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.
An old double track goes south from Lac du Bois just below the treeline of Wheeler Mountain and works its way across the upper grasslands hills before descending to the lower grasslands. At the 3.75km mark, the trail starts to drop, so we go through the fence/cattleguard and climb the hill on the left to gain a fine viewpoint over … Continue reading…
British Columbians think of hiking as routes up ridges to hilltops. Part of the reason for this is that we have to hike up through miles of forests to get to the treeline. The viewpoints are best above the treeline or somtimes on slope breaks at mid elevations. In the southwest, though, the Colorado Plateau spans 4 states and ranges … Continue reading…
In November, we hike in the local hills of the area, staying at lower elevations while the snowfall builds up at higher elevations. This month we have hiked in the Abbey Road Hills, the Outer Inks Trails, three routes in the Lac du Bois Grasslands, the Barren Hills, Valleyview Silt Cliffs, Sugarloaf Hill, Ironmask Hills, Opax Hill, Joyce Gulch, and … Continue reading…
We have been hiking Wilcox Pass for about 37 years and we hope to continue to hike it as long as we can. The trailhead is at the Icefields Summit area on the Jasper-Banff Highway. Go south and turn onto the road into Wilcox Campground. Park at the kiosk at 2048m (6719 ft.). The trail climbs through sub-alpine forest with … Continue reading…
Snow Canyon State Park is located just on the north side of St. George, Utah. With Utah’s 5 high-profile National Parks and numerous State Parks, we had focused on traveling to the better-known hiking destinations. We finally chose Snow Canyon on our third trip to the area and we were stunned by the rugged beauty of the park. We chose … Continue reading…
We paddle down Maligne Lake and then set up camp at the two marine campsites. At the end of the day or early in the morning, an alpenglow comes over the hills and reflects in the still lake water, one of the best times to quietly walk the shoreline. the slideshow needs redoing…
Continue reading...Maligne Lake is a prime spot to paddle. Information for paddlers follows. Launch Spot Drive past the Maligne Lodge and continue across the Maligne River bridge over to the public boat launch. Location – N52 48.550 W117 38.596 Picnic Spots There a number of designated picnic spots/landings along the lake. Most of these have a beach to land on and … Continue reading…
One of the very best paddling destinations anywhere is Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park. The launch spot is at the end of the road and the far end of the lake is about 22km. There are only two campsites on the lake. Coronet Creek (B on the map) is at the far end and Fishermen’s Cove (A) is on … Continue reading…
Mouse’s Tank is a short trail in Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. It is sometimes called Petroglyph Canyon. Prehistoric people occupied the area from 300 B.C. to 1150 A.D. The Basket Weavers were followed by the Anasazi Pueblo Farmers in the Moapa Valley. They visited this dry rocky area in the hills in search of game, to gather … Continue reading…
After a week of hiking and backpacking the Grand Canyon from the South Rim in 2013, I was interested in visiting the North Rim, and this fall we took a day trip from Utah down to the end of the road into the North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. The Park had been closed for a week, then reopened … Continue reading…
Although there are 4 official entrances into Kenna Cartwright Park, there are others too, and the one we often use is on the road between the Correctional Facility and the Highway. We drive toward the end of Hillside Drive past the prison, then we park at the old gate where the road dips to the lowest point. There are a … Continue reading…
Long Lake lies in a basin in the grasslands, 100 vertical metres lower than the grasslands hills on each side. The lake is 2 km long, but the chain of ponds in the basin is 4 km long. The upper end starts in a marshy area near the Community Grasslands Trail. The lower end is a hike in … Continue reading…
There is a designated parking area for the Lac du Bois Grasslands area for hikers to explore the upper grasslands environment. This elevation is at the upper limit of the sagebrush and at the same time is full of pothole lakes and glacially-shaped moraines. Moderate routes can be taken through the hills at the edge of the snowline. Above, the … Continue reading…
One of our favorite hikes in the Rockies is Wilcox Meadows. It starts near the highest point on the Jasper – Banff Parkway and climbs to a high viewpoint with view across to the Icefields. Wilcox Pass itself is a high alpine meadow between Nigel Peak and Mount Wilcox. Each time we hike there we hope to see the Rocky … Continue reading…
We returned (link to the previous article) to this route in the fall to enjoy a moderate route along the Trans Canada Trail and the Coldwater Corridor, a total of 12 km. We dropped a car off near the Coldwater River, then drove up to the trailhead in the Village of Brookmere. The trail has a moderate grade of 1% … Continue reading…
The Coronet Creek Trail should be a very popular hike, but not many people know it because its a challenge to get to the trailhead. It starts at the far end of Maligne Lake, 21 km from your vehicle. The lake is restricted to canoes, kayaks, and small boats with electric motors only. We paddled down to the far end … Continue reading…
