Exceptional views from Kuipers’ Peak
This was south-end-of-Kelowna week with a hike to Kuipers’ Peak and cycling the numerous rural roads of East Kelowna.
For those who have never heard of Kuipers’ Peak Mountain Park (kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/ parks-beaches/parks-beaches-listing/kuipers-peak-mountain-park), it is actually an official city park with “exceptional views and a great place to enjoy the outdoors. This 11-hectare park provides areas to hike, run and enjoy nature. Previously forested, the park was damaged in the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire and is a good example of an area recovering from a wildfire.”
The city describes the trail as: “A short (five- to 10-minute) hike to the top, with some sections that will get your heart rate up, and you are rewarded with a stunning view of Okanagan Lake and panoramic views of mountainous landscape.”
The city’s Active By Nature staff have posted a video online at: youtube.com/watch?v=bOl8ZaE_P _o.
How to get there: the official address is 792 Kuipers Cres. Follow South Ridge Drive up the hill and follow the directional signs. If you Google that address, it will not only show you how to get there but dashed lines show several major trails in the area. There are no signs other than No Trespassing, curious since we didn’t see anything indicating park boundaries as we hiked past The Ponds residential development toward Crawford Falls and back. Dogs are allowed on-leash only and, as in all Kelowna parks, smoking is not allowed.
The four of us weren’t alone with hikers, joggers, cyclists and a deer all sharing the trail.
The Saskatoon berries are more plump than ever before; no bears so far.
We climbed up to a Kettle Valley reservoir where there were indeed panoramic views looking west and north toward the city.
On Wednesday, nine friends met at an East Kelowna farm and did a circuit — if you can call it that since the Sheriff swore we did every single tar-and-gravel road in this agricultural area. The roads may have been quiet years ago but were busy throughout the morning and early afternoon, with the Sheriff calling out “car” and “truck” on a regular basis to encourage everyone to get back in a single line.
The city’s bike path map can be downloaded at: kelowna.ca/roadstransportation/active-transportation/cycling/pathway-bicycle-network-map.
Thoroughly enjoyable with lots of orchards and horses grazing in the fields. It makes you appreciate farming’s contribution to the local economy.
*** In other outdoors news, athletes began arriving at Big White Ski Resort on Tuesday and got their first look at the brand new courses for the Big White Invitational Slopestyle hosted by local athlete Tom van Steenbergen.
Practice for both Gold and Bronze level athletes began Wednesday morning under bright blue skies, continued on both courses on Thursday morning with the Bronze amateur event at 3:30 p.m.
The top four athletes from the Bronze event earned entry into Gold Qualifiers on Friday to ride next to 30 of the world’s top slopestyle mountain bike riders. The Gold finals are at 1 p.m. today (July 7).
The newest addition to the Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA) World Tour is expected to attract 5,000 out-of-town visitors and add $1 million to the local economy.The event also features live music, movie nights, demo areas and races for kids aged two to 12.
Slopestyle riders are competing on specially-designed outdoor courses that feature dramatic drops, jumps and obstacles. They receive points for successfully landing airborne tricks like tail whips, 720-degree cork rotations, somersaults and backflips.
“We have some of the best mountain bikers in the world here in British Columbia, and we wanted to create a place in the Interior for them to show off their talents,” said Michael J. Ballingall, the resort’s senior vice-president.
“Local mountain bikers have built this permanent slopestyle course, so they can invite their friends from around the world to come and play in their backyard. And that, in turn, will create new tourism opportunities for our entire community.”
*** Friends of Summerland Ornamental Gardens (summerlandgardens.org) is holding a fundraising brunch with one of B.C.’s pre-eminent birders.
Brunch in the Gardens with Richard Cannings is on July 15: 9:30 a.m. coffee and check-in at the info centre; 10 a.m., a Feathered Friends walking tour led by Cannings; and 11 a.m. brunch served in the gardens by Breakfast Club Catering.
Admission is $30 for members and $55 for non-members (includes membership fee).
There is limited seating, so those interested must reserve by Wednesday (July 10). You can pay by Paypal or email friends.summerlandgardens@gmail.com to pay by cash or cheque (or for more info).
Summerland Ornamental Gardens, in existence for almost 100 years, is a 15-acre heritage botanical garden open to the public year-round. Suitable for walks, hikes, picnics and garden research, admission is by a suggested donation of $5 per person.
Originally established in 1916 as part of Summerland Agricultural Research Station, the gardens were designed to help new residents, many from the U.K. and other rainy climates, choose ornamental plants for their gardens that would be suitable for the Okanagan climate.
In collaboration with Agriculture Canada, the site is maintained with help from this non-profit society. The gardens feature a vast collection of perennial and annual flowers, mature trees, grasses and shrubs.
You can walk past demonstration garden beds, and learn the principles of water-wise gardening with the Welcome Garden, Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, Cactus Garden, Iris Beds, Meadow, Butterfly Garden and Shade Gardens.
*** A reminder that the Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club’s Fintry Training and Camp-out weekend is on July 20-23.
The Pod 3 Group Site at Fintry Provincial Park is booked for the weekend with loads of space for tents and trailers. There are a few spaces left for training, according to a club email this week.
“If you’ve never attended a weekend training event, we highly encourage you to take part.
Guaranteed, no matter your ability or experience, you will learn something new and useful.
Training is a bargain at $106 for the weekend.
With small group sizes, you will not get a better price anywhere for well-qualified instructors.
Camping is $30.03 per person for the weekend. The club booked three nights, so there is no rush to leave the campground on Sunday morning, particularly convenient for those in training. And if you want to stay over until Monday, you can.
J.P. Squire, aka the Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Horseback Riding Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend reporter. Email: jp.squire@telus.net.