I started exploring this area in 1976 and I continue to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, I chose to share this information. Getting out 12 months each year, I continue to explore trails, tracks, routes, and waterways of the Kamloops area and beyond.
Palmer Meadows Lake lies in the hills east of Stump Lake, not far from Dardanelles Lake. It is a dammed lake with the reservoir benefiting waterfowl and ranchers that need summer irrigation. The dam has created a larger lake, flooding copses, meadows, marshes, and low areas. Access is by backroads (Old Kamloops Road > Fraser Road > … Continue reading…
Trophy Mountain is the best hike in our area, so we plan at least one hike there each year. In 2019, we hiked into the Trophy Meadows in June and in July we did Trophy Mountain (Two) Summit. In some years, we have the long traverse over to Cwem Cwem Lake and over the upper rim in a long and … Continue reading…
While camping in Clearwater, we did 3 days of hiking in the Clearwater River Valley and in the Trophy Range. For a half day hike we drove up the Clearwater Valley Road for 4.3 km to the Candle Creek Trailhead (Triple Decker Falls). We hiked down the trail to an eclectic turn-around spot and then back on the same trail … Continue reading…
We backpacked from the Philip Creek trailhead to Fight Lake, then camped overnight, climbing to the top of Battle Mountain on the second day. On the third day I was up for sunrise. The sun was rising in the east, still below Philip Mountain but the glow was on Fight Lake. To the west some rain clouds were approaching … Continue reading…
We backpacked into Fight Lake on Day One, then we did a 16 km return hike to the summit of Battle Mountain and back on Day Two. Battle Mountain is the fourth mountain in a line from Clearwater – Raft Mountain, Trophy Mountain, Table Mountain, then Battle Mountain. Battle Mountain stands at 2369 m (7772 feet) and the shortest hike … Continue reading…
Bleeker Lake is a long narrow lake located just north of Roche Lake. To get to the lakeshore, drive up the Roche Lake Road and then turn left onto the Bleeker Lake FSR (3 km before Roche). Follow the bumpy 2WD road to the west end of the lake. There is access to the lake off a side road, close … Continue reading…
Battle Mountain is the third mountain in a line (Trophy Mountain then Table Mountain) on the east side of the Wells Gray Corridor Road. It is a long way in and up to the mountain so it is best done as a 2 or 3 day backpack. A few decades ago, I did this route (to the summit of … Continue reading…
In late summer or early fall we often drive through Barnhartvale to the Robbins – Campbell Range Road, then onto the Scuitto Lake Forest Service Road to launch a kayak in each lake. In August and September we expect to encounter birds on the lake – pelicans, sandhill cranes, herons, eagles, loons, kingfishers, ducks, yellowlegs, killdeer, and more. In this … Continue reading…
We had planned a hike to the crest of the Monashees, but the weather was marginal so we made a last minute decision to do a local hike instead. We drove out to Barnhartvale then up Todd Road and then Ronde Lane, parking at the end. We hiked up the steep Sunrise Mountain Trail, straight up the ridge … Continue reading…
We camped at the Seton Dam Campsground and hiked into the Cayoosh Range, but we also explored the trails in the Seton Dam area. From the campground we hiked up to the upper bench, crossed the highway and found a trail down to the beach on Seton Lake, then followed the river down to the dam and beyond to the … Continue reading…
When we travel to the lakes of our area to the Interior, we usually try to go a lake that is large enough to warrant the time an effort to load up, drive, launch, reload, and drive back. We prefer a lake that has a 5 km shoreline or longer. If we choose a smaller lake, we try to … Continue reading…
We camped in Lillooet and drove up the Duffey Lake Road to access the Downton Alpine Area. We turned off the highway onto the Downton Creek Forest Service Road 24 km from Lillooet. The road crosses a number of bridges over Downton Creek, some of which are signed as “closed.” This backcountry road becomes narrow, rough … Continue reading…
Ross Moore Lake is a pleasant lake in the Lac le Jeune area, but its not easy to get to. The best road access is to drive out onto the Brigade Lake Road, then turn onto the Long Lake Road. After the last ranch, the road is not maintained very often so it will requires some slower driving on backroads, … Continue reading…
Tranquille River Canyon is a rugged area from Tranquille Crossing right down to Kamloops with steep walls or rock in some sections. In the narrrowest part of the canyon, the walls are vertical and close enough together to be called a “narrows” at least and a “slot canyon” for some sections. The river is funneled into these canyons, eroding … Continue reading…
I have been exploring the lakes and trails off of Highway 24 that connects Little Fort to 100 Mile House. I try to get to a lakeshore to launch a kayak, but I also try to find trails and double tracks to hike. The east end is very quiet and remote. On one summer day, I drove into the Latremouille … Continue reading…
On our last hike to the top of Trophy Mountain, we stopped to take many photos along the way. The alpine wildflowers were out, we spotted ptarmigans, grouse, and marmots, The snow was still melting, the tarns were full, and summer had arrived in the Trophy Range. Some of those photos are compiled here into a short video. … Continue reading…
