These hills to the west of Middle Mountain on the west edge of Barnhartvale are unnamed (until now), but they are steep climbs to great viewpoints. All three hills are approached from Barnhartvale. Take Todd Road and turn onto McLeod (Uplands) Road. Park at the far west point of the loop. You will see a parking area, a gate, and … Continue reading…
Hiking on the Gulf Islands has a long season – from March through November. We traveled to Cortes Island in the summer, paddling and hiking for a week. The island is too big to do in one week, so we contented ourselves with first doing the easy access routes. We were more than surprised to find that Kw'as Park by … Continue reading…
Salt Spring is the biggest of the Gulf Islands and we have not yet made the time to explore it fully enough. We enjoyed our paddling in Ganges Harbor and Long Harbor. We were impressed by the hiking and camping at Ruckle Park and we enjoyed the hikes on Mount Maxwell, but we have yet to do a dozen or … Continue reading…
We were impressed by the hikes on Galiano Island. Good trails, excellent viewpoints, and a variety of terrain. Bodega Ridge Provincial Park Near mid-island, park at the end of Cottage Drive and start a gentle climb up Bodega Ridge. It is a 12 km return trip along the top of the ridge featuring sandstone formations, eagles and peregrine falcons, and … Continue reading…
We will continue to return to Galiano Island for a late winter retreat to hike and explore, and in summer to camp and paddle. Galiano is the first stop on the Southern Gulf Islands Ferry from Tswassen. Once the ferry is launched, you can be offloading at Sturdies Bay in an hour. We prefer to head inland down the … Continue reading…
In two previous posts, Mount Warburton Pike and East Point Park were featured. There are lots of opportunities to hike and paddle on Saturna and a few are noted here. Winter Cove Park This point of land is within the National Park Reserve. There are about 1.5km of hiking and some shoreline viewpoints. Winter Cove and the shores around Samuel … Continue reading…
Although the Mount Warburton Pike route is the premier hike on Saturna, there are several other hikes, walks, and bikes. One of our favorites is the hike/scramble around East Point Regional Park. The hike is only 1.5 km, but the sculpted shoreline and offshore islets make this a special place to explore: Nature’s artwork here is fascinating: A … Continue reading…
Much of Saturna Island is National Park or Protected Area. We have found the hiking and explorations here to be top-notch. Our favorite hike was the ridge walk along Mount Warburton Pike. We were able to drive to the top, then hike the open ridge south. The west slopes are open grasslands and bluffs with wide views in every … Continue reading…
This was an article I wrote for Gold Country: Moving goods through the Interior of B.C. was never easy. High mountains, steep canyons and raging rivers challenged every route. The Pacific Fur Company established posts at Okanagan, Spokane, and “Shewhaps” (Kamloops) at the junction of the North and South Thompson Rivers. In competition, the Northwest Company connected routes between New … Continue reading…
In Cathedral Provincial Park. start from Quiniscoe Lake, take the Pyramid Lake Trail and continue to climb to Ladyslipper Lake. Wildlfowers cover the meadowed slopes around these plateau lakes. The lake is a beautiful blue color and larch trees add a magical quality to these high cirques. Climb the ridge to the rim, following cairns. Views continue to be impressive, … Continue reading…
Once established at Quiniscoe Lake, there are two premier hikes, although they can be combined into one long day (14 km) and can be done in either direction. The Cathedral Rim hike offers a good route up to the rim of the bowl above the lakes of the park. To do this hike in a counter-clockwise direction, start at the … Continue reading…
The first of a series on Cathedral Park…. Cathedral Provincial Park lies southwest of Keremeos high in the Cascade Range. Access is by the Ashnola River Road which leads right to the trailhead. It is possible to hike up the track to the alpine, but this is a long (16km) dreary back-breaking hike and not recommended. We did it once … Continue reading…
If you have the opportunity to stay one extra day at Peters Lake in Monashee Provincial Park and you have already hiked Mt. Fosthall, then another good hike is to climb to Fawn Lake and beyond to the Valley of the Moon. From Big Peters Lake, take narrow trail up the draw on the signed Margie Lake Trail, but watch … Continue reading…
A hike into Monashee Provincial Park must be well-planned and good weather is important. It is a long drive, a long hike to Peters Lake, and a good climb to the top of Mount Fosthall. But, if the conditions, are right, this is a premier hike. From Big Peters Lake, follow the (signed) trail to South Cariboo Pass, then continue … Continue reading…
Monashee Provincial Park is approached from the west side of the Monashee Divide. Almost all of the approaches to the Monashees are difficult. This is true wilderness and there are not many roads that penetrate the ranges. The trailhead is reached by traveling west from Vernon through Lumby to Cherryville, and then north to Sugar Lake. Drive 46 km north … Continue reading…
Another route onto the Wapta Icefields is from the Yoho Valley. This is also a challenging route and also should be attempted in good conditions. We had to camp out along the route (most skiers do) and so you need to bring full winter camping gear. The route starts at the head of the Yoho Valley near the campground. The … Continue reading…
