Jag Hill Cliffs – Kamloops Trails
Over the years I have climbed Jag Hill from every direction. Recently I hiked up from the Pimple on double tracks to the right elevation, then traversed along the ridge off trail to the summit overlooking the valley. We have driven up Rd Plateau Forest Service Road and traversed to the summit (the easiest route). I have gone up from the Dewdrop Trail on a forested route (difficult). I have twice gone up through the cliffs from the south too (also difficult). There are some very interesting hoodoos, jagged ridges, and ragged cliffs on the south face so this outing included a traverse of the cliffs on the southeast end of Jag Hill. There is no trail to follow, just steep slopes which require route-finding.
The start was a steep, open grass-covered slope, winding past outcrops and cliff bands.
From the top of the lower hills are many views, including one down to The Pimple, Tranquille Canyon, Pruden Pass, and Strawberry Hill to the east.
Rough and ragged ridges, hoodoos, conglomerated cliffs, and gargoyles dot the steep slopes overlooking the benchland below
Views extended from the cliffs down to the Dewdrop Range and Kamloops Lake.
For this day we decided to leave the westernmost (higher) cliffs for another day by a different route. The hike was a scouting trip to assess routes. Kamloops Trails posts are mostly a summary of a series of explorations over 40+ years.
After another exploration (or two) of Jag Hill, I will flag an adventure trail which traverses the cliff tops and the upper slopes, linked back to the Dewdrop Traverse Trail with parking at The Pimple.
For this day, we descended a steep gully to the open forest below, then we looped through Garden of the Trolls (explored then named by Kamloops Trails) and then back to where we parked.
More adventures on Jag Hill (a personal favorite) may have to wait until spring.
Doug Smith
Doug writes for Kamloops Trails, a not-for-profit (and ad free) website, offering information on trails, waterways, routes, featured spots, viewpoints, and explorations in the outdoors in the Kamloops area (and beyond).
Doug started exploring this area in 1976 and continues to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, he chose to share this information.
The Kamloops Trails website has a massive number of interesting posts and would be of interest to anyone in Kamloops who enjoys the outdoors. Visit the Kamloops Trails website at: http://www.kamloopstrails.ca/
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