Bush Lake Loop on a Grey Day
On a mild grey winter day I snowshoed a loop on the Bush Lake Trails. It was quiet there and the trails were nicely stomped-in.
Continue reading...Dogwood Marshes to McConnell Lake Stomp
On a sunny winter day we started a snowshoe outing at Dogwood Marshes and followed stomped-in tracks south, climbing the forested hillside up toward McConnell Lake Provincial Park. The trail splits into two near the fenceline and one fork ends up at the Kamloops Fish and Game Club McConnell Lake cabins. It was all quiet there as we snowshoed past, … Continue reading…
Coalmont – Blakeburn
We have been to the Coalmont – Tulameen area a number of times, hiking and exploring. On this trip from a number of years ago, we explored Blakeburn and Granite Creek. There are a lot of historical sites to explore and enjoy. A few images are shared here in a gallery format. Click an image for a lightbox view. We … Continue reading…
Ironmask Hills Crunches
Foggy conditions in the valley meant starting a route higher on the Lac le Jeune Road. The upper Ironmask Hills area can be snowshoed or hiked in winter, but the snow conditions were less than ideal. Several freeze and thaw cycles had made the snowpack crusty. Where snowshoers have stomped in a track, conditions were good, but where hikers had … Continue reading…
A Snowy East Rim Hike
After very cold weather and lots of snowfall, the temperatures eased and we could return to winter hiking and snowshoeing. On Christmas Day the choice was to hike the Eat Rim Trail in Peterson Creek. All the trails on the west side were stomped in, but the trails on the east side of the gorge were not. The trails closest … Continue reading…
Buse Creek Homestead
After hiking the Buse Hill Trail, I crossed Buse Creek to explore the old homestead buildings on the western slopes. At this point I have not been able to find out much about who lived there and when, so if you know something, please contact me. Some video footage captures the moments of exploration:
Continue reading...North Vista Hike
On a snowy and cold winter day we hiked a loop route starting at the Doc Findlay Trailhead in Kenna Cartwright Park. Our route was across the northeast shoulder of Mt. Dufferin, a sidehill area of sheltered douglas fir forest. Along the North Vista Trail are a series of viewpoints to the north and east overlooking the benchland trails of … Continue reading…
In the Dogwood Marshes on a Sunny Winter Day
On a sunny December day we snowshoed in the Dogwood Marshes. The main marsh is at the bottom of the hill where Anderson Creek meaders through wetlands, but the marshes extend back into the forests and there are more marshes in the hills higher up where the meltwaters from Hull Hill accumulate in hollows and gullies. Any on-the-snow route … Continue reading…
Bush Lake North Snowshoe
The Bush Lake Trails were developed for the 1979 BC Winter Games and were used as cross country trails for a few years, bu the construction of the Coquihalla Highway cut off the western end of the trails and the Stake Lake Trails were built to replace the lost trails. Since about 1984, the trails around Bush Lake have been … Continue reading…
Kinnikinnik Loop
On a cold and windy day the route was to start at the Home Depot Trailhead and hike into Kenna Cartwright Park. The sun was shining on the open part of the trail as it climbed northwest on the Reservoir Trail. Views extended east and north over the Industrial Park and beyond to Mt. Peter and Paul and the Paul … Continue reading…
Mission Flats Beach Hike
With overnight snow in the hills, we chose to hike in the valley bottom next to the Thompson River. We started at the west end of Mission Flats Beach and hiked along the sandy beaches upstream. Our route took us past two islands, then into the wind, we hiked along the shoreline trails to the start. In winter we sometimes … Continue reading…
McArthur Island in Winter
When conditions are difficult for hiking, we sometimes walk around McArthur Island once or twice. The walking path is often kept clear and we can enjoy the trees, the river, and the views along the way. On the former golf course, now a disc golf course area, there are a variety of trees, including some weeping willows. There is also … Continue reading…
Run, Walk, Hike Goose Lake Road
In winter we don’t always have good driving conditions to get to trails and at times the snow is either too deep or it is icy. Over the years we have found good backroads near to town to run, walk, or hike (or all 3 as in this particular day). One of the best choices is the Goose Lake … Continue reading…
Doc Findlay Snow Stomp
Right after a snowfall we hiked a loop in Kenna Cartwright Park that included a favorite section on the Doc Findlay Trail. I knew Dr. Findlay (link) and his family and I am pleased that the trail was named after him. The creation of Kenna Cartwright Park was partly due to his efforts. We started at the Pacific Way trailhead … Continue reading…
A Sugarloaf Hill Ramble
November was a month of recovery, walking and hiking area trails, with a different route each day. On a snowy day we hiked up the Sugarloaf Hill trail, around the northwest flank close to the highway. Some of the route was stomped in, but we were breaking trail past the small lake at the foot of the forested slopes. The … Continue reading…
Peterson Creek Snowy Trails
After a fresh snowfall we had a half day of sunshine for a snowy hike in Peterson Creek Park before winter snow and cold temperatures returned. It was icy under the freshly-fallen snow, but microspikes on hiking boots made hiking the trails enjoyable and rewarding. I saw other people wearing soft winter boots, but they are not supportive of ankles … Continue reading…