2013 Trip

It is almost time for my brothers and I to make our annual trip out to visit our Dad and Grandma. There are many hikes on the schedule in and around the Okanagan as well as some hikes in Revelstoke, Glacier and Banff. We will be repeating some hikes that we had done in the past as well as trying out some new trails. I'm also hoping that my brothers and I will be able to manage a day trip into Lake O'Hara. We don't have a bus reservation so we will have to try and luck and hope for a cancellation! Stay tuned!

Twin Lakes: Monashee Mountains

The Twin Lakes Hike is located in the Monashee Mountains near Cherryville, BC. It is a beautiful hike through alpine and sub-alpine forests and meadows. The destination as one can tell from the name are the Twin Lakes, however, you can continue on to two peaks for some fantastic view. However, there is no defined trail past the lakes.

To get to the trailhead you travel up a logging road to a parking lot, it would not be uncommon to be the only hikers on the trail the day that you hike.

The trail starts through a wooded area where we came across some critters.

You will travel through several meadows which had me wanting to run across them singing "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music".

The Twin Lakes in the distance.

We stopped here for a lunch break and to take pictures.

Dad wanted to take us up to the peak of Pinnacle Mountain which meant hiking without a trail over some scrambly terrain, I was not a huge fan of this, I was constantly afraid of slipping and falling. However, if you are made of braver stuff than I then you should definitely consider continuing past the Twin Lakes to one of the peaks.

View of some of the lakes on the other side of the saddle above Twin Lakes.

If you travel up to the peaks you will be at snow level. We were hiking in August, if you hike this trail in July it is possible that you will have snow throughout the whole hike.

My brother cooling off.

Some of the beautiful wildflowers that were in bloom that day.

This is a great hike in the Monashee Mountains and only a 2 hour drive if you are in the Vernon or Kelowna area.

Eva Lake: Revelstoke National Park

Back in August of 2009 my brothers and I made our first trip out to BC to visit our dad. He had recently retired from the Canadian Navy and moved out to the Okanagan Valley. I absolutely love the area in which he lives, it is stunning, offers so many recreational opportunities and is surrounded my great hiking opportunities including Revelstoke National Park.

Revelstoke is about a two hour drive from my dad's home so it is fairly easy to drive out there for a day hike if you leave at an early hour.

Dad decided to take us on the Eva Lake Trail as it is not too challenging yet still offers gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and of Eva Lake.

 To get to the trailhead from the parking lot you can walk uphill the short distance or there is a shuttle bus that comes by, we opted to just walk up. Near the Eva Lake/Jade Lakes Trailhead there is also a short trail, the Firetower Trail. It offered some pretty views but nothing extraordinary.

 

The Eva Lake Trail takes you through mountain meadowns, forest and across rock cliffs. The elevation gain is also fairly gradual with a few steep climbs, not too hard of a hike.

It took us about 2 - 2 1/2 hours to get to Eva Lake (I am slow). It was an ideal lunch spot, lots of big boulders to sit on and a beautiful lake to gaze upon.

After we finished walking around and soaking up the beauty of Eva Lake we started to make our way back down the trail with a brief detour to Miller Lake which is also a gem nestled away in the mountains. 

 I was pretty tuckered out by the time we got back to the car, probably because I did not eat a good breakfast before the hike. Remember, you want to provide your body with the right fuel before embarking on a hike!

I plan on revisiting Eva Lake this August, I can't wait!