Tag Archives: hiking

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.

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 →

Paddle and Hike at Stake Lake

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At the start of May I drove up to Stake Lake to paddle the lake and hike the trails.   There are a number of lakes where this can be done, like McConnell Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paul Lake, Lodgepole Lake, Logan Lake, Heffley Lake, Tunkwa Lake, and others.   Usually I paddle first since winds arise by about 11:00.    I paddle around the lake once or … Continue reading →

Mt. Galiano Hike

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We have been to Galiano Island a few times to hike, paddle, and explore.    One of the best trails on this Gulf Island is on Mount Galiano.    We hiked to the top of Mt. Galiano one day to enjoy the views, then we hiked the the Collison Park Trails another day.   The trail to the top of Mt. Galiano winds up through the forest … Continue reading →

A Stake Triple

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On an October morning, I chose to do three loops of paddling and hiking at Stake Lake.   Conditions were cool and cloudy at the start as I paddled around the lakeshore.    On the second loop, the skies cleared and the wind was lighter.    after paddling twice around the lake, I secured the kayak on the rack, then went out for a loop route on … Continue reading →

Logan Lake Thrice

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Near the end of summer I drove to the Municipal Campground at Logan Lake.     I launched my kayak at the boat launch on the east end of the lake, then paddled around the lake twice, once in each direction.    Afterward, I secured the boat, then hiked around the lake on the Logan Lake Nature Trail. The lake was quiet.    A couple of small … Continue reading →

Clay Lake Loop

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On a sunny but smoky late summer day I drove up through the Lac du Bois Grasslands to the Nature Conservation Area in the upper grasslands and douglas fir forests south of McQueen Lake.    I hiked an old grasslands track, then took a grown-in single track around Clay Lake, then looped back through the forested slopes and grasslands. Clay Lake had low water levels from … Continue reading →

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park

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On a spring hiking trip into Central Washington, we hiked a dozen routes in “Washington desert lands.”    We camped on Wapunum Lake (one of the many lakes/reservoirs on the Columbia River).    We hiked two routes nearby – Gingko Petrified Forest State Park and Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area.    Both areas are open hills with no trees.    We saw cactus and lizards, and plants … Continue reading →

Tsintsunko Lake

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We have twice hiked into Tsintsunko Lake.     It is located in a remote area of the Bonaparte Plateau.   The driving route requires some navigation – Westyde Road > Jamieson Creek Road to Whitewood Lake (27 km) > Beaverhut/Cabin FSR (12.5 km) > Branch Road.     There are some rough trails/routes in to the lake.     On our first trip, we took the signed trail from … Continue reading →

Lodgepole Loops

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On a sunny weekday morning I headed out early to paddle Lodgepole Lake and then hike around the Lake Trail.    From the Lac le Jeune Road, I followed the Chuwhels Mountain Road up to the Lodgepole Lake Rec Site.    The campground was mostly full but I arrived early and so there was no one on the lake and it was quiet in the camping … Continue reading →