Big turnout to open paddle trail
What a way to celebrate the May long weekend. The Sheriff participated in the official opening of the Kelowna Paddle Trail on Saturday, then paddled with kayaking buddies around the Bennett Bridge, and then drove to Midway with Constant Companion Carmen to check out local biking trails on Sunday and Monday.
It was exhilarating to see so many humanpowered watercraft on the water at the same time for Saturday’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna's City Park.
No one got an official count but it looked like there was more than 100 dragonboats, outriggers, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and even a wheelchair mounted on a paddleboard pontoon boat as they all headed toward the Sheriff who was trying to get a photo.
When the Sheriff and CCC are paddling Okanagan lakes, we are lucky to see a halfdozen other kayaks and other human-powered boats on a busy weekend. But then you look at all the boats on the roofs of vehicles driving around the valley and you realize how popular this pastime is.
Our group paddle around the Bennett Bridge proved interesting when we encountered what we refer to as “confused waves” on the south side. It was a combination of reflected waves from the bridge pontoons and wind-driven waves coming from the south. It wasn’t a pleasant paddle through the chop but every day doesn't have smooth water and conditions can change quickly so it was a good refresher.
The north side of the Bennett Bridge was calm and almost mirror-like so it was quite the contrast. We all went ashore at Hot Sands Beach and checked out the numerous displays by paddle clubs and supporting organizations.
The trail involved anchoring 22 buoys between Bertram Creek Regional Park at south end of Lakeshore Road to McKinley Beach 27 kilometres to the north.
The GPS-registered information buoys have a list of beach accesses along the trail and the distance between each, making it easier for paddlers to stay oriented along the waterfront, to know when a rest stop is coming up and even challenge themselves between each distance.
It is now part of Active By Nature, an online interactive route map and marketing program launched by the City of Kelowna in 2015 to encourage residents to get out and get active.
Active By Nature highlights Kelowna’s extensive network of pathways, shared trails and beaches. For more information, including an interactive map, go online to: kelowna.ca/activebynature.
It had been several years since we joined friends as well as members of the Central Okanagan Outdoors Club for a couple of weekend getaways in Boundary Country. We shouldn’t have waited so long.
Our group of four couples camped at the Frank Carpenter Memorial Campground located beside the Kettle River on Fifth Avenue, just a few blocks south of Highway 3. The overnight fee is just $20, plus $2 if you want 15-amp power.
There are 11 regular sites and eight sites with power, plus flush toilets and showers — $1 for a short shower or $2 for a long shower. For more information or to book a campsite, call Steve at 250-449-2467 or email stewartstemon@yahoo.com.
Unfortunately, like many Southern Interior communities, the village was experiencing high water from spring runoff and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary warned us with a visit and flyer that the riverbank could be unstable and to use caution.
The high water meant the Riverwalk Hiking Trails that meander through oldgrowth Ponderosa pine along the north bank of the Kettle River were temporarily closed.
So we decided to cycle the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR) and the Columbia and Western Railway (C&W) which meet at Midway and now form a 240-kilometre section of the Great Trail (formerly the Trans Canada Trail).
We headed east toward Greenwood, but the Sheriff should have Googled “Midway to Greenwood bike trail” since it is listed as a mountain bike trail and even the Midway website recommends: “These trails are best experienced on 2.4-inch tires.”
So the Sheriff's smooth road bike-type tires on his hybrid proved no match for the small rocks and sand.
After a half-dozen kilometres, he turned back and checked out the much smoother Fritz Road (leading to Midway’s incredible hike and bike trails south of the village — midwaybc.ca/hiking-biking-trails/). His goal was to find a hidden railway tunnel but that’s another story.
We returned to Fritz Road on Monday, but also found old signs indicating it is sometimes called Meyers Creek forest service road as well as Cedro Creek forest service road. We can’t wait to go back since we didn’t make it to the hillside hike-bike trails which received major upgrades in 2009 for the Midway Trails Society. By the way, those trails meet International Mountain Bike Association standards.
***** Back in the Central Okanagan, two young people who decided to go rafting in Mission Creek this week ended up without the raft, wet, tired and cold on a gravel sandbar from which they were rescued by members of the Kelowna Fire Department.
“At the best of times and weather conditions, the Regional District (of Central Okanagan) doesn’t encourage anyone to go into Mission Creek,” says communications officer Bruce Smith.
“But at this time of year, the creek is flowing faster and is much colder with the upper elevation snowmelt underway. As well, there are the potential unexpected and unknown hazards with debris in and under the surface and around the creek banks."
The regional district encourages people and their pets to stay away from and out of the creek, and to keep their dogs on leash and under control, he said.
“Be aware that water levels may rise unexpectedly during the spring freshet and they, children and pets should stay safely back from creek banks, which may be slippery or subject to erosion and undercutting from the spring runoff.”
