Author Archives: D. Smith

Exploring Badger, Spooney, and Little Badger Lakes

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On a summer day I drove backroads to Badger Lake.    I launched my kayak then explored narrow marsh channels to get to Spooney Lake, then did a loop to do much of badger Lake.    After paddling, I secured the boat, then hiked secondary backroads to Little Badger Lake, a quiet and remote spot in the hills.

Badger Lake is one of the best paddling lakes in our area. I usually paddle the marsh channels where regular boats can’t reach. There are were ducks, marsh birds, and a muskrat ear Spooney Lake.

spooney

The track to Little Badger Lake would require 4WD. I went down a narrow trail to the lake’s edge, which would be okay for a hand launch.  It appeared that there was a better launch spot on the other side of the lake (0.5 km farther).

The hike was out and back. If I had hiked farther on the backroad, there is another lake to explore, but I am saving that for another day.

Uplands Ridge Hike

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On a sunny July morning, time was limited so I chose to hike a known route which started at the end of the McLeod and Uplands Rd. trailhead.    A number of single track trails wind over the grasslands benches, all great for spring and fall hiking.     There are also some trails that climb into the hills, used by hikers and mountain bikers.    Some … Continue reading →

Tod Mountain Peak

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On a hot summer day in mid-July we took the chairlift from the Sun Peaks Resort up to mid-mountain, then we hiked a longer loop route to the top of the mountain and then back on trails through the West Bowl.   There was a bit of haze in the area, but it was mostly sunny and the wind was helpful with any mosquitoes or flies.   The … Continue reading →

Rossmoore Lake Kayak and Hike

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On a hot day in July, I ventured out on the Long Lake Road, then continued on the bumpy Rossmoore Lake FSR for 16.5 km to Rossmoore Lake.   There is a small Rec Site on the lake, with a steep and rough boat launch.   On this day, I kayaked around the lake once, then hiked tracks and trails on the east side of the lake, visiting … Continue reading →

Lodgepole Lake Trails

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After a day of smoky conditions the morning cleared up and it was even clearer in the high forest at 4600 feet.     I returned to hike trails I have done before, snowshoeing or summer hiking.    From the campground at the Lodgepole Lake Recreation Site, I followed a signed trail down to the Lily Pond.     This was a narrow trail through the forest down … Continue reading →

Monte Lake Kayaking

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Monte Lake is located by Highway 97 between Kamloops and Vernon.     The lake lies between the highway and a seldom-used railway.   A small community is on the northeast corner of the lake.   The hills surrounding the community and the lake were burned in the  2021 White Rock Lake fire. We can launch a boat from two spots, from a side road at the north end … Continue reading →

Tunkwa Lake Kayaking

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Tunkwa Lake is located in the hills to the northwest of Logan Lake.    We can get there by going through Logan Lake and turning onto the Tunkwa Lake Road (about an hour of driving).    We can also turn off the TransCanada Highway just east of Savona and go south on that same road.    We usually go there by one road and return on … Continue reading →

McConnell Lake Trail

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On a grey and drizzly morning I drove up the Lac le Jeune Road to McConnell Lake.    It had rained all night in town and rain clouds still hovered of the area.    As I hiked around the lake, it rained lightly.   It was a quiet morning for this 3.5 km route.    An eagle was perched on a tree on an island.   A pileated … Continue reading →

McQueen Lake to Isobel Lake

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In the first week of summer the hike chosen was a route from McQueen Lake to Isobel Lake. A short distance from the turn into the Overnight Center an older trail bears northeast.    This was once called the Forestry Capital Trail, an interpretative trail through the forest with stations along the way.     Many of the numbered posts are still positioned along the trail, but … Continue reading →

Coal Hill Hike

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From the upper side of Aberdeen, we can hike tracks that wind up the hill toward the top of Coal Hill.    A number of tracks link to the Pineview Trail network.    Some of the tracks are remnants of mining routes and there are old digs and remains of a couple of cabins.   The grasslands above are pasture lands so hikers should avoid any areas … Continue reading →