When the weather warmed up, the snow in the valley began to melt and in the hills the snow was wet, slushy, or became a mud-snow mix. Snowshoeing at higher elevations would not have been much better, except in north-aspect higher elevations, but even those spots would be prone to snow “clumping” underfoot. The valley bottom is the best choice in such conditions, hiking/walking … Continue reading →
On a grey and cold January day we parked at Lac du Bois, then followed a stomped-in track west around Lac du Bois. We wore hiking boots with spikes attached. The trail was in good shape to the upper end of Hanging Valley, then it was irregular and more difficult on the ankles, so we went along the treeline where there was less snow. … Continue reading →
On a blustery winter day near the end of December, the hike was one I did in the same time period in the previous year. From the Pacific Way trailhead in Kenna Cartwright Park I followed a series of trails: Upper Doc Findlay > Owl’s Perch > Ruffed Grouse > Upper Doug Daws > North Vista > and then back on a well-stomped route. The conditions … Continue reading →
In shoulder season when hiking conditions are variable and hard-to-predict, its nice to have a few routes that are reliable. One of these is the Rivers Trail, starting at Aviation Way. The trail follows the top of the dike. The dike has compacted gravels so it drains well. It can be snowy or even icy, but it is rarely muddy (except in … Continue reading →
When trails became snowed in with wet snow, an alternative is to hike less-traveled gravel roads. A favorite is the Goose Lake Road. The road is usually plowed so we can walk/hike on the shoulder out and back. I usually wear microspikes to avoid injuries from repeated small slips. There are a number of pull-off spots on the side of the road. … 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 →
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 →
As the winter cold extends over the week, we see fewer and fewer hikers, bike riders, and dog walkers on the trails. When I arrived at the usually busy Kenna Cartwright Park trailhead area, there were no vehicles in the lots. I hiked a loop route on the trails (Ponderosa > Big Pine > Tower), and did not see anyone until I was coming … Continue reading →
The temperature on this day was -15º C and the wind was blowing at 20 km (for a wind chill of -22 to -24º C), but I bundled up, then went out for a hike in the hills, keeping the total time on the trails to about an hour. I wore my microspikes and kept a brisk pace along a series of stomped-in trails. … Continue reading →
