.

Progress is very slow in this kind of rough terrain.   We averaged only 1.5 km/hour in the gully, staying safe with careful foot placements and using our hands up the Class 2 scramble sections.   .

Going up a ragged chimney above the group’s lunch spot, I emerged on top of the Escarpment, only 100m from the Dewdrop Trail.  The best view are to the southeast toward Tranquiile.

We could have gone east or west to come down an established trail, looping back to our vehicles, but on this occasion, we went right back down the steep gully, making our way slowly to the grasslands 416 vertical meters (1500 feet) below.

There are months of explorations on scrambling routes in the Dewdrop and Dewdrop Escarpment areas.   We have done about two dozen routes and will return to explore more of them for years to come.