return to cherryville and the shuswap river

So the shuswap river at the Cherryville forestry site was so sweet last weekend, we decided to head back again this weekend. This time with tents, food, beverages, and more friends. Toms brother bertie and his wife diane were in from manitoba, and the had staked out a camping spot the night before. When we got there, we wasted no time having a sweet time. We didn't take any photos friday night, so we'll start the photo documenarizint on saturday morning. With a complete breakfast (that means a corona along with eggs, bacon, sausage, and pan fries) at the golf course.

tom and breakfast

Then it was back to the river.  Bertie had spent the day before building this sweet dam.  created some awesome spots to sit and really turned up the rapids.

the dam and our swimming rapids

tom and our camp. I didn't use the fly on my tent the whole weekend.   

bertie and his sweet camping set up

downstream on the shuswap river

the lower picnic spot right by the river

a grand torino and optimus prime were also in attendance.

It was SOOOO sweet.  We saw a bear in the campspot, attended a huge farmers market in cherryville, and christine came to visit on saturday.  As well, it was the weekend of a mad meteor shower, so we were awake watching the show.  The screen tent made it easy to be in bed and watch the stars at the same time.

Crazy plans in the works for next weekend.  You should be there.

quick trip to beaver lake island

It was time to head out again. just a short trip to beaver lake. tom and i were going to camp at the rec. site, but it was full. that meant we had to head to the island, one of our favourite places. The bugs were bad, but the times were good. no fish this time. Heres the pics.

evening when we got there

just 2 tens this time.  the whole place to ourselves

dusk on beaver lake

the lake was calm.  can't help but be chill.

It was a great little escape.  just what the doctor ordered. 

next weekend = birthday party.  you should come.

sunday=time to fish

It was a hot and busy weekend.  Tom and I went canoeing and fishing for a few hours on beaver lake.

Here is some photographic evidence of our journey...

unloading truck 2 at beaver lake

lets go dood

tom is ready

hi capt'n

it was a sunny and all around awesome day

3 of the 9 fish we caught.  delicious

Going to go out again next weekend.  it's too close not to make it a regular thing.  thanks for the photos tom.  open invite to everyone for next time.

terrace mountain and christie falls. most epic adventure in a long time

after waking up sunday morning and going for breakfast with tom in winfield, it was time to head out on what would turn out to be a very solid adventure. We didn't really know it at the time though. Good thing we had a breakfast of champions, because we were going to be champions by the end of the day.

the only idea we really had was to look for christie falls. somewhere on the west side, near terrace mountain. since we were in the area, it seemed necessary to drive up to the summit of terrace mountain. I'd been there in a past adventure with kris anderson, but it was a few years ago, and there was snow.

The road we took last time was now completely deactivated.  i mean completely.  almost tore the bumper off truck 2 before turning around and attempting to find a more sensible way up.

we stopped.  i peed.  on the way up terrace.  this was on the sensible road.

we met the original road after a while. it was not so sensible in many spots, but we soldiered on.

getting sketchy going up terrace.

the fire from a few years ago

Finally we got to the summit.  the 2 hikers we met up there seemed a little surprised to see us and a truck up there when we arrived.

at the top.  way to go truck 2!

After soaking in the view, we headed down and towards where we thought christie falls might be.  found what appeared to be the trail and off we went.

the eerie hike to christie falls

after a walk through the forest, we came to the cliff. the rope was very necessary, both up and down.

getting a little crazy going down the trail

Finally got to the falls.  it was SO worth the driving, and hiking, and almost rope burns

sweet.  so worth the cheating death multiple times that day

here's a couple of short videos tom took of the falls.  well worth the 40 seconds. thanks tom for the videos and some photos too.  you rule.

like 100 m high.  couldn't get it all in one picture

me, walking behind the falls

having been in iceland, i've seen a lot of waterfalls. never expected to see something like these in the middle of nowhere backroads okanagan. hope these can stay a secret for a little longer.

kinda puts the size into perspective

walking behind the falls.  they were really high, and really cool.  close to 100 meters, if not, more. 

tom walking around under/behind the falls

the rainbow coming from tom

what goes down, must come up.  not sure that's exactly the saying, but you know what i mean

after the hike, we had a little fire near the trailhead.  cooked up winkler farmer sausage and chilled out before driving home.

hey, that's where we were!

weirdest thing.  a 67 chevelle ss 396 was ripping it up in the mud.

such an amazing day.  spectacular views, great drives, and one of the best co-pilots ever.  You could come too.  whats your excuse?  probably it's lame and whatever you're doing besides not coming along is not nearly as cool.

island lake... should be called "really small fish lake"

Sunday may 20th, time to canoe. and fish. mike, tom and i all piled into truck 2 and headed past beaver lake to island lake. it is part of a 4 lake chain that we decided would be a good place to do some fishing and canoeing. The forestry site is pretty easy to get to, and we didn't waste much time getting ripping.

launching pen 15 at island lake site

mike and i lighting the fire.  how else do you cook chicken?

forgot the bbq tongs.  necessity is the mother of invention.  and possibly frustration the father

the previously mentioned chicken, cooking.  tongs in action

the canoe beached at the our cook spot on deer lake

there are fish in the lake, but they are so small that we didn't keep any of them.  Great spot to canoe, lousy spot to fish.

my camera decided that the batteries, although charged all night, were going to be dead this morning.  wtf man.  thanks to tom for providing some sweet shots.  more to come possibly.

fast friday at beaver lake

firday night. what should we do? how bout grab tom and go have a fire up at beaver lake. ok. so that what we did.

tom and his axe.  the other dood in the camp totally loved it.  really.  he did.

my axe.

random 67 gtx we say tearing up the trails there.  we had too pull it out once.

getting dark on beaver lake.

good times. next friday anyone?

a solid sunday on beaver lake... with fish!!

Man was Sunday awesome. Tom and I packed the canoe on truck 2 and headed up to beaver lake. We were expecting ice on the lake, since Friday night there was still a lot. We were blown away by the 0% ice factor. i guess plus 25 does that to ice. we met mike lau up there and proceeded to do some fishing. I'd never caught a fish in BC before, and this was going to be the year where i finally break that streak.

beaver lake.  where did the ice go?  it was there on friday

The sun was blazing and we didn't waste any time getting on the water.

me.  canoeing.

We found some ice in a little bay.  We reeled in our lines and headed straight for it.  What a blast!  plowing through the icy slush and trying not to pull a titanic.

our swath of destruction through the ice

tom.  the canoe.  ice.

We explored around an island and made our way through a literal maze of dead heads.

paddling through the dead flood zone

up a small creek we found some crazy water fall foam.  Know what i mean?

tom and his foam

We also found fish!!  i broke my dry spell.  had tons of luck.  so much it wasn't luck.  it was skill.  Landed 3 trout and christine and i had fish for dinner.

fish 3

We checked out another island.  Christine and I had canoed past it last year and saw a camp site on it.  This time we stopped to check it out.  It is where we will be spening May long weekend me thinks.  You are invited.

may long, this is where we will be.  camping and fishing on this island

mike.  in his boat.

What a solid adventure.  Can't wait to do it again next weekend.  Same bat time, same bat channel.