Category Archives: Hikes

Hiking every day.

Tod Mountain Summit

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Most of the snow had cleared off the trails on Tod Mountain by the third week of June.    The chairlift had opened in the middle of June and hikers had been exploring the trails above mid-station for a couple of weeks.   I was first on the chair on a mid-week morning and started my hike up the hill early.    I was not sure about trail conditions so I thought that I would continue to climb as far as was reasonable for the early season.   As it turned out, the first snow was below the summit at the junction between the Westridge Trail and the upper end of the West Bowl Trail.    The dale below the peak was … Continue reading →

Wounded Knee Hike

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For decades we have been driving south to hike the Lundbom Grasslands, usually in June.    Access is through Merritt and up Highway 5C to the turn to Lundbom Lake.    We parked near the lake then hiked a 9.4 km route out toward Hamilton Lake, then up the Cocobonk Trail.    At a signed junction we continued along the Wounded Knee Trail.    There are a number of trail junctions to choose from, but for this day we followed a known route, looping back to the Cocobonk Trail and then back to Lundbom Lake. Much of the route is in open grasslands, following old double tracks and newer single tracks through the hills to the northeast of Sugarloaf Mountain. … Continue reading →

Reinecker Creek Trails

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We drove out to Shuswap Lake and continued onto the Sunnybrae – Canoe Point Road out to Herald Provincial Park.    From the parking lot we hiked into Margaret Falls and back out to the start area, then hiked a loop route up the east side to a side trail above the falls, and then continued up Reinecker Creek to cross a bridge and return back down the east side.   This was a two hour hike, taking our time to enjoy the views and the spring wildflowers. The trail up to Margaret Falls is a flat route going up the gorge to the base of the falls. Margaret Falls falls 90 feet in tiers down into the creek. From the … Continue reading →

Exploring Mara Meadows Ecological Reserve

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There are no trails and no realistic access routes into Mara Meadows Ecological Reserve.    Until recently hikers could not enter the park/protected area without a permit.    Just this year, hikers may explore the reserve, but without established trails, fixed signage, or route information, we are left to figure it out on our own.    There are two backroads that can be used to get close to the central area, but from wherever you choose to park, you will have to navigate, following traces of tracks and trails to get to the central marsh area.    We hiked two routes from the west following old double tracks, then bushwhacking to the edge of the marsh, and back retracing our … Continue reading →

Stake Lake Thrice

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On a warm June morning I drove to Stake Lake to paddle and hike.   I got onto the water early and paddled twice around the lake, once in each direction.    Then I loaded and secured the boat, put on some hiking shoes and followed trails around the lake for a third time.   This has become a favorite outing in the last few years, one I will do again, but the hiking route is varied each time.    On other days I have paddled a nearby lake (Lodgepole Lake, McConnell Lake, or Walloper), then I made the short drive to Stake Lake for the hike. When I arrived at the lake there were two fishing boats on the lake, but … Continue reading →

Buse Hill Hike

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On a sunny June weekday morning I drove through Barnhartvale and up the Robbins Range Road to the Buse Hill trailhead.    I hiked up the steep double track to a small lake under Buse Hill, then went off track over the east shoulder to the rim, then continued west along the rim, down through gullies on single tracks, then back up the rim, all the way to the end of the hill overlooking the Buse Pinnacle.    On the way back, I looped through the forest and joined the main track on the south-facing grassland slopes. At about 1.2 kilometers up the track,  a small lake sits in a low spot between the hills.    The actual summit of … Continue reading →

Up the Red Plateau Escarpment

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On a hot (34 degrees C) end-of-May day, we drove into the Dewdrop Range and parked at the Dewdrop Trailhead area.    We got an early start and hiked steadily up the steep trail, climbing a series of ridges on the Red Plateau Escarpment.     There are a number of viewpoints and possible end points along the way, but for this day, we continued along the rim, traversing west to the top of the Ragged Red Ridge, our lunch and turn-around point.   We enjoyed the open views and explored the lava flow formations a bit, then we headed back down, retracing our steps, hiking back the way we came up. The climb from the Dewdrop Range up to the rim … Continue reading →

Mara Northeast Route

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Each year we hike to the top of Mara Hill/Mountain choosing one of three different routes.   Our favorite route is from the northeast, at the fenceline in Pruden Pass.    We drive up the Lac du Bois Road, then turn left onto the Pruden Pass Road.   We follow the bumpy route to the gate and park there (the former site of the Wheeler Mountain School).    The sign on the fence says “No Trespassing,” but it really refers to the private property 600 m farther on.    The lands to the west (for 600m ) are BC Parks lands so we can hike them, although there is no visible trail.   We angled off to the southwest, picking up an occasional … Continue reading →

Napier Lake Ranch Conservation Area

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada, in partnership with Napier Ranch, has established a heritage grasslands conservation area (526 ha) in the rolling hills between Kamloops and Merritt.   Most of the area is open grasslands with pockets of aspens, mostly in gullies    It is still a working ranch area, but for a few months each year, we can drive up the narrow and steep gravel road to the gate.    There are grass tracks heading north and west and if cattle are on the ranges, we should choose to hike in a different direction.    I have been hiking the area for a number of years and I vary the route each time.    There are no established trails, but … Continue reading →

Gattling Gorge Hike

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In mid-May we drove north through Clearwater into Wells Gray Provincial Park.    We continued on paved roads to the turn to Helmcken Falls.    We parked in the lot there and enjoyed the viewing areas for the falls, but we continued on along the rim trail following the Murtle River down to the Confluence with the Clearwater River.   A signed single track follows the edge/rim of the lava cliffs bearing west, then contours north above the Clearwater River,  with many views down into the canyon.   There are no guard rails on this section of the trail, making it unsuitable for dogs or children, and even experienced hikers have to be cautious along this part of the trail. Any hike … Continue reading →