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 →
Category Archives: Nature Hikes
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 →
High Above Pass Lake
We hiked through the forest starting at 1224m (4015 feet) and we made our way up to a viewpoint at 1334 m (4374 feet) on a stormy day. A few photos were taken, but the grey light, dark skies and … Continue reading →
On the Ragged Red Ridge
We hiked up a rugged and steep ridge from the Dewdrop Range to the rim of the Red Plateau Escarpment, then hiked along the rim trail and came down the Dewdrop Trail for a 7 km challenging outing. Along the … Continue reading →
Hiking on Upper Peterson Creek Trails
We hiked a longer loop through the hills above Peterson Creek on a sunny day and took a few wildflower and flowering shrub photos along the way. Near the start, western mountain ash (sorbus sp.) was in bloom in the … Continue reading →
Roaming through the Frederick Bluffs
We hiked through the rugged Frederick Bluffs which are the rocky hills overlooking Kamloops Lake. We went over hill and dale and watched for wildflife and wildflowers along the route. We saw a hatched clutch of eggs right next to … Continue reading →
A Pineview Nature Walk
We walked the grandkids around the Pineview Nature Loop, but took the time to go off-trail here and there to inspect the plants and animals we found. One surprise was a golden currant shrub (ribes aureum), sometimes called buffalo currant. … Continue reading →
Through the Upper Grasslands on a Rainy Day
On a rainy May day, I drove to the upper grasslands to see the chocolate lilies and whatever else was emerging. I wasn’t disappointed. Chocolate lilies (fritillaria sp.) were abundant . Delicate small-flowered woodland star (lithophragma sp.) was also prolific … Continue reading →
Chocolate Lilies in the Upper Grasslands
Each year, I hiked into various areas and watch for the appearance of chocolate lilies (fritillaria sp.). On a rainy day, I drove to the upper grasslands of Lac du Bois Grasslands Nature Conservancy and hiked on trails and through … Continue reading →
In the Hills Above Goose Lake
I hiked from the Goose Lake area into the hills on the border between the forest and the grasslands, going quietly, observing the forest, the open slopes, the birds, and wildflowers on an eclectic route. In the open spots, western … Continue reading →
On the Swakum Mountain Trails
We hiked the sunny, south-facing dry slopes of Swakum Mountain above Merritt, covering a lot of miles over that day. Balsam root dominated the open areas on the Upper Scenic Trail, but there were a few other wildflowers in the … Continue reading →