Elephant Hill Provincial Park has several rocky, treeless hills west and north of the Town of Ashcroft. All routes up the hill involve steep hiking on informal trails through the sagebrush and grassland. It is a dry and arid area … Continue reading →
On a windy day, paddling on any open body of water is not easy and less enjoyable, but we can paddle a short loop on smaller protected lakes. Usually I pick MCConnell, Stake, or Inks Lakes and do one or … Continue reading →
In the summer, we took the grandkids into the hills to find some fossils. We found a few, but also enjoyed the wildflowers along the way. Mariposa lilies were in bloom on the open hillsides. I knew where shalebeds are … Continue reading →
Weedy flowering plants are growing in the lower valleys in the middle of summer, but next to lakes there are still a few types of interesting plants, like silverweed (Potentilla anserina) right at the shoreline. It has single yellow cup-shaped … Continue reading →
We traveled to the Coquihalla Summit area to hike to the top of one of the steep peaks, away from the smoky Interior. We had blue skies and hot temperatures on the 5 hour hike. Along the way, I stopped … Continue reading →
Okanogan Fameflower (talinum sediforme T. okanoganense) blooms near the first week of June. We have encountered it on top of Red Plateau, on top of Mara Mountain, on the western rim of Opax Mountain, on rocky hilltops on the south-facing … Continue reading →
I hiked through the middle grasslands zone, above the sagebrush, and wound around ponds, lakes, and hills, stopping to enjoy what nature had to offer. Lemonweed (lithospermum ruderale)w as in flower, with some growth still unfurling and some flourishing. Few-flowered … Continue reading →
We hiked the Barnes Lake Trails in Barnhartvale and stopped to take some photos along the route. The grasslands were dry and spring flowers were emerging. The upland forest was still somewhat dormant in comparison. Most of the flowers, birds, … Continue reading →
As spring weather warms up, the first flowers emerge and the Neskonlith Hills are a good place to see them. Pussy willows (salix sp.) were budding with yellow catkins on fuzzy grey tufts. Sagebrush buttercups (ranunculus glabberimus) were the first … Continue reading →
I have hiked to the top of Mt. Bowman a few times. It is the premier hike in the Marble Range, west of Clinton and above the Fraser River. The mountains have the karst topography and the upper areas feature … Continue reading →
Lance-leaved stonecrop (sedum lanceolatum) is a succulent perennial which grows in dry, open, rocky locations, especially on south-facing slopes. Lance-shaped alternate leaves cluster around the base. Clustered flowers are bright yellow and the petals are also lance-shaped. Sedums grow … Continue reading →
During a hike along a high south-facing moist to dry (spring to summer) open slope, we came across a large number of naked broomrape (orobanche uniflora) in bloom. It is a parasitic perennial (mostly on stonecrop). The stems were short … Continue reading →
