Best of mountain film festival tonight
With other members of the Central Okanagan Outdoors Club, the Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen checked out BX Creek and Falls Trail east of Vernon last weekend.
It’s less than four kilometres from end to end, but it’s the Vernon equivalent of Mission Creek Greenway in Kelowna as it takes you, almost continuously, past a babbling BX Creek. And the reward, if that’s not enough, are the falls accessed via a short side trail.
To get to one end, take Silver Star Road (48th Avenue) east toward Silver Star Mountain Resort. Just past BX Elementary School, take Star Road to a parking lot, information sign and the trailhead.
You can also park at the top of the trail by continuing up Silver Star Road another two kilometres to Tillicum Road. You’ll find another parking lot, information sign and trailhead. Those with young children should use this northeast entry since it’s not far to the falls.
From one end to the other is about an hour of casual walking, great for hot summer days (and dipping your feet in the cool water) because it’s in a shaded canyon of cedars, firs, cottonwoods, birch and ferns. Don’t be dissauded by warning signs stating you can’t go all the way through due to structural damage to bridges.
One was tilted slightly as a result of high water flow and a second is mightily tilted (although one of our group decided to walk along the down side of deck anyway). It was easy to cross the creek at this point, but you wouldn’t want to do it during spring runoff, April through June.
The trail has several bridges and numerous stairs built from timbers, evidence of considerable work done years ago. A tree was down near the falls but you can shimmy your way around the roots. Several other areas have steep slopes without stairs and with leaves beginning to fall, the trail was sometimes hard to spot. Don’t wander too far looking for it because it stays near the creek the whole distance.
“En route, the trail reveals evidence of historic logging and agricultural water supply," says Tourism Vernon.
“Stumps remain from the Western red cedars which were hand-sawn for shakes and poles from the early 1900s. Secondgrowth Douglas fir, western larch and spruce replace the chain-sawed timber removed for building materials during the 1950s. Watch for the remains of old bridges, a dam, flumes and channels that fed BX Creek water into the Grey Canal irrigation system.
“Approaching the end of the trail at Star Road are bits and pieces of the Grey Canal flume that siphoned across BX Creek canyon to the Foothills. The Vernon Irrigation District drew water from BX Creek from 1921 to 1957 through an 86-centimetre (34-inch) wood stave pipeline into the Grey Canal system. Look carefully for remnants of a dam, channels, flumes and retaining ponds.”
It is not only a family-friendly short hike as the number of daylight hours decline but is a great cardiovascular jog with its ups and downs. It’s supposed to be great for snowshoeing in the winter but the Sheriff wonders how you would navigate all those stairs while wearing snowshoes.
Mid-week, we also resumed our dog-exercise strolls on the Paul’s Tomb Trail in Knox Mountain Park in Kelowna. It always seems busy no matter what time of day or day of the week it is. Great views of Okanagan Lake the entire way.
*** A reminder that Best of the Fest — eight films from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival — is at 7 p.m. today at Kelowna Community Theatre.
Organizer Dean Urness says he will always have some tickets for sale at the door, $25 cash only, but it is best to get them ahead of time — if there are any left at Mountain Equipment Co-op, Fresh Air Concept, Fresh Air Experience, Gneiss Climbing Gym, Kelowna Cycle, Leo's Videos, Cyclepath, True Outdoors and Beyond the Crux.
World-class climber Sonnie Trotter, the guest speaker this year, began rock climbing at the age of 16 and quickly became one of the world’s best.
“He is a Canadian professional climber known for his strength in many rock-climbing disciplines, a man who has completed hundreds of first ascents around the world,” said Urness. Along with his wife, Lydia, and two kids, Trotter lives and works travelling, however, he spends most of his time between Canmore, Alta., and Squamish, both with access to some of Canada’s most challenging climbs.
The films, which range from three to 40 minutes in length, include:
* Rumble in the Bronx: A short film featuring mixed ice climbing in the Okanagan. Professional climber Tim Emmitt partners with local Okanagan climbers to try to climb a hard route, which has never been done before.
* The Accord: Iceland and its notorious weather will not stop the locals from pursuing their dreams — or will it?
* The Switch: A small community, a struggling economy, an uncertain future. These are the ingredients which can create despair or they can cause a community to rise up and find new hope. Carcross, Yukon, is home to amazing landscapes and an amazing group of people changing their community through adventure.
