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 slope, prickly rose was blooming with views over to Little Shuswap and Shuswap Lake.

Thimbleberries (rubus parviflorus) were abundant in open areas at roadside.

Prickly roses graced the south-facing slopes.

Higher in the open forest, columbine (aquilegia formosa) brought color to the glades.

I scared two cubs into a tree, then one stopped to check out what I was doing.

Fireweed was emerging in the higher open forest areas.   It was flowering in the garden at lower elevations.

In wet areas at about 1400 m hellebore (veratrum veride) was already 30 cm high.

In wet areas at the same altitude globeflower (trollius laxus) and cut-leaf anemone were in flower.

We will see some of the same species at higher elevations near Tod Mountain in the coming weeks ahead.