When it’s too cold, take a hike
Frigid temperatures this week certainly helped keep all that new snow from melting. But it was not an incentive to go outdoors for winter recreation.
Last Sunday, the Ski Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen joined other members of the Central Okanagan Outdoors Club for its regular Sunday outing at Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club.
At that point, club groomer and president Ryland Garton reported a temperature of 12 C. The ski area north of McCulloch Lake had received between 20 and 30 centimetres of new snow and it was snowing lightly, he said on the website: kelownanordic.com/ trail-info/current-conditions/.
"Grooming well, but slow going with the depth. Road OK. McCulloch Road may be a bit thick for low-slung cars. Will be on the trails until at least 1 p.m. as we are doing some blade levelling. If you rush up, you may not have a loop and will have to go out -and-back or slog. Didn’t stop snowing until approximately 6:30 a.m.”
Armed with that information, we decided to do our favourite (and one of the most popular) route: Log Cabin and Upper Meadow to the Meadow Cabin, then Lower Meadow and Log Cabin back to the main lodge.
The trails were in excellent condition and all that fresh snow created a beautiful winter landscape on either side with soft pillows and undulating curves that made you want to jump in. We didn’t for fear of disappearing.
The snow continued to fall and by the time we got back to Log Cabin, the classic track had started to disappear. Note to self: next time there is snow in the forecast, bring goggles or wrap-around sunglasses. If the wind kicks up, those will prevent snow from going directly into your eyes.
We planned to downhill at Big White Ski Resort on Tuesday but Drive BC and Kelowna Nordic's report of temperatures of –35 C to –18 C dissuaded us. And Kelowna Nordic’s report of –36 C to –20 C on Wednesday was also a deterrent.
Instead, the two of us hiked a new-to-us trail at Knox Mountain Park in Kelowna. We went to the trailhead at the west end of Royale View Drive and when that leg intersected with the Apex Trail (tennis courts to summit), we continued straight west on what appears to be an access road to a city reservoir and associated waterworks.
The trail, snow well-packed down, continues west, then heads north and winds around to intersect with the section of Paul's Tomb Trail down from the first lookout.
A trail map on the Friends of Knox Mountain Park (knoxmountainpark.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2016/04/trail_map.jpg) doesn’t show the reservoir trail but you can see it lightly coloured from Royale View Drive through to the reservoir.
The panoramic views looking south are incredible and the trail is relatively flat until you get to the brief climb on the west side of the reservoir and then on Paul’s Tomb Trail down to the leg, which comes off the end of Poplar Point Drive. The rocky bluffs at Paul,s Tomb Bay had especially pretty icicles.
We're looking forward to returning to that trail when the snow melts (or even before) since it,s not as busy as the Apex Trail which can get crowded on weekends.
***** Sledders are invited to a fundraising trail ride on Silver Star Mountain today.
Sled for Eternity (teenchallengebc.com/ sled-for-eternity) is the second annual sled event in support of Adult and Teen Challenge BC with the goal of raising $75,000 to fund addiction recovery services.
“It is really amazing,” one of the organizers said in an email this week. “Last year, we were able to raise over $54,000. We do a one-day trail ride and hold big banquet at the end. We give away over $30,000 in prizes. Of course, the draw is that we will be giving away a brand-new Polaris 800 PRO RMK 155. We also want to create awareness about addiction and the hope that we can provide through our program.”
Riders can expect a fun day of riding and racing with their friends and others in support of recovery in B.C., according to the website. Following the ride, a hot buffet meal will be served for registered participants where they can hear “the amazing testimonies of lives changed through the ministry of Adult and Teen Challenge.”
***** Earlier this month, Silver Star Mountain Resort Nordic manager Shane Landreville completed the Level 4 CANSI instructors certification after a gruelling four-day course and two full days of exams.
Level 4 is the highest level of instructor certification that one can achieve through the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors. Level 4 instructors are tested on their skiing ability in skate, classic and downhill manoeuvres, their teaching (both pedagogy and skill-improvement sessions), as well as in their video analysis skills, level 1-2-3 marking and a presentation in a skirelated area.
In 2016, Landreville completed the CANSI Level III Telemark certification. As a result of achieving both of these highest certifications in Nordic instruction, he is now considered a Master of Nordic, one of only five people in Canada to achieve this designation.
