Mara Meadows Provincial Park is an ecological reserve “which contains unique calcareous fen ecosystem with diverse flora including rare orchids.” Access is difficult. We can drive back roads on the west side or on the south side, but there are no trailheads, no clear trails, and all routes require some bushwhacking. We tried two routes on the northwest … Continue reading →
On a warm June morning I hiked through the hills on the western edge of Kenna Cartwright Park, including some off-trail routes across the south-facing slopes. The goal was to hike a known route where blazing stars (Mentzelia laevicaulis) bloom in June and July. This is an area I have visited in past years and I was not … Continue reading →
On a warm spring day I paddled around Stake Lake twice, then hiked on the trails around the lake for a two hour outing. While hiking, I stopped to enjoy south of the wildflowers and flowering shrubs along the way. Shared here are: Robbin’s milkvetch (Astralagus robinsii) Drummond’s rockcress (Boechera stricta) harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) heart-leaved arnica (Arnica … Continue reading →
On a sunny early June day I hiked up Buse Hill, then along the rim and back through open forest and grassland slopes. Wildflowers were in bloom, pollinators were out, birds were calling, and the hills were quiet on a weekday morning. The hike was under 2 hours and had many fine views along the rim of the cliffs. … Continue reading →
After paddling Neskonlith Lake I checked out some of the glades near Creek where I had found mountain ladyslippers in late May in previous years. This year some of the wildflowers I looked for seemed to be delayed in blooming, but I did spot a few, some of which are shared here. mountain ladyslipper (Cypripedium montanum) red … Continue reading →
Every year in the last part of May I combine a nature hike with another activity in the area to the south of Ashcroft. At that time, bitterroot blooms on rocky, open slopes near Black Canyon, Elephant Hill, Red Hill, and on the slopes below the Venables Valley, and probably on other hills down toward Spences Bridge. This … Continue reading →
On a sunny and windy morning I drove to the upper edge of Aberdeen and hiked up a series of tracks to the top of Coal Hill. there were wide views from the top to enjoy. on the way back down I looped around the hill, traversing grassland slopes back to the start. Along the way I stopped … Continue reading →
On a mid-May day I did a shorter hike on the trails in Aberdeen Hills Highland Park. There were many wildflowers in bloom and many on the way. Death camas was prolific and lupines were emerging; I also spotted upland larkspur, various types of pussytoes, yarrow, catchfly, mustard, saskatoon, and others. Included here are a few images … Continue reading →
On a mid-May morning I hiked along Scott Road (unsigned) from Rose Hill Road along a grassland route on a sloping bench above Juniper Ridge. This is the soon-to-be Juniper Ridge Park (or Protected Area) recently acquired by the BC Parks Foundation. The main route is a dirt double track which can be hiked to the east for … Continue reading →
We drove to the North Okanogan and along backroads into the hills to hike the Rose – Swanson Trails above and to the west of Armstrong. The trails on the north side of the hill had less flowering plants and only a few species. The open slopes on the south side had more wildflowers and flowering shrubs to … Continue reading →