***** Meanwhile, a bear or bears have been spotted in Kelowna’s Knox Mountain Park for the past two weeks.
“It was pretty cool seeing this bear down off the Paul’s Tomb trail (Tuesday)," said park caretaker Mark Goddard. “Not aggressive at all. He glanced over occasionally. Then sat down in a shady forested area and was scratching itself. There was a few people walking by, but he paid them no mind."
That being said, park users should use common (bear) sense and keep their distance. For more information on how to stay safe in bear country, go to: env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/misc/bears/
***** A reminder that Trek For Trails, formerly March for Parks, is on Sunday
The 21st annual fundraiser for the Gellatly Bay Trails and Parks Society, geared for walkers and hikers of all abilities, offers some of the best hikes and walks in West Kelowna and Peachland.
Registration is at 8:30 a.m., coffee and Timbits 8:30-9:30 a.m. and three hikes depart at 9:30 a.m. from Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park, 2375 Whitworth Rd..
The easy hike is the 1.7-kilometre, one-hour Mount Boucherie Dacite Trail from Eain Lamont Park.
The intermediate hike is five kilometres and two hours to Tabletop Mountain, up Trepanier Creek Trail from the IGA parking lot in Peachland.
The harder four-hour hike is the steep McDougall Rim Trail from the end of Bartley Road. Bring a water bottle, snack and good hiking boots.
All contributions over $10 received a taxdeductible receipt. Those who simply want to contribute can email: westsidetrails@hotmail.ca.
***** Big White Ski Resort and Bike Big White have announced the Big White Invitational Slopestyle hosted by Tom van Steenbergen on July 4-7. This Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour event is a collaboration between van Steenbergen and Bike Big White.
“This is a rider/builder-inspired slopestyle with the goal of building a bigger and better riding scene here in Canada,” said van Steenbergen. “We want to build a course that the riders will like and that will inspire each individual’s best performances.”
The Big White Invitational Slopestyle is the only North American Gold Level event on the FMB World Tour calendar for the 2018 season. It’s also the last chance for pro riders to qualify for Joyride at Crankworx Whistler in August and a chance for the amateurs to ride next to some of the best in the world.
Following the event, six riders will be selected for Joyride at Crankworx Whistler based on their FMB standings and one additional rider will be selected as an FMB wild card winner.
Big White has partnered with Loft Bike Parks to build the course and bring van Steenbergen’s vision to life. The site has already been cleared, dirt is being pushed and ramps built for the new slopestyle course.
“We’re excited to help continue growing the sport of slopestyle in North America,” said Alex Chisholme, Austin Davignon and Dustin Gilding of Loft Bike Parks. "Our aim is to build a course that is consistent, flowy and fun for the riders, in an effort to maximize progression and create the best show possible for spectators.”
The Bronze Open Event kicks things off on July 5. There are four wildcard spots up for grabs for the Gold Qualifiers on July 6 where they will compete with 25 top-ranked FMB riders to secure one of 15 spots in the Gold Event Finals on July 7.
This event includes beer gardens, food trucks, music, an expo, demos, a screening of North of Nightfall under the stars on the Friday and the official After Party at Session’s Taphouse & Grill on the Saturday.
***** Baldy Mountain Resort in the South Okanagan is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an early-bird season pass sale that began on Friday.
"Regarded as the best family-friendly resort in the Okanagan, Baldy Mountain Resort offers affordable season passes and lift tickets, a variety of beginner and intermediate runs, world-class grooming, knowledgeable ski and snowboard pros, and many extracurricular activities for kids, making it the perfect setting for families," said Stephanie O’Brien, marketing and communications manager.
An adult early-bird season pass is $329, down from the full price of $459. A youth early-bird pass is $229 and early-bird senior pass is $169. A child season pass is $25.
However, only 800 early-bird passes are available. Prices increase after the 800 are sold or on July 15, whichever comes first.
***** There’s a new date for the annual Kalamoir Community Pancake Breakfast. In years past, it has been held in September but starting this year, it’s moving up to June.
Regional Parks and the Friends of Kalamoir Regional Park Society invite everyone to join them from 9 to 11 a.m. on June 2 on the beach near the lower parking area of Kalamoir Regional Park at the end of Collens Hill Road in West Kelowna.
For a donation of $3, you’ll receive pancakes, sausage and beverage breakfast served by the members of the Westbank Lions Club.
At 10 a.m., you can join a park interpreter for a guided one-and-a-half hour loop hike through the park.
For more information, go to the regional district website: regionaldistrict.com/parksevents or contact the parks department at 250-469-6140.
J.P. Squire, aka the Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Horseback Riding Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. Email: jp.squire@telus.net.