Silver Star Mountain is home to three of these Nordic Masters including Guy Paulsen and Marie-Cat Bruno, and has the highest number of high-level Nordic instructors in the country.
Landreville represented Canada on the Canadian National Telemark Team while racing the FIS World Cup Telemark circuit; he won the Canadian National Telemark Championships in 2013 and 2014; joined XC Supercamp (co-owned by Silver Star and Sovereign Lake) as camp co-ordinator in 2014; joined Silver Star as Nordic manager in 2016; achieved his CANSI Level III Telemark certification in 2016; and achieved his CANSI Level IV Cross Country in 2018.
***** Friends of Black Mountain (friendsofblackmountain.com) will hold their annual general meeting at 7 p.m. on March 6 at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (EECO) in Kelowna’s Mission Creek Regional Park.
Guest speakers will be Dr. Maury Williams, who will talk, along with showing historic photographs from the Vienna archives, on Crown Prince Ferdinand’s 1893 grizzly hunting trip to the Okanagan. The second speaker, local naturalist Pam Laing, will present her photographs of birds found on Black Mountain. Both presentations are open to the public and admission is free. The two presentations will be followed by a short business meeting.
Friends of Black Mountain members are spearheading a major trail-building project in Black Mountain Regional Park this year. “We hope to establish an embryo hiking network in the new park before its official opening sometime in 2020,” said Friends' spokesman Ian Pooley.
***** Pool training sessions organized by the Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club in March proved so popular that the club has scheduled another on April 8 “if we can get enough registrations to cover the costs,” says president Paul Stephenson.
“For complete details, please see kckc.ca and click on the title of the posting ‘Sign Up for Pool Sessions – Updated for April 8.’
Members can share a one-hour session and kayak with another member for $11.50 or $23 on your own. Members can share a one-hour session with another member and a Paddle Canada-qualified instructor for $20 or $40 on your own. *** The winter-Sspring edition of Your Guide to Regional Parks has the answers to all your questions online at regionaldistrict.com/parksguide or you can pick up a printed copy at the EECO in Mission Creek Regional Park, the Regional District of Central Okanagan office (1450 KLO Rd.) in Kelowna, at other local government offices and visitor information centres.
The 12-page colour foldout has information on all the activities, events and programs in regional parks until the end of May.
“Our free Wild Walks program offers a monthly Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon opportunity to join a park interpreter and learn about special features of the park that’s being visited,” said communications officer Bruce Smith. “Thanks to the volunteers from the Community Recreational Initiatives Society, who provide barrier-free access to our parks, these outings are available for everyone.”
To discover more about or request CRIS services, go to: adaptiveadventures.ca.
“While most of our programs are offered for free, we do encourage people to pre-register to ensure a space by contacting staff at 250-469-6140 or emailing eeco@cord.bc.ca. During the winter months, please make sure you’re properly prepared for the conditions with appropriate clothing (layers), sturdy shoes and traction or anti-slip devices.”
“The winter-spring guide also notes a minor change to the spring Tracks Walking Club program. Twice a week, walks will continue in Mission Creek Regional Park while Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park will host one walk each Tuesday morning.
For more information, go to: regionaldistrict.com/parks or call 250-469-6140.
***** Visitors will now be able to reserve campsites for the 2018 camping season in the core area of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park (Og and Magog Lake campgrounds) in the Kootenays.
Starting at 7 a.m. (Pacific time) on April 10, visitors can reserve a spot at Og and Magog Lake campgrounds through BC Parks’ Discover Camping Reservation Service. Reservations will be accepted for peak-season camping from June 26 to Sept. 30, and can be made up to four months in advance. Only campers who have reserved will be able to camp in the core area during peak season.
Park periphery campgrounds and rustic cabins will remain available on a firstcome, first-served basis, with no associated registration, reservation or camping fees. The Naiset Huts, RC Hind Hut and O’Brien Group Campsite bookings will continue to be managed through Assiniboine Lodge.
BC Parks is transitioning from a registration system to a reservation service for its high-use campgrounds during peak season at Mount Assiniboine to help address the increase in visitor demand..
To book your trip to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, go to: discovercamping.ca.
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. Email: jp.squire@telus.net.