Mad Dog Mountain
We hiked to the top of Mad Dog Mountain in the Marble Range. The route follows backroads to a trailhead which also leads to Lime Ridge. The Mad Dog Trail branches off and climbs through an old burn to the … Continue reading →
Doug Smith
On the Slopes of the Hamilton Corrals Commonage
The slopes of the Hamilton Corrals Commonage are mostly open grasslands with forest pockets on the sheltered and north slopes. On this mid-June day everything was green and fresh with spring growth at 1250 m in elevation. There were wildflowers … Continue reading →
By Badger Creek
Badger Creek drains out of the high country lakes near Badger Lake and flows down through the hills towards the North Thompson River. The Badger Creek FSR climbs parallel to the creek past a series of ponds and small lakes … Continue reading →
In the Lundbom Commonage Hills
On a pleasant early June day we hiked from Lundbom Lake through the Lundbom Grasslands Commonage hills in a 13 km loop route. Spring wildflowers and leafing/flowering shrubs and trees were noted along the way during the 3.5 hour hike. … Continue reading →
On the Orchard Lake Trails
The Orchard Lake Trails are situated in the forested hills between McLure and Knouff – Badger Lake area. they are backcountry horse rider trails, mostly old double tracks that wind through the hills, dales, and around small lake. They are … Continue reading →
Rivers Trail Nature Hike
We hiked the Rivers Trail from the west end, then did a loop out to the Thompson River, then back, a km hike. Along the way we stopped to enjoy the flowering shrubs and trees at trailside – honeysuckle (Lonerica … Continue reading →
On the Sage and Arnica Trails
On a video shoot with CFJC TV, we did the filmwork on the trails off Bunker Road (Sage – Arnica – Fescue – Panorama). What would take 45 minutes to hike takes 150 minutes to get the video footage so … Continue reading →
On Elephant Hill
Elephant Hill Provincial Park has unspoiled (not grazed) grassland slopes of bunchgrass, but is one of the driest areas of the province. There are no trees and almost no shrubs. On a recent hike there was native grasses, wildflowers, and … Continue reading →
Around Neskonlith Lake
On a mid-May day I paddled Neskonlith Lake, then afterward walked through parts of the campground enjoying some of the wildflowers. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption: Paddling Neskonlith Lake (video)
Continue reading →Flowers of the Spring Gardens
By May, the fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, and plum) are in blossom and a number of shrubs (broom, Oregon grape, daphne, hyacinth, and almond) are showing their two week flowering show. Click an image for a larger lightbox view … Continue reading →
Spring Arrivals
When we hike and paddle almost every day, we stop to enjoy flowering plants along the way like. Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) had some new basal leaves and yellow bell-like flowers in the Six Mile Hills. On protected slopes shooting … Continue reading →
Wildflowers on the Peterson Creek Rim Trails
A spring hike along the west rim, across the creek, back along the east rim, down into the canyon, and back up to the rim is a favorite hike, especially when the wildflowers are blooming along the way. Rockcress (Boechera … Continue reading →