On Bush Lake – Kamloops Trails
The Bush Lake Trails were developed as cross country trails for the (first) 1979 BC Winter Games in 1979. We did all of our nordic skiing on the trails, but when the Coquihalla Highway was under construction, it cut the trails into two areas with no connection and instead the government established the Stake Lake system nearby. the old trails were abandoned, but a few skiers continued to use the double tracks and established some new single tracks through the forest. Snowshoers began to use the area too, but it has been successively logged over many years so each year is a bit of a surprise, following established routes, but often exploring new routes when logging has destroyed the old trails. The old double track along the northwest side of Bush Lake was a main corridor in the old trail system and it has mostly remained intact. On this winter day I snowshoed down the track then emerged onto Bush Lake, breaking trail.
The main tracl is usually skied in or stomped in by snowshoers. Some large douglas firs still line the corridor.
With about 10 inches (25 cm) of snow on the lake, the reeds form small clumps along the lakeshore.
Rushes lined the west side of the lake as I set a track around the perimeter.
The lower winter sun was welcome as I went around the lakeshore.
On my way out, I followed the drainage corridor east. Bush Lake drains into the Dogwood Marshes and then into Anderson Creek. Anderson Creek eventually runs into Campbell Creek, then on to the South Thompson River. While climbing out of the stream ravine I passed this large tree, standing in the sun with frosted lichens.
The final “stomp” passed through a grove of aspens on the way to the gate.
Each time I snowshoe in the Dogwood Marshes or across the road in the Bush Lake area I do a different route, often breaking trail to explore the high country forest. There will be another 9 weeks of snowshoeing in the area.
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.net/
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