On clouded-in cool day in the valley in winter, I drove up the Lac Road to the sunshine at the Dogwood Marshes parking lot.  With repeated melt-freeze cycle days I chose to wear microspikes on my hiking boots to hike the hardened trails of the snowshoe area.     I stayed on top and never broke through on stomped-in trails.     The route was one I had done numerous times in the past, bearing south through the marshes, then onto a winding trail through the forest to a fenceline.    There are a couple of easy step-over spots to the trail on the other side.    The trail goes up the fenceline toward McConnell Lake, but splits (not always easy to spot) and the left fork goes through the forest to the Kamloops Fish and Wildlife Cabins and down to McConnell Lake.

There was a hoar frost on the grasses, shrubs, and tree branches, but it was melting in open areas.   The route through the marshes is easy to follow.

The single track trail to the lake was a little uneven and there were some fallen trees to get past.   I cleared a couple of smaller fallen trees.

I chose to hike on the ice near the lakeshore, but others will prefer to stay on the trail around the lake.    There were people ice fishing out in the middle of the lake.

The loop route goes through the parking area, then picks up by the yellow gate heading back toward the Dogwood Marshes.    I chose different trails on the way back, including one called The Enchanted Forest, then another called Creekside.  The loop route took 90 minutes.    I will be back on the trails again later in the week.