On Mount Thynne, Part Two
Mt. Thynne has some of the best wildflower meadows of the area and a hike at the end of June or early July is a must-do route for anyone who enjoys a moderate hike in the subalpine. Some more photos … Continue reading →
Doug Smith
Along the Struthers Creek Corridor
I ventured out to paddle Badger Lake via the Knouff Lake Road, but on the way back I took the Orchard Lake Road, following Struthers Creek down the slope. Near Badger Lake in wet gullies cow parsnip (heracleum lanatum) was … Continue reading →
On Mt. Thynne, Part One
We made the journey down to Brookmere, then followed mountain roads to the Mt. Thynne trailhead and then did an 11.5 km out-and-back hike through sub-alpine meadows to the summit. We took many photos along the way. Near the trailhead … Continue reading →
On the Windy Stake Lake Trails
I was heading out with my kayak to find a lake to paddle, but strong gusty winds suggested I find a smaller protected area, so I opted for Stake Lake. I kayaked once around the lake and decided on a … Continue reading →
In and Above Tranquille Canyon
We went fossil hunting and goldpanning in June with the grandkids and had fun on the day’s adventures. We stopped to identify and enjoy the various flowering plants along the way. Prickly pear cactus (opuntia fragilis) was blooming in quite … Continue reading →
On the Tranquille Plateau
From Red Lake I drove north onto the Tranquille Plateau to about 1500 m (4920 ft) and explored some of the open meadows and wetlands. Above Saul Lake were patches of yellow monkey-flower (mimulus guttatus) in wet seep zones. In … Continue reading →
On the Birch Bluffs Rim Trail
We hiked on the Moul Falls Trail, then along the Birch Bluffs Rim route, a 15 km hike. Along the way we stopped to photograph a few plants in flower. Bunchberry (cornus canadensis) was prolific in the birch forests of … Continue reading →
On the McGillivray FSR
From Neskonlith Lake, I drove up the McGillivray Lake Forest Service Road, a 16 km climb to 1534 m (5032 feet), stopping along the way to inspect the flora and fauna en route. At a viewpoint on the burnt forest … Continue reading →
Around Neskonlith Lake
I paddled the shoreline of Neskonlith Lake, then went for a walk, watching for whatever nature had to show off. I found an orange polypore on a birch log in the forest. The highlights of the day were tiger lilies, … Continue reading →
On Opax Mountain
We hiked from Lac du Bois up to the top of the Opax Mountain lava cliffs, then traversed across the rim to the east side, completing a 12+ km rugged loop. Along the way were an abundance of wildflowers, some … Continue reading →
On Mara and Wheeler Mountain
We hiked over Mara Mountain, then down the backside into Pruden Pass, continuing north up Wheeler Mountain, winding east to the Wheeler South Bluffs, then dropped down to the east end of Pruden Pass, a 5 hour outing. Along the … Continue reading →
In the Hamilton Corrals Commonage
We did a longer hike in the upper grasslands off the Pennask Lake Road. The Hamilton Corrals area is a commonage area (publicly owned) with seasonal grazing licenses so access is available, but at appropriate times of the year. We … Continue reading →