Today we hike a section of the Arizona Trail which is an 800 mile non-motorized trail that runs from Mexico to Utah. It runs over deserts, mountains, ridges, through canyons, and communities. The section we hiked started at 8000 feet on Mt. Lemmon. We hiked the Marshall Gulch Trail which is also the Arizona Trail, then returned in a loop …Continue reading…
A number of hikes have been planned and scheduled, all to fit probable conditions for each area: March – April Savona to Sabiston Trail Battle Bluff – Dewdrop Ridge Frederick Bluffs Rabbit Island Long Lake Mara Canyon and Summit Painted Bluffs Six Mile Hills Neskonlith Meadows and more May – June Canyon Creeks Mt. Wheeler Traverse Red Plateau Escarpment …Continue reading…
Posts are now queued up ready for publication: Dec.17 – Mount Peter Dec. 20 – Brussels Hills Dec. 23 – Balancing Rock Hills Dec. 25 – McAbee Hills Dec. 28 – Dam Lake Loop Dec. 31 – In the Fog… Jan. 3 – Dufferin Ridge planned – Walhachin Hills, Cache Creek Hills, Opax Bluffs, Roche Lakes route, Dufferin Ridge, Upper …Continue reading…
Several places we hike to are included here: Batchelor (with a t) Batchelor Hills, Batchelor Lake, Batchelor Mine Named after Owen Salisbury Batchelor who moved to Kamloops in 1895 He built and ran a stamp mill just below the hills and was involved in several other mining ventures in the area Mara Mara Mountain, Mara Trail, Mara Canyon (Kamloops) Named …Continue reading…
In October Jacko Lake was a busy spot. We counted 20 vehicles in teh parking lot/boat launch. We paddled around the lake staying close to the shoreline to stay out of the way of anglers. After paddling we climbed over some of the hills to enjoy the sunshine and check out the views. We were mindful of the mine property …Continue reading…
Struthers Creek Falls is a small falls that tumbles over lava cliffs. It is accessed from the Orchard Lake Road. A few kilometers up the road is a wooden sign on a tree and there is room for a couple of vehicles to park on the side of the road. A narrow trail descends and traverses sideslopes to a rocky …Continue reading…
A favorite summer duo is to paddle Stake Lake, then hike the trails. We paddled around the lake with grandkids, then found a route to go geocaching. Along the way soopalallie shrubss were full of berries. Dragonflies patrolled the shoreline and along the trails close to the lake. In a shady spot white baneberry (poisonous) was …Continue reading…
From the top of July Mountain in the Cascades, we had fine views of rugged peaks in every direction, a few of which are featured here. Juliet Peak, immediately west of July Mountain: Mount Thynne, to the east see the recent article on this website): Mount Baker, far away (117 km) to the southwest The Anderson Range, 12 km southwest.Yak …Continue reading…
We try to paddle all of the lakes in our area and a number of them warrant a return visit. We enjoy both Knouff (Sullivan) Lake and Badger Lake. We drove from the Heffley Creek – Sun Peaks Road up the Knouff Lake Road, past the community of Knouff Lake to the BC Rec Site on the west side …Continue reading…
Mistletoe grows on catsclaw, Utah juniper, scrub oak,and mesquite in the desert hills of Nevada. On the border of California on the way to Death Valley, every tree in the saline flats had several growths. The hemi-parastic plant sends roots into the branches for nutrients and moisture. In the spring they start to turn green and by March the plants …Continue reading…
We have 3 types of snowshoeing in our area Trail Snowshoeing – follows established trails – may be signed and may have a trail fee (Sun Peaks, Stake Lake, etc.) – few hazards and suitable for all levels of snowshoers Off-Trail Snowshoeing – routes on trails and off trails – may have some traverses of denser forest with some under-the-snow …Continue reading…
There is lots of snow for snowshoeing this year so hikers are encouraged to get out to enjoy a stomp in the winter forests. Previous articles provided an introduction to snowshoeing: Snowshoeing 101 Snowshoeing 102 Further tips are included in this article. Snowshoe Boots We can use either hiking boots or winter boots for snowshoeing, but few winter boots …Continue reading…
Smartweed is an aquatic perennial herb found in our region’s lakes. It roots in shallow areas and spreads by rhizomes. Branches rise up toward the surface and can be anywhere between 30- 80 cm long. Leaves are lance-like and usually are floating. Pink flowers form on the ends of the branches, floating above the water. We encounter smartweed in most …Continue reading…
In the Lac du Bois Grasslands and all the grasslands surrounding Kamloops, a succession of wildflowers starts in March and continues until the fall. In late spring, geum trifolum starts with basal clumps of leaves. Long stalks grow up and urn shaped pink flowers emerge. As the flowers fade, feathery plumes on seedheads are left, nicknamed old man’s whiskers. Other …Continue reading…