Once upon a time I was a real hiker, swinging along with a loaded backpack for overnight or week-long camps. Nowadays it’s a day pack, water bottle, mosquito dope and hiking poles. With bionic hip and “arthroscopically-not-quite-mended” knee, I am now an aging gimp! Some days making it up or down our six steps is even a challenge. And let’s not mention the too-small zipper-off hiking pants....
But I am still out there appreciating the trails around Clearwater and in Wells Gray Park that are easy enough for me to hike, and always different to match the time of year, the weather, and company sharing the adventure. On our long-standing regular Friday morning hikes, a small group of us sallies forth after assessing each one’s time constraints, stamina, and capabilities. Occasionally, like Molly the dog, we admit to getting older, but laugh that thought away immediately.
When we could finally stow our snowshoes in the spring, our group re-visited favourite trails close to town, around the airstrip, Road 1, and many nearby lanes inviting us to loop the loop. We got misplaced less often if I didn’t lead. Nearby Gates Creek trail took two mornings and we used two vehicles to shorten the hiking distance, though not the time it took, on the “back” section. Coral root orchids, blooming in pink and white beside the trail, did not seem to miss the leaves or chlorophyll which these tall, slim fungi lack.
On another Friday we parked near Third Canyon Bridge and hiked on an old road not far below the present paved road, to Second Canyon. The old bridge has deteriorated, even in the five or so years since I last saw it. The creek was just a trickle that we could have stepped over, but didn’t. We must visit again soon to see what changes happened as a result of the blockage of the culvert beneath the newest highway a few weeks later. A drive partway up Candle Creek Road took us to the power line on a particularly bright, blue-sky day. Red Indian Paintbrush, yellow, blue and white flowers lined our route, and the crop of delicious wild strawberries had us stopping for refreshments often.
It wasn’t until the beginning of July, that the trail up to the Trophy Mountain Meadows was almost snow free, and by then the glacier lilies in the lower section were already starting to fade. However, at the Shepherd’s Hut we were surrounded by a host of those golden flowers. When driving back down, the people in our car saw a mama grouse with one chick; near the former prison, a sleek black bear crossed the road in front of us.
Being the gadding person that I am, I missed many Friday hikes like recent ones to Placid Lake and the loop joining Spahats Falls and the Clearwater River Valley overlook. North Thompson Provincial Park, the gravel road that takes in the confluence of North Thompson and Clearwater rivers, walking the Clearwater River Road section by section, with loops down to the Kettle, parts of Clearwater River Trail and more keep us entertained and active all year long. In summer months, hikes may start earlier when they are longer, more challenging, or higher; winter has us dusting off those snow shoes once more. Doggie companions don’t care what time of year it is as long as they are with us.
Hiking anyone? Meet the group at 9 a.m. every Friday morning at the Information Centre. Got a new place to take us? Let’s go!