Exploring the Koots - 0629 - Whitewater Creek

The objective today with the Sunday hikers was Whitewater Creek. This is another great place to backcountry ski in the winter and a good place to see grizzly bears at this time of year.


Today was a semi-scorching hot day, with early afternoon temperatures rising to near 30C and not a cloud in the sky. Much of our trail was in the woods and later on an east-facing slope with much rock and some snow patches so it wasn't too bad. Numerous small, cold streams provided the opportunity to cool off.

We saw one grizzly across the valley, foraging for food on the hillside - a large male from the looks of it.


We stopped once we had a view of Whitewater Mtn, shown in the lower picture. It's the peak with the snow cap just left of center. Apparently it's a scramble with some exposure. Right now, there are a couple of large cornices along the route. Perhaps later in the season.

Exploring the Koots - 0622

We took a couple of hours on Sunday to do a walk from Amundsen Road to Fletcher Falls and back, only about 5 minutes from our place.

The start of the walk got increasingly nice, walking along what used to be the main road between Nelson and Kaslo. It rose gradually, resulting in a great view of Kootenay Lake far below.

The trail passed right under the deck of a very nice older couple where we stopped to chat for a few minutes, then down to Fletcher Falls. At this time of year, the spray from all the water pounding over the falls is quite impressive for a small set of waterfalls. One of our local gems.

BOB

Yes, it's the bridge: Bob - stands for Big Orange Bridge. It spans the Kootenay River at Nelson and makes a pretty good landmark from the hills of Nelson.

Some years ago, before BOB, there was a ferry across the river at this point. The Kootenay River is what drains Kootenay Lake, although the river itself rises in the Rockies in Kootenay National Park. The river then flows south and west, passing near Cranbrook, into Kocanusa Lake, down into the USA for a bit, then back north into Kootenay Lake, down past Nelson and finally joining with the Columbia River on its run to the Pacific at Portland. Nice river.

Kootenay Kactus

I know, I know, it's pretty wimpy, but I'm pleased with it so far. This is one of my Arizona imports from our winter trip south. I brought home a couple of "cuttings" from some of the many cactus plants I saw on the desert, stuck them in some gravel and waited.

Around here it's going to have to live it's life as a house plant, but it's been doing well. In fact, just last week this little guy started to bloom. I guess it was happy that it was finally getting some sunshine in that south window I've had it in.

I have a small selection of little cactus plants growing now. One I especially like is the Teddy Bear Cholla. It's sending out new growth now too.

Exploring the Koots 08/06

The destination of the day was Fishook Lake. Meeting up with a group from Kalso who hike every Sunday, we drove about 20 minutes north along Kootenay Lake to hike the Davis Creek Trail. Fishook Lake is a small lake reached after a 2-hour hike up a very steep trail and through thick forest.

The trail isn't noted for great scenery, being as it is located in rather dense forest, it does afford some great vistas out to Kootenay Lake and the mountains to the East. Fishook Lake itself is small, presumably shaped like a fishook and otherwise unremarkable.

However, it was our first experience with these Sunday hikers, and it seems like there are some good possibilities for future excursions. Having a source of local knowledge seems pretty important here in the Koots. The hike up the steep trail was good as well - great exercise. All the better being able to be back home by late afternoon to a nice shower, some wine and a great supper.