* Do It Scared: A film documenting the accident of high-profile climber Paul Pritchard. He returns 18 years later to where he nearly lost his life. Faced with the past, a changed future and a new hope despite a terrible brain injury, this film portrays the strength of what relationships truly mean and the drive to find meaning regardless of physical limitations.
In addition to the array of critically-acclaimed mountain films, Best of the Fest will also feature a local musical artist. A VIMFF trailer is posted on youtube
*** The Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club will hold its AGM at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan in Mission Creek Regional Park on Springfield Road in Kelowna at 7 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 23). Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.
*** The 47th annual Big White Ski Club Ski and Board Swap is today with the doors to New Life Church, 2041 Harvey Ave., in Kelowna opening at 8 a.m. The net proceeds from the one-day swap will support the ski club, race programs and Big White Ski Club athletes.
Visa, Mastercard, Interac and cash will be accepted. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family. The Big White team will also be on hand so you can purchase your earlybird season pass, get your picture taken and have your pass printed at that time.
*** The Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club is moving from a successful annual general meeting to a Christmas dinner.
During the recent AGM, members named the following for the 2017 executive: president Paul Stephenson, vice-president Sue Harrhy, treasurer Dave Fowler, secretary Carol Fawcett, membership Carol Drury, events Shirley Regan, education Jennifer Stephenson, librarian Morag Stevenson and webmaster Ian Ladell.
For 2018, one of the club’s key goals is to provide each executive member with a volunteer assistant from the general membership, said Stephenson.
Now, the attention turns to the club’s Christmas Dinner on Dec. 8 at Michaelbrook Golf Club. For more information and tickets, contact Stephenson at kckcpresident@gmail.com.
Tickets are $35 per person with a Paypal sign-up available at kckc.ca and by clicking on Training/Events.
As well, KCKC early-season indoor pool sessions are available March 17-18, 24-25 and 31. For more information, also contact Stephenson at kckcpresident@gmail.com.
“Don’t be disappointed; purchase your tickets early as there is a limited number of tickets available,” said the president.
“The cut-off date is Nov. 23. If you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a wrapped $10 maximum gift.”
*** You are invited to take part in guided outings to explore two Central Okanagan regional parks.
While there’s no cost to join in the Take a Hike program, pre-register at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan by emailing eeco@cord.bc.ca or calling 250-469-6139.
All outings begin at 9 a.m. and run from two-and-a-half to three hours. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing, footwear, sunscreen, and bring their own water and snack.
• Oct. 28: join a park interpreter to visit the as-yet-undeveloped-and-unopened Black Mountain/sntskëilínt?n Regional Park.
It a chance to get a sneak peak at this 510hectare property on the eastern slopes outside Kelowna which offers spectacular city and valley views. This moderately-rated outing begins and returns to the Swainson Road access.
For more information on other hikes or any regional parks programs, go to the regional district website: regionaldistrict.com/parksevents, contact the EECO staff at 250-469-6140 or email eeco@cord.bc.ca.
*** This year’s Spooktacular Pumpkin Walk will take place on Oct. 29 in partnership with Halloween events organized by the District of Lake Country.
You can drop off your creatively carved pumpkin with an LED tea light at Reiswig Regional Park (next to Beasley Park) at 3510 Woodsdale Rd. 4-5 p.m.
Then dress in your Halloween costume and from 5-8 p.m., you can walk the paths lit by pumpkins, cast your vote for the best pumpkin (scariest, cutest, funniest, etc.) and drop off a donation for the Lake Country Food Bank.
Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Overflow parking is available at the Woodsdale Tennis Courts, 3724 Woodsdale Rd. Motorists are asked to watch for signs and flag personnel, and keep eyes peeled for all pedestrians, especially those wearing costumes.
For more information, go to the regional district website:regionaldistrict.com/parks or contact the EECO at 250-469-6140, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or drop in at 2363A Springfield Rd. in Mission Creek Regional Park.
For information about all District of Lake Country Halloween activities, go to: okanaganway.ca/
J.P. Squire, aka the Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Horseback Riding Sheriff, is an avid outdoors enthusiast whose column appears in The Okanagan Weekend. You can contact him with your outdoor news at: jp.squire@telus.net.