A couple of weeks ago we were up biking through Knox Mountain Park – thought we’d throw in a photo of the typical tracks up that way. The park is just to the north of downtown Kelowna and has many walking and biking tracks; its a pretty popular place to be when the sun is shining on a Saturday morning. We mainly spend time in the park walking or running, but there is also a nice bike loops that goes out and returns via the park. Neil also sometimes comes via a ride through Knox on his way home from work.
Frances heading up the hill amongst the shade of pine trees on the east side of Knox
Neil heading down on the drier south slopes of Knox
We were keen to head out camping again, but this time hoping to be able to leave the down jackets at home for once! So with a warm weekend forecast, we headed off to Christina Lake (SE from Kelowna, on Hwy 3). We packed the bikes with the idea of spending the weekend exploring from the campsite by bike and foot, which worked a treat. The Saturday, we explored some forest trails trying to link onto the local Rail Trail that ran down the valley around the south of Christina Lake.
Neil crossing the creek out of the campground
A bit of bike hauling, some lovely riding and we found ourselves on top of a rock outcrop with great views. We then joined through onto the main highway for a couple of kms before cutting up a side road and onto the Rail Trail. The Trail wound through a very cool bluffy section overlooking the lake and local township (we could spy the ice cream shops for the trip back!) before coming to an impressive gorge on the Kettle River. Normally a nice, smallish waterfall and slow gorge with deep green pools, in spring freshet, it was completely raging the entire length of the gorge.
Spot Neil, the red blob in the centre, on the rocks above ‘the falls’
We rode back from the gorge along the Rail Trail and cut off into Christina Lake township in search of icecreams. Mission accomplished we returned to camp via the highway and forest trails we'd discovered that morning (uphill this time on the highway, but a great downhill on the forest trails). After a brisk wash in the lake, yet to warm up for the season!, we found ourselves still in tshirt and shorts at 9 that evening - exactly the warm weather camping we had been looking for! The next morning we awoke the rain (you can't win can you?!) so we went for a couple of hours wander on a trail traversing above the lake, before heading homewards.
Wild strawberry flowers in the morning rain
Last weekend, four of us headed to the nearby Monashee Provincial Park for three days hiking. We walked into Spectrum Lake, through some lovely cedar and hemlock forest (such a contrast to the dry ponderosa forest around the Okanagan).
Mike, Neil and Josie at the trailhead
The campsite at Spectrum was pretty fancy really for backcountry camping - tent platform, firepit, jumbo-sized picnic table complete with shelter over top for every two-person space. We based overselves there for two nights.
Arriving at Spectrum Lake camp
On the middle day we went for a day walk further up valley onto a plateau between the peaks. We found ourselves in snow on the final stretch onto the plateau, some of it fresh from the day before.
Looking across Spectrum Lake towards Peters Lake plateau, where we went for a day walk
Lunch spot beneath the peaks
2 comments:
Nice trip guys! That warm weather sounds awesome - we are very jealous! That raging river looked amazing, they are like that here at the moment too.
Good cornering technique, Neil.
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