For many years I have been hiking Rabbit Island in early March from McArthur Island. Sometimes there is some ice to cross and there is a cold water river channel to cross. The narrowest part of the channel is about 11m across and the moving water comes just above the knee. I use a dry suit and boots, then I change on the … Continue reading →
At the end of February the weather warmed quite a bit and the snow and ice cleared off of the lower hills in the valleys. There was no frozen ground, so there was very little mud, except in a few low spots, but they were easy to skirt. The open sagebrush grasslands trails in Valleyview Nature Park were fine for hiking on a partly … Continue reading →
The BC Parks Foundation is leading a fund-raising effort to purchase lands above Juniper Ridge. A donor has provided 50% of the funds needed and a campaign has been launched to crowdfund $1 million for this project. “This area near Juniper Ridge is a breathtaking 517-acre landscape east of Kamloops, home to rare grasslands, centuries-old trees, and vital habitat for species at risk. These grasslands … Continue reading →
At the end of February, winter starts to give way in Kamloops. The temperatures get milder, but the hills are still covered in snow. With milder days, but colder nights, the snow can turn to ice. More exposed slopes melt more quickly, but there is a period of muddy trails. We have to be selective in our choices. Routes in the bottom … Continue reading →
We do most of our snowshoeing in the forested hills to the north and south of Kamloops. there are many good routes within a half hour drive. On occasion, though, we travel farther to do a destination snowshoe. We have snowshoed Iago Peak twice in winter and once in summer, as well as many of the neighboring peaks. Most of the peaks … Continue reading →
The forecast was for snow and rain, but the weather and mild was grey, but fine for hiking. I started my winter hike at the Pacific Way Trailhead and followed a series of trails – Upper Doc Findlay, Owl’s Perch, Ruffed Grouse, North Vista, and Upper Doug Daws for a 1.75 hour hike using microspikes. Some of the narrower sidehill trails were not as well-stomped-in, … Continue reading →
I snowshoed a route through the upper grasslands of the Lac du Bois Conservation Area up to a series of viewpoints on the southwest side of Clapperton Ridge a few days ago in sunny conditions. Then, I took a group up the same route after a snowfall in greyer conditions. The same route was a bit harder with two snowfalls filling in the tracks. … Continue reading →
When conditions are marginal or time is short, it is nice to have some “go-to” trails for a shorter hike. These trails start just off McGill Road > Bunker Road, just past the recycling bins. There is lots of parking for this area on the northeast end of Kenna Cartwright Park. Many route combinations are possible. The trails can be hiked in either direction. … Continue reading →
On a sunny and cool February day we snowshoed on the Stake Lake Trails. We followed a track along the east side of the lake, then continued on a stomped-in track for a 5.4 km loop route on the Basalt Bluffs and Marsh Trails. There was no wind and it was actually warmer at 1320 m (4330 ft.) at Stake Lake than it was in … Continue reading →
When the temperature stays cold for weeks, all of Peterson Creek Gorge freezes over. Water may run under the ice and may even flow openly in open areas, but in the narrow canyon by Bridalveil Falls, the entire route to the falls is ice, with some rocky areas to scramble across, but any progress to the falls will have to include hiking on the ice. … Continue reading →
