Community and Harper Lakes
On consecutive hot summer days, I drove up into the hills to paddle and hike. First I drove up the Knouff Lake Road, then the Community Lake Road to the Rec Site on the lake at 4500 feet. I paddled the lake, then hiked backroads on top of the hill in mixed forests. There were many wildflowers in bllom.. I photographed some and ignored others. Shared here are self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), silky lupine (Lupinus sericeus), thyme-leaved speedwell (Vernica serpyllifolia), tiger lily (Lillium columbianum), and queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora).
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The next day’s forecast was for 40°C so I got an early start, going east on the Trans Canada Highway almost to Chase, but then I turned up onto the Harper Lake Forest Service Road, a high-clearance backroad to a small Rec Site. I paddled the lake, then hiked along the lakeside (at 2250 feet) before it got too hot. This middle elevation area was drier and the vegetation had moved into dry summer conditions, except for protected damp areas. A few photos were taken before heading back. Shared here are birch-leaved spirea (Spiraea betulifolia), yellow water-lily (Nuphar lutea), self heal, aspen fleabane (Erigeron speciosus), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), and thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).
Some Notes:
- Orange hawkweed is considered to be an invasive species in BC. It may also be called fox-and-cubs or orange hawk bit.
- Self-heal is a herbaceous plant in the mint family. It is edible and was used as a traditional food and herbal remedy.
- Birch-leaved sprirea is a low-growing woody shrub that spreads by rhizomes. It is a native drought-tolerant species in the Interior.
- Thimbleberry has large, hairy leaves and no thorns. the fruits are edible when red and are more tart than raspberries.
- Oxeye daisy spreads rapidly and is considered invasive in some provinces and states.
- Yellow water lily is edible and has been eaten by traditional people extensively. When we paddle the lakes, we often see the flower heads browsed by moose.