This year is the biggest travel year for me since I retired 12 years ago. That means that I had less time to dedicate to club activities and I obviously missed the summer camp led by Diane and Don. Her humorous and informative trip report is the main feature of this Raven issue.

Two events to put on your mental calendars for this year:

Summer Camp 2024 - Fun and Flexibility by Diane Whiteley

♦On July 19th when Camp organizers Don and Diane left home, 17 enthusiastic hikers were getting ready to come to camp.  Life was good!

We left on the 19th because we had home exchangers coming to our place, which was booked with exchangers until August 1st. Our plan was to stay in Summerland for 4 days at a home exchange we’d arranged right on Okanagan Lake.  Then we’d head for Kokanee Creek campground on July 23th, a day before the start of camp.

Oh no!  The best laid plans….  Our home exchange in Summerland got cancelled the day before we were to go there.  We quickly pivoted and, luckily, found another home exchange further south in Osoyoos, just a minute or two walk from Osoyoos Lake.  So far, so good!  Good thing we were close to the lake.   The temperature was around 37 C daily and got up to 42 C one day!  We spent most of our time in the lake.

It was cooler on the 23th, the day we left Osoyoos for the 3 days of camp based at Kokanee Creek campground.  We were worried, though.  Fires near New Denver, the base camp we were going to after Kokanee Creek, were growing.  The town was now on evacuation alert.  I started getting emails.  Hikers began cancelling.  By the time we got settled at Kokanee Creek campground, all but one of our hikers had cancelled!  Craig, who grew up in Trail, was visiting there before camp and was coming!  Hooray!

Ironically, the air quality at the campground was fine and the sandy beach on Kootenay Lake was great for swimming.  Craig arrived on the 24th and set up a gold medal winning camp.  He had a large tent with a sitting room in the front and bedroom in the rear.  He had a fine looking barbecue, which he used to grill luscious steaks.  He had a variety of musical instruments for entertaining guests.  If you go to camp next year, consider sharing a campsite with Criag if we don’t get there first!

On the morning of July 25th Craig, Don and I set out to do our first hike in Kokanee Glacier Park, planned destination Glacier cabin.  The air got a bit smoky as we drove to the trailhead, but it was still pretty good when we started hiking.  The wildflowers were in full bloom, the trail conditions were excellent, and we were a happy group of 3.  After about an hour we turned a corner on the trail and saw the heavier smoke in the distance.  Oh no!  We continued as far as Kokanee Pass, but the smoke was getting worse.  After an impromptu lecture from Dr. Don on fine particulate matter and what it does to your lungs, we decided to turn around.

On the way down, we met a dad and his young son.  We stopped to chat and Dr. Don got into a discussion with them about which is worse for hikers – mosquitoes or smoke?  The youngster said his dad thought mosquitoes were worse.  By the time Dr. Don, expert on tropical medicine, finished his impromptu lecture on mosquitoes that carry malaria, dengue fever, zika virus etc., the young boy’s eyes were wide and worried.  Dad and son continued into the smoky haze.  Hopefully, they did not run into any mosquitoes!

On the 26th it was clear and sunny. We headed for a hike at Whitewater ski area.  Craig, well versed in local lore, provided local colour commentary on the way to the trailhead parking area.  We started our hike on the alpine trail that took us across ski slopes abundant with wild flowers – beargrass, lupins, arnica, valerian, paintbrush, aspen fleabane etc.  We came to an intersection and followed the trail along a high ridge over the minor summits of Hummingbird and Prospector.  On the way back we got to watch a pika eat his lunch.  So cute!

On the 27th, we parted ways with Craig.  After we awarded him 3 gold medals – for showing up, having the best camp set-up and for being a great tour guide – Craig headed for Mable Lake to visit a friend.  Don and I headed north through New Denver and Nakusp to the ferry across Arrow Lake at Galena Bay. We saw several, small fires en route.  Indeed, there were fires very close to Shelter Bay where the ferry docks.  During the drive I managed to book the last available camping cabin at Canyon Hot Springs.  We wanted a roof over our head because rain was in the forecast.

It didn’t rain after all, and the 28th dawned sunny and clear.  There was smoke in the valley below but the alpine area in Revelstoke National Park, where we decided to hike, was clear and perfect for the hike to Jade and Eva Lakes, a spectacular trail!

The last two days of summer camp were supposed to be at Sol Mountain Lodge, where 8 of us had booked 2 nights.  Our time there got cancelled by the lodge, but we have the option to book in August or September this year or summer next year.

So, on the 29th, we headed for Manning Park.  We were in no hurry since it was showery.  We decided to take highway 5A from Kamloops all the way to Princeton.  There were few cars.  It’s a beautiful drive along a valley with lake after lake, surrounded by rolling hills and grasslands.  Highly recommended!

We arrived at Manning, spent one night in the Lodge then camped for 2 nights at Skyview, the new RV campground close to Lightening Lake.  It’s designed for RVs but turned out to be a good choice for tenting too.  We had our own water tap and electrical outlet where we hooked up our cooler, which has an electric option.  The shower building is brand new, and the two ‘outhouses’ close to our campsite had a flush toilets and sinks.

We were puzzled about the forest all through Manning park.  The trees are brown and unhealthy looking.  We found out the park has been invaded by Spruce Bud Worms:

“Defoliation begins at the top of the tree and current-year needles are partially or completely consumed. If large numbers of larvae are present, previous-year needles may also be affected.

 Spruce budworm larvae also feed on staminate (male) flowers and cones. During epidemics, the larvae may destroy all of the cones.

  Severely affected tree stands turn a rust colour due to the presence of dried-out needles held together by strands of silk spun by the larvae. In the fall, most dead needles are dispersed by the wind and defoliated stands take on a greyish appearance.

  A single year of defoliation generally has little impact on the tree. However, it does cause weakening of the tree, making it more susceptible to attacks by other insects.”

From the campground, it was a short walk to Lightening Lake where Don headed off to fish, and I rented an SUP.  The fishing was good.  We had two fresh Rainbow trout for supper!  The next day we hiked to the peak of Mt. Frosty, a hike which Don had never done.  It was a perfect day in all respects.

Much to our surprise, it was a darn good summer camp in spite of oppressive heat, wildfires and smoke. ♦